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Ita O'DonovanAssociate < Speakers < Previous Next > Ita O'Donovan Associate Solace Ita O’Donovan worked with a City Council 2023-2021 in the interim roles of Strategic Director and Corporate Director and was a core member of the Corporate Management Team. She has had a career as a Local Authority Chief Executive in unitary authorities in London and the Midlands (2010-2002). She worked for the University of Birmingham within the School of Public Policy from 1985 to 1996 in the academic field of public management. During that period she worked extensively with national,… Show More

Matthew CroucherEV Services Director < Speakers < Previous Next > Matthew Croucher EV Services Director Believ Matt Croucher is EV Services Director at Believ, a fast-growing UK charge point operator part owned by Liberty Global (the owners of Virgin Media/O2) and the Treasury, and on a mission to ensure everyone has access to convenient EV charge points and can make the switch away from internal combustion engine vehicles, including those without access to off-street parking. Prior to joining Believ (formerly Liberty Charge) Matt was the Zero Emission Mobility lead at WSP, one the world's leading planning… Show More

Dr Catherine HoweChief Executive < Speakers < Previous Next > Dr Catherine Howe Chief Executive Adur and Worthing Councils Dr Catherine Howe is Chief Executive of Adur and Worthing Councils. She is an expert in digital innovation, focusing on the area of digital democracy and systems practice and has a background which connects together technology, community and social change. Catherine has worked across a number of different sectors including education, not for profit and the technology industry. Catherine was CEO of a successful SME, Public-i Group Ltd, before moving to Capita to redevelop Capita’s digital transformation approach and then… Show More

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Bury Theatre, Royal Armouries 15:45–16:25 Workshop The Leader’s Mirror: Defining the Legacy You Leave Behind Speaker/s Averil Price, Solace Associate and Director, Avie Consultancy As a senior leader in local government, your impact extends far beyond day-to-day decision-making. The legacy you leave, whether through policies, leadership culture, or the development of future leaders, shapes communities for years to come. This interactive session on Legacy Coaching will help you define, articulate, and strengthen your professional and personal legacy while preparing for the next chapter of your career. A timely session with further local government reorganisation and devolution in England and a working group of elected leaders and chief executives looking to develop a clear vision and a set of proposals that can support a sustainable future for local government in Wales. This workshop will provide a structured and reflective space to consider: The achievements and influence you want to be remembered for. What steps you are considering next in your career and how to transition purposefully. How you can help your team prepare for their future too. Delivered by

All Speakers Kevin Bolt MBA Managing Director, Step-Change Management Kevin has a background in business transformation which led him into the Social Housing sector in 2014 when he was appointed as the CEO of Bedford Housing Association, bpha. He led bpha for 9 years securing the highest G1, V1 regulatory gradings, adding c.5,000 new homes and establishing a culture of ‘the customer first’ through initiates such as the updating of high-rise homes, establishing in-house repairs and maintenance services and bring the ‘customer voice’ into everyday decisions. Through 2024, he led Octavia, one of London’s oldest Housing Associations, into a strategically vital merger with Abri. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:00–15:40 Life Safety First: Turning Risk into Assurance Hall B, Royal Armouries Go to session

All Speakers Gareth Fairweather Senior Leader, Urban and Regional, Arup Gareth is a senior leader in urban and regional development, transport strategy, infrastructure investment, and governance. His background in town planning, transport-led regeneration and placemaking sees him take an outcomes and systems-led approach his work, supporting clients position infrastructure and investments as enablers of wider change. He has a sharp focus on good governance, collaboration and structured partnership working, bringing a strong understanding of the opportunities presented through devolution. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:45–16:25 Delivering Together: How Local Authorities and Strategic Authorities Are Jointly Driving Place-Based Transformational Growth Hall B, Royal Armouries Go to session

All Speakers Dr Owen Williams OBE Chief Executive,Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust Owen started in post as Chief Executive of the NCA FT in November 2021. Prior to this appointment, he was Chief Executive of Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT), a position which he has held since 2012. In 2020 he was granted the degree of Doctor of Business Administration by the University of Huddersfield following the successful completion of his thesis which commenced 6 years previously in 2014. In the 2019 New Year’s Honours list he was awarded an OBE for service to health care across West Yorkshire and was asked to lead a National piece of work across the NHS in England with regards to reducing Health Inequalities. He was previously Vice Chair of the NHS Confederation and prior to joining the NHS he has worked across Local Government including two roles as Chief Executive at Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council and Rossendale District Borough Council. Before working in the Public Sector, he worked in commercial business including his first employment at the Yorkshire Building Society. He is passionate about reducing health inequality and ensuring that no communities - regardless of race, colour or creed - get left behind. Thursday 16 October 2025 14:15–14:55 Local Power, National Plan: Delivering the 10-Year Health Strategy Bury Theatre, Royal Armouries Go to session

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Jonathan DiggesChief Investment Officer < Speakers < Previous Next > Jonathan Digges Chief Investment Officer Octopus Energy Jonathan oversees fund management investment strategy. Since joining Octopus in 2015, he has been Product Head for Octopus Inheritance Tax Service, led the Specialist Finance Investment Team and chaired the Octopus Investment Committee.

Dominic CollinsCorporate Director Growth & NEEB Lead < Speakers < Previous Next > Dominic Collins Corporate Director Growth & NEEB Lead Braintree District Council Dominic has spent over 20 years working in the public sector in roles across national and local government. Having begun his career in Whitehall, Dominic spent 15 years at Essex County Council working in various roles, including in the authority’s cabinet office, communications team and supporting the bid and delivery of the London 2012 Games. Dominic’s main focus at the council was supporting economic growth, skills development and housing delivery across the county, with his last role as Director responsible… Show More

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Hall A, Royal Armouries 15:00–15:40 Workshop Cross-party Working Against a Backdrop of No Overall Control Speaker/s Kathryn Rees, Executive Director Corporate and Support Services, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Vicki Bates, Assistant Director, Governance and Monitoring Officer, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Session Outline and Objectives Running a council with no overall control isn’t just a challenge – it’s a daily balancing act. But in Stockport, it’s become a powerful catalyst for bold decisions, strong partnerships, and real transformation. In this session, Kathryn Rees lifts the lid on what it really takes to lead in such an environment. She’ll take you through the council’s pragmatic, mature approach to cross-party working – from the gritty governance and robust scrutiny, to the softer stuff like induction, communication and trust-building. You’ll learn how Stockport’s councillors and officers work together – across party lines – to make decisions that stick and get things done. The results speak for themselves: £1bn invested in the town centre, a thriving integrated Stockport Family model, and consistently resilient budgets. All achieved without a single party holding the reins. We’ll cover: What effective cross-party working looks like in real life How pre-decision scrutiny can improve outcomes, not delay them The structures and relationships that help area governance flourish Why the Leader–Chief Executive relationship is just one part of the story How consistent member engagement builds resilience and trust. This session isn’t theory. It’s practical, proven, and built from the ground up. Takeaways Learn how to lead effectively in a politically diverse council Understand the structures and behaviours that make cross-party working thrive See how a collaborative culture enables long-term transformation Take away ideas you can apply – whether you’re in overall control or not Delivered by

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