Search this site

All Speakers Eleanor Kelly Former Chief Executive Thursday 16 October 2025 15:00–15:40 Life Safety First: Turning Risk into Assurance Hall B, Royal Armouries Go to session

Robin TuddenhamChief Executive & Policy Lead < Speakers < Previous Next > Robin Tuddenham Chief Executive & Policy Lead Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council & Solace Policy Lead for Economic Prosperity Robin is responsible for leading both the council and CCG workforce, and supporting system leadership across the area with public, private and voluntary sector leaders in support of Calderdale Vision 2024. Robin is the lead Chief Executive for Workforce Development and Cohesion, Resilience and Migration Issues for Yorkshire and Humber. He is co-chair of West Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, and a member of West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership Executive Group (also known as an integrated care system),… Show More

All Speakers Chris Naylor Solace Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Chris Naylor is a respected public service leader and reformer with over 25 years’ experience transforming local government. Formerly Chief Executive of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, he led nationally recognised work on inclusive growth, civic engagement, and prevention. In 2020, he was seconded to Birmingham City Council to help steer the organisation through the pandemic and preparations for the Commonwealth Games, earning recognition as Municipal Journal’s Chief Executive of the Year . Now Managing Director at Inner Circle Consulting, Chris supports public institutions to design and deliver lasting social impact and financial sustainability. He also serves as a Trustee of the Design Council and childhood trauma charity Body & Soul. A Chartered Accountant and Cambridge graduate in Social and Political Sciences, Chris combines financial acumen with a passion for people, place and public purpose, advocating for bold, values-driven reform to create thriving, equitable communities. Thursday 16 October 2025 11:35–12:15 Equity and Purpose – Progress, Possibility and the Path Ahead Main Stage, New Dock Hall Go to session

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Main Stage, New Dock Hall 11:35–12:15 Equity and Purpose – Progress, Possibility and the Path Ahead Chair Kirsty Wark, Speaker, Award-Winning Journalist and Presenter Speaker/s Chris Naylor, Solace Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Nazeya Hussain, Solace Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion In a world where the political, social and cultural ground is shifting faster than many of us can keep pace with, this session invites senior leaders to pause and reflect on what it means to lead with equity and purpose. As global narratives become more divisive and local realities more complex, the role of local government must evolve - not just as a service provider, but as a builder of trust, connection, and democratic resilience. This conversation will not dwell on past commitments, but rather challenge us to reimagine how we show up as leaders now. How do we foster belonging when communities are increasingly polarised? How do we ensure representation isn’t just a number, but a felt experience within our organisations and the communities we serve? Join us for an unflinching, honest and necessary discussion about the responsibilities we carry, and the possibilities we must unlock, as we lead effectively through the volatility of today and into the uncertainty of tomorrow.

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Main Stage, New Dock Hall 16:30–17:30 Keynote Empowering the Vulnerable: Lemn Sissay's Journey of Advocacy and Change Speaker/s Lemn Sissay OBE FRSL, Playwright, memoirist, performer and broadcaster Join Lemn Sissay, acclaimed poet and tireless advocate, as he delves into his transformative journey from a child in the care system to a powerful voice for change. In this keynote, Lemn will share his personal experiences with local authorities and the profound impact these experiences had on his life. He will discuss his dedicated advocacy work, aimed at empowering vulnerable children and driving systemic reform. Through his compelling narrative, Lemn will inspire attendees to recognise the importance of supporting and uplifting those in care, and to join him in his mission to create a more just and compassionate system.

All Speakers Averil Price Solace Associate and Director, Avie Consultancy The Legacy Coach for senior public service leaders in transition – promotion, pivot, or retirement. I am a senior leader with 20+ years wide-ranging experience as a Local Authority Director. Following a serious brain haemorrhage, I transitioned from local government to self-employed business owner in 2022. As Director of Avie Consultancy Limited I deliver executive legacy coaching & consultancy to individuals and local authorities in the UK. I help leaders plan and execute a successful transition to whatever their next stage is. And I help them celebrate the impact they have made so far in their lives, their leadership legacy. As a Solace Associate, I provide coaching, action learning set facilitation and leadership development courses at a national level. My book ‘The Legacy Coach’ will be published, hopefully, in October 2025, providing an ideal companion for leaders’ transitional journeys. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:45–16:25 The Leader’s Mirror: Defining the Legacy You Leave Behind Bury Theatre, Royal Armouries Go to session

