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All Speakers Dr Mariana Pexton Deputy Chief Executive, Leeds City Council Mariana is the Deputy Chief Executive at Leeds City Council, with responsibility for oversight of the Strategy and Resources directorate. She leads the council's cross-cutting transformation agenda and public sector reform and serves as the primary liaison with senior health partners. Strategy & Resources is a large directorate of about 5,000 staff including Finance, Human Resources, Digital, Legal and Governance, Shared Services, Strategy and Performance, Communications and Marketing, and crucially a service called Civic Enterprise Leeds that delivers many vital front-line services such as catering, cleaning, school crossing patrols, passenger transport and building repairs. She leads the strategic developments for Leeds City Council, including the Best City Ambition, and plays a key corporate role supporting councillors. Mariana has previously been employed in senior in roles in Leeds in Strategy, Customer Services and Children’s Services. Prior to joining the council in 2000, Mariana enjoyed a career in leadership and management in the Civil Service and an Inspectorate. She studied Sports Studies in Newcastle as her first degree and has a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Leeds. Mariana has recently been awarded a Doctorate in Business Administration at Leeds Beckett University, following research into local government leadership and strategy. She is married, with two children aged 24 and 16. Mariana is also chair of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation and a Director at Leeds Rhinos Netball as a volunteer. She loves family holidays in Menorca, and was proud to complete the first Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon in 2023. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:45–16:25 Leading with Purpose: Exploring the Nexus of Strategy and Leadership in Local Government Hall A, Royal Armouries Go to session

Martin NealeCEO < Speakers < Previous Next > Martin Neale CEO ICS.AI Martin is an experienced entrepreneur and a visionary in digital AI innovation, with a track record of launching over 20 cutting-edge technologies. Passionate about generative AI, he sees it as the key to the fifth industrial revolution. Martin's expertise propels the company’s innovation, transforming the UK public sector and revolutionising Local Government. Martin is driven by the endless potential of AI, focusing on its transformative capabilities. He strongly believes in the thoughtful and ethical integration of AI, aiming to provide… Show More

All Speakers Lord Gary Porter Political Leader and National Voice on Housing Safety Lord Gary Porter is a political leader and respected national voice on housing safety. With decades of public service, he has championed initiatives that protect residents and strengthen accountability. His influence spans policy, regulation, and advocacy, ensuring safety remains a priority in housing at both local and national levels. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:00–15:40 Life Safety First: Turning Risk into Assurance Hall B, Royal Armouries Go to session

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

Ringo CheungProgramme Manager - Transport Partnerships - Delivering Capital Infrastructure Projects < Speakers < Previous Next > Ringo Cheung Programme Manager - Transport Partnerships - Delivering Capital Infrastructure Projects West Yorkshire Combined Authority I have 18 years of management experience with a focus on inclusive leadership. Throughout my career, I have developed skills in communication, staff development, humility, and courage, all to deliver results. I am passionate about creating environments where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their best. Currently, I am taking part in the Solace Amplify Diverse Leadership course to develop my skills for higher-level responsibilities. I believe that continuous learning is essential in today’s ever-changing world. This course… Show More

Daniel MouawadChief Executive < Speakers < Previous Next > Daniel Mouawad Chief Executive Spelthorne Borough Council Daniel was appointed Chief Executive of Spelthorne Borough Council in 2017 and has been at the forefront of pioneering initiatives that the authority has delivered for its communities. In 2021, Spelthorne became the first local authority in the country to convert part of its active civic building into affordable housing for residents. Annually, the council's commercial property investment work has invested over £10 million pounds into key community support services. This autumn, the authority will be opening the world's largest… Show More

< All sponsors Govmetric Stand 23 www.govmetric.com Customer engagement solutions built for the public sector. Harness the power of the customer voice to design services that meet the needs of your citizens and communities.

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

Stand TBC < Back Hill www.hill.co.uk Our vision is to be the UK’s leading and most trusted housebuilder, creating exceptional homes and sustainable communities. Since we were founded in 1999, we have established ourselves as the country’s second largest family-owned house builder with a reputation as the partner of choice for local authorities and housing associations. We deliver around 3,000 new homes per annum as well as mixed-use development which helps to regenerate town centres providing a catalyst for further investment. Being financially robust gives our partners further confidence we will deliver on any promises made. Investment Partnerships Hill has adopted an innovative Investment Partnership approach to jointly develop land with local authorities and is delivering at scale. Why: It was established to provide solutions for local authorities to optimise opportunities from their property assets as well as from land jointly acquired What: It generates long-term council revenue, affordable housing and regeneration at pace Where: It is a tried and tested model that is delivering across the south-east Solohaus Our fully modular Solohaus, Duohaus and Familyhaus homes are a low-carbon, quick-install solution for tackling the issue of homelessness. Through the Foundation 200 project we are also donating homes to local authorities. Sustainability We collaboratively deliver environmental and socio-economic actions to improve the health, well-being and lifestyle of residents and communities to support a Just Transition. Social Value Hill places people at the heart of everything it does, working with local authorities to create tangible social value that positively impacts communities. Our strategy targets education to employment, local business support, and community health and belonging.

Sarah WarrenSEND/EHCP Advisor < Speakers < Previous Next > Sarah Warren SEND/EHCP Advisor Agilisys Sarah is the SEND/EHCP Advisor at Agilisys Transform, on the EHCP Plus solution. Before joining Agilisys, Sarah spent over 14 years working in local authority SEND teams as a Caseworker and EHC Plan Writer, as well as previously as a teacher in a SEND school. Work has been for over 15 different local authorities, giving insight into different ways of working and EHC Plan styles and formats. Sarah has been working closely with the team at Agilisys to help develop and optimise… Show More

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Aire Suite, Royal Armouries 15:45–16:25 Roundtable Local Government Reorganisation: Practical Advice and Support Speaker/s Simon Allsop B.Com, CPFA, Managing Consultant, CIPFA John O’Halloran, Director of Consultancy, CIPFA Let’s be honest: Local Government Reorganisation isn’t easy. But done right, it can lead to stronger, more sustainable services for your communities. In this session, CIPFA will offer practical tools and guidance to help you navigate the financial side of reorganisation. You’ll get a first look at the new CIPFA financial template – developed to bring consistency, clarity, and confidence to your proposals. Whether you’re deep in the middle of structural change or just starting to scope the options, this session will show you how to make your financial case clearly and credibly. You’ll hear how the framework, co-designed with F3 Consultancy, supports transparency, helps uncover hidden costs and savings, and provides the evidence base central government wants to see. This session is for you if you want to drive local government reform that’s not just politically viable, but financially sound too. Takeaways Understand how CIPFA’s new financial template can support your reorganisation business case Learn how to present cost/saving data in a way that builds confidence with stakeholders and government Explore real-world examples of how councils are approaching financial planning through reform Take home practical guidance you can apply immediately in your own local context Delivered by

Professor Catherine StaiteEmeritus Professor of Public Management < Speakers < Previous Next > Professor Catherine Staite Emeritus Professor of Public Management University of Birmingham Professor Catherine Staite LLB, MBA, FRSA is an Emeritus Professor of Public Management at the University of Birmingham. She is involved in research and consultancy, specialising in leadership and governance. She currently works with Darlingburn Ltd, providing specialist consultancy in governance, especially where councils are at high risk of failure. She is a former Director of the Institute of Local Government Studies (INLOGOV) and a former Director of the Office for Public Management. Between 2001 and 2005 she worked for… Show More