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Dr William BurnsSocial Care Policy Advisor < Speakers < Previous Next > Dr William Burns Social Care Policy Advisor CIPFA William leads on CIPFA’s work in adult and children’s social care. His work focuses on sustainable social care reform, and he has produced thought leadership in the areas of charging reform, children’s social care reform, Scotland’s National Care Service, social care funding, and demand management.

2026 People Georgia Turner Read More Ian Bancroft Read More Lindsey Pearce Read More Robin Tuddenham Read More Rachel McKoy Read More Paul Amann Read More Ben Dyson Read More Danielle Gillespie Read More Jonathan Stephenson Read More Nick Kennell Read More Emma Foy Read More Philip Dobson Read More Clare Redfern Read More Nikita Hunt Read More Kim Wright Read More Pippa Milne Read More Simon Allsop Read More Kurtis Toy Read More Ashley John-Baptiste Read More Claire Trickett Read More Jess Gibbons Read More Victoria Derbyshire Read More Kath O'Dwyer Read More Sir John Curtice Read More Bev Thomas Read More Samantha Allen CBE Read More Ododo Ediagbonya Read More Greg Campbell Read More Mark Lloyd CBE Read More Jonathan Werran Read More Nicola Monk Read More Victoria Shaw Read More Paul Robinson Read More Alison McCullagh Read More Matt O'Neill Read More Madeline Smith Read More Koyejo Olugbile Read More Sue Featherstone Read More Chris Wales Read More Andrew Lewis Read More Cllr Hannah Dalton Read More Sam Hartley Read More Alison Barker Read More Pam Smith Read More Sudeshna Banerjee Read More Paul Brace Read More Kathryn Rees Read More Marcus Richards Read More Dr Jonathan Carr-West Read More André K. Small Read More Dr David Parr OBE Read More Emma Palmer Read More Jessica Mullinger Read More Ted Twaalfhoven Read More Kelli Maynard Read More

All Speakers Ciara Graven Consultant – Economics and Casemaking Team, Arup Ciara is a Consultant in the Economics and Casemaking team at Arup providing strategy, planning and economic services to private and public sector clients. She specialises in developing the vision, strategy and economic narrative for regeneration, development and infrastructure proposals in cities, towns and their regions. She is a certified practitioner in authoring HMT Green Book compliant business cases for investment and undertake socio-economic needs analysis and impact assessments for planning and policy and provide strategic advice on inclusive growth and project appraisal, delivery and management. She is currently working on several projects that include providing strategic advice to the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority on their Local Growth Plan and Investment Pipeline and supporting the development of an Economic Strategy for the Humber region. 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

FAQ page for the Solace Summit conference; an event designed for local government and public sector professionals. Help Centre Whether you're getting ready for the Solace Summit or need support during the event, this is your go-to spot for answers. From travel and timings to session access and venue details, we’ve gathered the most common questions and key resources to help you have a smooth, stress-free experience. Need more help? Call us on 0207 233 0081 or email events@solace.org.uk and we’ll be happy to assist. Frequently asked questions Miscellaneous Venue Information Refunds & Transfers Programme Evening Events Special Assistance Dietary Requirements Travel Partnership Accommodation & Parking Exhibitors Will you be filming or photographing the Summit? Please be advised that filming and/or photography will be taking place for the duration of the Solace Summit. Solace reserves the right to photograph and video any or all aspects of its events for training and/or promotional purposes, including event attendees, without the expressed written permission of persons who may be included in such photograph or video by virtue of their attendance. Solace may use any event photograph or video in full or in edited version in publications or other media materials produced, including but not limited to brochures, magazines, newspapers, websites and social media. If any event attendee does not wish for us to use their image or likeness, they should inform us by emailing, events@solace.org.uk and include the following information: Email subject: Use of personal image   Event title Event date Event location In signing up for this event I understand that it is my responsibility to email Solace and advise in writing if I do not wish my likeness or image collected at this event to be used as indicated.

< Back Previous Breakout, Sponsor EY https://www.ey.com/en_uk EY (Ernst & Young) is a leading professional services firm that provides a wide range of services including audit, tax, consulting, and strategy. We work with clients across the Public and Private sector to help them navigate complex business challenges, enhance performance, and deliver transformation that positively impacts the lives of citizens. We have a dedicated Local Public Services (LPS) team that focuses on helping local authorities including devolved and regional government deliver improved and effective outcomes to the communities they serve. Next

< Back Previous Exhibitor, Sponsor Transform https://www.transformuk.com Stand 10 Transform is a fresh alternative to Big Consulting. As an end-to-end partner, we define, design, build and operate systems that tackle complex challenges, combining strategy, data, AI, technology and change. Focused on public sector and public-facing organisations, we deliver measurable impact and use technology to improve lives. We're all in. Next