All Speakers Helen Bailey Chief Executive, London Borough of Sutton Helen Bailey is the Chief Executive of the London Borough of Sutton. She has previously served as Chief Executive of the London Borough of Islington and on an interim basis at North Somerset. She was director of Public Services at HM Treasury overseeing spending on health, housing, education, local government and devolved administration and public service reform between 2008 and 2011. Helen also has experience leading the Mayor's office for Policing and Crime. She has been a management consultant working on public service leadership and organisation issues in a career that started with the Greater London Councils. Friday 17 October 20225 11:10–12:00 Leading Through A Crisis Main Stage, New Dock Hall Go to session

All Speakers Simon Allsop B.Com, CPFA Managing Consultant, CIPFA Simon Allsop is a CIPFA qualified accountant and a Senior 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, including supporting the development of medium term financial strategies, budget and financial management review methodologies and corporate services value for money benchmarking tools. Other past advisory roles have included secondments to Birmingham City Council to provide support on the Council’s Estates Development programme and the Home Office to help review proposals for Police mergers. Simon leads on CIPFA's financial resilience work and the delivery of our work for DLUHC in supporting financially challenged local authorities and recent reviews of workforce capacity and capability working with the LGA. He is currently supporting a number of authorities to assess their financial resilience and recovery plans and has also undertaken a number of reviews of high debt authorities and local authority companies. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:45–16:25 Local Government Reorganisation: Practical Advice and Support Aire Suite, Royal Armouries Go to session

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Hall B, Royal Armouries 15:00–15:40 Workshop Life Safety First: Turning Risk into Assurance Speaker/s Lee Goodenough, Executive Director, Harmony Fire Lord Gary Porter, Political Leader and National Voice on Housing Safety Kevin Bolt MBA, Managing Director, Step-Change Management Eleanor Kelly, Former Chief Executive Session Outline and Objectives How do you save £20 million and shave six years off your building safety programme—without cutting corners? That’s exactly what Edinburgh Council achieved using the Life Safety First Framework : a board-level toolkit that turns unknown risk into full assurance, with resident safety at its core. In a post-Grenfell world, regulators, residents, and boards are demanding answers. Downgrades, budget chaos, and blind compliance are leaving councils exposed. And while AI and smart tech promise breakthroughs, without a solid safety framework they can create more confusion than clarity. This high-energy panel brings together: Lee Goodenough , CRO, who shaped the framework now transforming safety across the UK. Lord Gary Porter , political leader and national voice on housing safety. Takeaways A proven roadmap – how downgraded councils can restore credibility and regulatory confidence. Smarter investment – the £20m/6-year lesson: spending the right money on the right risks. Future-ready safety – why AI and smart tech only work when built on a strong, accurate analytical base. Come curious, leave equipped : this is not another policy talk—it’s a practical, regulator-aligned framework that could transform your council’s safety strategy, balance sheet, and reputation. Delivered by

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 City Square 08:30–10:15 Walking Study Tour Leeds South Bank Regeneration A tour of South Bank’s flagship developments including Aire Park and Points Cross, taking in transformational major mixed-use schemes, connectivity improvements, affordable housing and public realm projects. With the opportunity to explore the potential for infrastructure-led economic growth in this strategically located part of the city.

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

Richard GawthorpeGroup Business Development Director < Speakers < Previous Next > Richard Gawthorpe Group Business Development Director Norse Group As Norse Group Business Development Director, Richard is at the forefront of driving strategic client retention, acquiring new clients, and fostering revenue growth, all with a strong focus on sustainability and environmental consciousness. With over 30 years of experience in the built environment for private and public sectors, he understands that achieving a net-zero carbon future requires collaborative efforts and innovative solutions. Richard is known for his ability to cultivate long-term relationships and joint venture partnerships, which are crucial to… Show More