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Inspector Matthew SpencerInspector < Speakers < Previous Next > Inspector Matthew Spencer Inspector Police Scotland Inspector Spencer is the Community Inspector for Levenmouth in Fife, and is also the deputy local area commander for the Levenmouth area. Inspector Spencer has responsibility for all community and response resources in the station, and has worked in the area since July 2022. He has a background in response and community policing with a number of specialisms including public order, search and CBRN. Inspector Spencer has worked hard to develop a number of areas around public health policing and… Show More

Lucy EasthopeProfessor in Practice of Risk and Hazard, Co-Founder < Speakers < Previous Next > Lucy Easthope Professor in Practice of Risk and Hazard, Co-Founder University of Durham, After Disaster Network Lucy Easthope is the UK’s leading authority on recovering from disaster. She has been an advisor on nearly every major disaster of the past two decades, including the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, 9/11, the 7/7 bombings, the Salisbury Poisonings, Grenfell, and the war in Ukraine. She also advised the Prime Minister’s Office on the Covid-19 pandemic. She challenges others to think differently about what comes next after tragic events, and how to plan for future ones. Lucy grew up in… Show More

Lynn Overmann Executive Director < Speakers < Previous Next > Lynn Overmann Executive Director The Beeck Center at Georgetown University Lynn Overmann is the Executive Director at the Beeck Center at Georgetown University. She previously served as a Senior Advisor for Delivery with the U.S. Digital Service, embedded in the Domestic Policy Council to advise Ambassador Susan Rice on priority policy implementation. In this role, Lynn oversaw teams of digital service experts across diverse projects, including targeted efforts to make the asylum system more effective and humane, increasing access to federal funding for low-capacity communities, and improving the delivery of… Show More

Sarah HealeyPermanent Secretary of the Department < Speakers < Previous Next > Sarah Healey Permanent Secretary of the Department The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) Sarah Healey was appointed Permanent Secretary of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) on 7 February 2023. Prior to this, she was Permanent Secretary of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) from 2019 and before that worked in the Cabinet Office where she was the Director General overseeing the development and implementation of economic and domestic policy following two and a half years working on negotiations and preparations for the UK to leave the… Show More

All Speakers Jon Gleek Head of Research, LGIU Jon joined LGIU in the summer of 2025 as Head of Research following over a decade of experience in local government in South Yorkshire and London. He has extensive experience of senior management and high-profile roles in councils related to population level research, academic partnerships, insight development for policy making and strategy development, change management and service improvement. Jon is responsible for the organisation’s research and insight function, leading the portfolio of LGIU’s research partnerships and managing the Local Democracy Research Centre. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:00–15:40 Shaping Communities – How Leaders Unlock Social and Economic Value Barton Suite, Royal Armouries Go to session

< Back Previous Exhibitor, Sponsor CCLA Investment Management https://www.ccla.co.uk Stand 17 CCLA is one of the UK’s leading investment managers for local authorities, charities and faith-based organisations, and has been managing funds for more than 60 years. Our aim is to meet our clients’ financial objectives in a way that we believe aligns with their values and furthers their mission. CCLA, part of the Jupiter Group, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Next

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Previous Next Bev Thomas Adviser, Procurement and Commissioning, Local Government Association Bev Thomas is an Adviser in the Local Government Association’s Procurement and Commissioning team, supporting councils and wider public sector organisations to strengthen procurement practice and implement procurement reform effectively. She is a recognised subject matter expert in public procurement, commissioning, service transformation and stakeholder engagement. As the LGA’s lead contact between local government and the Cabinet Office on Transforming Public Procurement, Bev works closely with councils to support implementation of the Procurement Act 2023. Her role includes promoting national learning and development initiatives, sharing best practice across the sector, and providing intelligence and feedback to government on emerging challenges and opportunities. Bev also leads elements of the LGA’s sector support offer, including procurement peer reviews, benchmarking activity linked to the National Procurement Strategy for Local Government, and professional networks for children’s and adult social care procurement and commissioning. In addition, she leads the construction category within the LGA’s Strategic Market: Insight Relationships Programme. Before joining the LGA in 2023, Bev spent 30 years working in local government and further education, holding commissioning, relationship management and service improvement roles. Her experience spans district and London borough councils, where she led service redesign and transformation programmes and managed functions including procurement, contract management, policy and performance, best value, quality assurance, partnership working and advice services. Bev is a Member of the Institute of Leadership (MIoL), holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Management (PgCert), and is a qualified careers adviser (DipCG). 13:00–13:10 Rewiring the State Amplify Cohort 5: Organisational Change and Equity: Beyond Rhetoric Showcase View Session Paul Amann , Principal Officer for Employment and Skills, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Bev Thomas , Adviser, Procurement and Commissioning, Local Government Association

All Speakers Jonathan Bradley Senior Experience Partner, Granicus Jonathan Bradley leads the UK arm of Granicus’ Experience Services, where he partners exclusively with public sector organisations to design modern, meaningful customer experiences. As a Senior Experience Partner, he’s passionate about making public services more accessible, intuitive, and impactful—helping people get what they need, when they need it, with ease. With over 25 years of experience across the public sector, Jonathan brings deep insight and a human-centred mindset to digital transformation. His mission? To help organisations shift from process-driven systems to people-first solutions that genuinely improve lives and strengthen communities. Outside of work, Jonathan finds harmony in music—he’s a proud member of the Mousehole Male Voice Choir, where he lends his voice to a tradition that celebrates community, culture, and connection. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:45-16:25 The Silent Stakeholder: Why Residents Deserve a Seat at the LGR Table Barton Suite, Royal Armouries Go to session

Jamie OunanCo-Founder and Executive Chairman < Speakers < Previous Next > Jamie Ounan Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Inner Circle Consulting Jamie Ounan is the Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Inner Circle Consulting, where he has played a pivotal role in delivering transformative regeneration projects across East London. From the 2012 Olympics and Crossrail to local estate renewal and community-led cultural initiatives, Jamie has spent over a decade driving change in some of the UK’s most complex urban environments. With a background spanning city planning, economic growth, and infrastructure, Jamie transitioned to service design and system transformation, helping local leaders achieve… Show More

Simon AllsopManaging Consultant < Speakers < Previous Next > Simon Allsop Managing Consultant CIPFA Simon Allsop is a CIPFA qualified accountant and a Managing Consultant with CIPFA. He was previously the joint Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer) for both Derbyshire Police and Fire. He has 30 years of experience working with and in a range of public-sector bodies mainly local government, fire and police. He has extensive experience of audit and advisory work as a former senior manager in KPMG’s public sector audit and advisory team working with the NAO and Audit Commission,… Show More

Barry Quirk CBESpecial Advisor < Speakers < Previous Next > Barry Quirk CBE Special Advisor LGA, and to PwC’s public sector practice Barry is an advisor to local government on governance, management and strategy. In October 2022, he completed a 45 year service record in London’s local government. This was mostly as a chief executive: first at Lewisham (1993-2017), and then at RB Kensington and Chelsea (2017-2022). He has worked in every form of governance and has deep experience of both service and democratic innovation. He has a PhD in the political and social geography of public policy. His 2013… Show More