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Stand TBC < Back Norse Group norsegroup.co.uk About Norse Group At Norse Group, we deliver the spaces and services that help communities thrive. As the UK’s largest Local Authority Trading Company, wholly owned by Norfolk County Council, we are rooted in public values and driven by the belief that there’s always a better way to deliver. We are trusted by councils and partners nationwide to provide integrated services across strategic asset and estates management, multidisciplinary design, facilities management, building maintenance, waste and environmental services, and care. These span key public sectors including property and housing, education, and healthcare, creating the foundations that enable communities to function and grow. We operate at the intersection of national policy and local delivery, bridging ambition with action, and making long-term impact real, scalable, and rooted in place. Built around people We work in close partnership with local authorities, public sector bodies, emergency services, and education providers to deliver tailored solutions. These relationships are built on trust, transparency, and shared objectives, enabling us to support both operational delivery and long-term strategy. By combining expertise with flexibility, we help clients sustain vital services, adapt to evolving demands, and achieve better outcomes for the communities they serve. From everyday essentials to life’s most critical moments, we are proud to be part of the public service journey – powering local potential and supporting those who need us most.

All Speakers Mike Land City Manager of Coppell, Texas, and President-Elect of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Michael Land is the City Manager of Coppell, Texas, a role he has held since 2017 following five years as Deputy City Manager. With over three decades of public service experience, Mike is also the President-Elect of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). His career includes serving as Town Manager for Prosper, City Manager and Community Development Director for Gainesville, Texas, and Planning & Zoning Director in Tavares, Florida. He also worked in private-sector land planning in Sarasota and Orlando, where he chaired Sarasota County’s Affordable Housing Task Force. Mike is a Credentialed Manager through ICMA, a Certified Public Manager, and holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design and Master of Science in Land Development from Texas A&M University. He is a graduate of the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia and holds a Project Management Certificate from Duke University. A dedicated mentor and leader, Mike has served as President of the Texas City Management Association, on the ICMA Board of Directors, and on advisory boards for Texas State University, UTA’s MPA program, and Texas Women’s Leadership Institute. Recognized among “21 Leaders for the 21st Century” by the Collin County Business Press, Mike is committed to advancing professional local government and fostering community success. He and his wife Lisa live in Coppell and enjoy spending time with their three daughters and four grandchildren. Thursday 16 October 2025 12:15–13:15 International Perspective Main Stage, New Dock Hall Go to session

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

Manny Singh Planning Services Improvement Manager < Speakers < Previous Next > Manny Singh Planning Services Improvement Manager Wealden District Council Manny has worked in local government for eighteen years and the Private Sector for four years and is the Planning Services Improvement Manager. Manny is passionate about public services and how he can contribute to differences he can make to our residents and communities. His professional journey has been defined by a commitment to enhancing the customer journey, improving service access, and influencing managed services with a firm belief that exceptional results can be achieved in even the most dynamic… Show More

All Speakers Nicola Monk Divisional CEO, Energy & Environment, Procurement & Partnerships, Commercial Services Group Nicola joined Commercial Services Group in 2023 as Divisional CEO following a successful career in local government. A highly regarded executive leader with exceptional skills in public sector strategy and management, Nicola’s role is to deliver outstanding commercial growth across our Energy & Environment and Procurement & Partnerships divisions, ensuring the Group’s customer, people and social value ambitions are achieved along the way. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:00–15:40 Shaping Communities – How Leaders Unlock Social and Economic Value Barton Suite, Royal Armouries Go to session

< All sponsors Engage Process Stand 5 www.engageprocess.com Engage Process empowers leaders to bridge cost savings with better service delivery. Our platform delivers strategic insight through collaborative process improvement, allowing teams to visualise, analyse, and optimise services. Trusted across government, we support informed decision-making, helping organisations deliver high-impact changes and continuous improvement for their communities.

Lucy TruemanFounder & Managing Director < Speakers < Previous Next > Lucy Trueman Founder & Managing Director Trueman Change Meet Lucy, our Founder and Managing Director, an exceptional and perceptive leader in the public sector change domain, boasting an impressive 20 years of experience in designing and executing transformational journeys and fostering cultural change. With experience in a wide range of local authorities around the country, Lucy is able to quickly assess cultures and design tailor made approaches to driving change which really makes a difference. Lucy has recently completed a masters in Organisational Psychology, with her research… Show More

Dr Khadija OwusuAward-winning Leader, International Speaker and Junior Doctor < Speakers < Previous Next > Dr Khadija Owusu Award-winning Leader, International Speaker and Junior Doctor Dr Khadija Owusu is an award-winning Leader, International Speaker and Junior Doctor. She is the Founder of AKAYA, Director of Programmes at Melanin Medics, Equality and Diversity Board Member at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School, Ambassador at GUBA-Enterprise and Trustee. Khadija is a change agent, a voice for thousands of Black and Ethnic minority aspiring medics, medical students and doctors as she works to tackle issues on equality, diversity, and inclusion. She also has special interests in female empowerment and global health; impacting the lives of thousands… 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

All Speakers Kate Joseph CB Chief Executive, Sheffield City Council Kate Josephs CB joined Sheffield City Council as Chief Executive in January 2021, having spent 20 years as a senior leader in national government in the UK and United States. Since arriving in Sheffield Kate has overseen the creation of ambitious, outcome focussed plans to guide the city’s recovery from COVID, respond to the cost-of-living crisis and drive the city’s long-term prosperity, enabling the people of Sheffield to achieve their potential and aiming to be a global leader in the climate transition. Kate has initiated a wide-ranging programme of self-reflection and culture change in the Council; and partnered with leaders across the city to support an innovative project to reimagine Sheffield’s future, engaging a diverse range of citizens. As Chief Executive she leads a diverse organisation of over 8000 staff, delivering critical services for our city and supporting the cross-party political administration to deliver on their priorities. Kate is the Chief Executive Chair of Core Cities UK and co-chair of the advisory board for 3Ci, The UK Cities Commission for Climate Investment. Kate is a trustee of the Resolution Foundation, the independent national think-tank focused on improving living standards for those on low to middle incomes. Kate’s career as a senior leader in the UK civil service included positions in HM Treasury; the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit; and the Department for Education (DfE).  Kate joined Sheffield from the Number 10 / Cabinet Office COVID 19 Taskforce where she was Director General; in June 2021 she was awarded Companion status, The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, in HM the Queen’s birthday honours in recognition of exemplary public service during her civil service career. Kate also spent time living in Washington D.C. working for the US Federal Government during the Obama Administration, including as Executive Director of the White House Performance Improvement Council, working across US Government Agencies – on priorities from veterans’ affairs to STEM education – with a mission to advance and expand the practice of performance analytics and improvement. Kate grew up in and went to comprehensive school in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was educated at Oxford University and the London School of Economics & Political Science, and lives in Sheffield with her husband and two children.

Saba HussainPrincipal Partnerships Policy & Commissioning Lead < Speakers < Previous Next > Saba Hussain Principal Partnerships Policy & Commissioning Lead Surrey County Council Saba is a dedicated and passionate local government Officer with over 20 years of experience working with partners to ensure residents live their best lives and striving to create access to opportunities for all. As well as being the front door for charities in Surrey, leading key commissions and improvements, Saba has delivered some major, sustainable, innovative, high-impact change programmes and projects including making Surrey the first county to eradicate period poverty by providing free period products to anyone who… Show More

BECOME A SPEAKER Share your expertise Session submissions for this year’s Summit are now closed. Thank you to everyone who contributed their ideas.