Day One Day Two Previous Next Friday 17 October 20225 Main Stage, New Dock Hall 12:50–13:00 President's Closing Speech Speaker/s Robin Tuddenham, President of Solace and Chief Executive, Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

< Back Previous Exhibitor, Sponsor Vizzia https://www.vizzia.com/en Stand D Councils know their fly-tipping hotspots. Building cases that hold up is the problem. Vizzia's cameras detect every incident and send officers court-ready evidence. Case time drops from three hours to three minutes. Across 250+ European councils, incidents fall by 80% on average. UK councils include Harrow, Lewisham and Blackpool. Next

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Pearl Suite, Royal Armouries 15:45–16:25 Workshop Public Collaborations: What are they for? Who does all the work? How long do they last? And who really benefits? Speaker/s Ed Whiting OBE, Chief Executive, Leeds City Council Kersten England CBE, Chair, The Young Foundation; Director of Engagement, Bradford 2025 Dr Peter O’Brien, Executive Director, Yorkshire Universities Sarah Norman, Chief Executive, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, and Chair of the Yorkshire and Humber Councils’ Chief Executives’ Group Yorkshire Universities (YU) with its strategic partners, Yorkshire and Humber Councils (YHC), and the HYPERLINK Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network (Y-PERN), will share their experiences of collaboration between Higher Education Institutions (HEI) and local and mayoral combined authorities (MCAs) to drill down on what and how these relations really add value for people, places, business, and to what end. Public authority leaders are currently faced with a myriad of complex problems and finite resources. Long-term institutional structures are being reconfigured, and unprecedented global and geopolitical forces are shaping and remaking government policy agendas. Navigating these norms requires a renewed commitment to work in tandem with people, communities and places to overcome specific challenges and to realise the benefits of new and emergent opportunities. Four years after the launch of the pioneering Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between YU and YHC, there is a renewed commitment to work in partnership, and to help champion a collective voice for Yorkshire. Local government is no stranger to navigating acute financial pressures, and the region’s universities now face similar resource constraints. However, it would be a false economy to retreat into sector isolationism at a time when civic partnerships are needed more than ever, despite collaboration being labour intensive and demanding. The first phase of collaboration between YU and YHC (2021 – 2025) has yielded substantial results: £10 million of national funding awarded by UK Research & Innovation has seen Y-PERN and the Yorkshire and Humber Policy Innovation Partnership (YPIP) deepening research partnerships across HEIs, MCAs, local authorities, communities, and the NHS, to activate collective knowledge and understanding. Nationally, the MoU is seen as an exemplar of good practice and it is playing a pivotal role in helping to utilise a further £20 million of investment from the National Institute for Health Research to tackle widening health inequalities in local places, as well as providing underpinning infrastructure support for the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission . However, behind the scenes, significant effort is required to bring such programmes and networks to fruition and for them to be successful and sustainable. And what about the ideas and initiatives that get away? Or the collaborations that do not take root, result in wasted time and effort, or should prosper but somehow do not? Join us to discuss: Real-life case studies of what has/has not worked and why. Insightful discussion on the benefits and resources needed for impactful collaboration. Place-based examples across a broad and diverse geographical region, with local places at differing stages of devolution, but working on common priorities. Delviered by

John O'HalloranDirector Business Advisory and Consultancy < Speakers < Previous Next > John O'Halloran Director Business Advisory and Consultancy CIPFA John is a highly experienced business manager and management consultant with over 30 years’ experience in both the private and public sectors, now leading CIPFA’s consultancy service. Recently John has helped shape and drive a major cost reduction UK wide programme for police sector, Achieving Finance Excellence in Policing. John has also worked for large civil service departments and every type of local authority in the UK.

All Speakers Mark Gannon Director of Client Solutions, Netcall Mark Gannon, Director of Client Solutions, Netcall. Former CIO at Sheffield City Council, Mark now works with over 30 local authorities to support digital transformation. He will set the stage by outlining the macro-level challenges and opportunities of devolution and service transformation through a digital lens. A senior leader from local government who will share insights from their council's digital transformation journey. They will cover the strategy, goals, and challenges faced during the transition, highlighting the importance of having a clear vision for digitisation and a solid delivery foundation. The session will also offer a practical perspective on achieving digital innovation and continuing service improvements amid significant governance changes. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:00–15:40 Navigating Local Government Reform: Lessons from the Digital Frontline of Devolution Pearl Suite, Royal Armouries Go to session

Networking 16:45–17:45 Drinks Reception Exhibition Previous More information to follow. Next