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Florence ObinnaHead of Insight & Engagement < Speakers < Previous Next > Florence Obinna Head of Insight & Engagement London Borough of Hackney Florence brings more than 17 years in local government roles and leads a multi-disciplinary team responsible for delivering high-quality opinion research, public consultation and stakeholder engagement at Hackney Council. Florence was LGComms Future Leaders Graduate in the class of 2019-2020 and has co-authored the Keep London Safe Campaign COVID-19 Insight Toolkit. Florence is passionate about increasing the participation of diverse communities in democracy ensuring that they are able to influence what happens in their local areas.

Rebecca RileyDeputy Pro Vice Chancellor Regional Engagement and Co-Director at City-REDI, University of Birmingham, and Director of the UKRI funded LPIP Strategic Hub < Speakers < Previous Next > Rebecca Riley Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor Regional Engagement and Co-Director at City-REDI, University of Birmingham, and Director of the UKRI funded LPIP Strategic Hub Rebecca Riley career bridges regional government and academic research. She is currently the Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor for Regional Engagement at the University of Birmingham, where she leads efforts to strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders in Whitehall, Metro Mayors, local government and business. As Co-Director of City-REDI, a research institute focused on driving economic growth and resilience in cities and regions, Rebecca supports local and regional policy-making through evidence-based insights and strategic decision-making. In her role as Director of… Show More

< Back Previous Business Partner Zencity (formerly Commonplace) https://zencity.io/ Zencity powers the work of government with community voices. Zencity, formerly Commonplace in the UK, helps local authorities, police forces and public sector organisations understand what their communities need, reach more residents and make better, evidence-led decisions. Our AI-native platform brings together three products: Listen, Ask and Communicate. Listen helps teams understand public sentiment, identify emerging issues and analyse community feedback at scale. Ask enables organisations to run inclusive consultations and representative surveys, gather input and build stronger evidence for policy and service decisions. Communicate helps public sector teams share information clearly, respond to community concerns and strengthen trust through relevant, effective engagement. Across the UK, we have supported more than 20,000 projects, helping public sector organisations improve services, shape local plans, inform budgeting, support public safety and communicate effectively with residents. By combining actively collected feedback with wider community insight, we help decision-makers move beyond hearing from the same small group of participants. Our platform enables teams to identify key themes, understand how different groups experience local services and demonstrate how resident input has influenced decisions. We also give teams tools to manage engagement efficiently from one place, reducing manual analysis and helping insights reach the right people faster. This supports more confident decisions, clearer reporting and stronger accountability across departments, programmes and leadership teams. The result is a more inclusive, transparent and responsive approach to public service, grounded in real community evidence rather than assumptions alone. Join over 600 local governments using AI-native infrastructure for community-driven workflows. zencity.io/uk Next

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Barton Suite, Royal Armouries 15:45-16:25 Roundtable The Silent Stakeholder: Why Residents Deserve a Seat at the LGR Table Speaker/s Asim Ali, VP of UK Sales, Granicus Jonathan Bradley, Senior Experience Partner, Granicus As Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) continues to reshape the public sector landscape, many conversations understandably focus on governance, efficiency, and cost-saving. But what about the people these changes are ultimately meant to serve? This roundtable explores LGR through a different lens—that of the resident. While councils are working hard to manage complex transitions, there remains a widespread challenge: many residents are unclear about what LGR means, how it affects them, or even who their new council will be. This isn’t a failure of intent—it’s a call to strengthen communication and engagement strategies. As councils grow in size and scope, the need to segment audiences and deliver timely, relevant, and accessible information becomes more critical than ever. In this session, we’ll explore: Why resident understanding and engagement must be central to any successful LGR strategy. How to ensure residents feel informed, included, and supported throughout the LGR process. The role of digital engagement and human-centred design in building trust and clarity. Practical strategies for delivering the right message to the right people at the right time. How councils can balance internal transformation with external transparency. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on how to make LGR not just a structural success—but a human one. Together, we’ll explore how councils can continue to lead with empathy, clarity, and purpose. Delivered by

Jessica MullingerDirector of Interim Management < Speakers < Previous Next > Jessica Mullinger Director of Interim Management Solace in Business

Matthew CroucherEV Services Director < Speakers < Previous Next > Matthew Croucher EV Services Director Believ Matt Croucher is EV Services Director at Believ, a fast-growing UK charge point operator part owned by Liberty Global (the owners of Virgin Media/O2) and the Treasury, and on a mission to ensure everyone has access to convenient EV charge points and can make the switch away from internal combustion engine vehicles, including those without access to off-street parking. Prior to joining Believ (formerly Liberty Charge) Matt was the Zero Emission Mobility lead at WSP, one the world's leading planning… Show More

Dr Catherine HoweChief Executive < Speakers < Previous Next > Dr Catherine Howe Chief Executive Adur and Worthing Councils Dr Catherine Howe is Chief Executive of Adur and Worthing Councils. She is an expert in digital innovation, focusing on the area of digital democracy and systems practice and has a background which connects together technology, community and social change. Catherine has worked across a number of different sectors including education, not for profit and the technology industry. Catherine was CEO of a successful SME, Public-i Group Ltd, before moving to Capita to redevelop Capita’s digital transformation approach and then… Show More

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Bury Theatre, Royal Armouries 15:45–16:25 Workshop The Leader’s Mirror: Defining the Legacy You Leave Behind Speaker/s Averil Price, Solace Associate and Director, Avie Consultancy As a senior leader in local government, your impact extends far beyond day-to-day decision-making. The legacy you leave, whether through policies, leadership culture, or the development of future leaders, shapes communities for years to come. This interactive session on Legacy Coaching will help you define, articulate, and strengthen your professional and personal legacy while preparing for the next chapter of your career. A timely session with further local government reorganisation and devolution in England and a working group of elected leaders and chief executives looking to develop a clear vision and a set of proposals that can support a sustainable future for local government in Wales. This workshop will provide a structured and reflective space to consider: The achievements and influence you want to be remembered for. What steps you are considering next in your career and how to transition purposefully. How you can help your team prepare for their future too. Delivered by

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

All Speakers Gareth Fairweather Senior Leader, Urban and Regional, Arup Gareth is a senior leader in urban and regional development, transport strategy, infrastructure investment, and governance. His background in town planning, transport-led regeneration and placemaking sees him take an outcomes and systems-led approach his work, supporting clients position infrastructure and investments as enablers of wider change. He has a sharp focus on good governance, collaboration and structured partnership working, bringing a strong understanding of the opportunities presented through devolution. 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

All Speakers Dr Owen Williams OBE Chief Executive,Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust Owen started in post as Chief Executive of the NCA FT in November 2021. Prior to this appointment, he was Chief Executive of Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT), a position which he has held since 2012. In 2020 he was granted the degree of Doctor of Business Administration by the University of Huddersfield following the successful completion of his thesis which commenced 6 years previously in 2014. In the 2019 New Year’s Honours list he was awarded an OBE for service to health care across West Yorkshire and was asked to lead a National piece of work across the NHS in England with regards to reducing Health Inequalities. He was previously Vice Chair of the NHS Confederation and prior to joining the NHS he has worked across Local Government including two roles as Chief Executive at Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council and Rossendale District Borough Council. Before working in the Public Sector, he worked in commercial business including his first employment at the Yorkshire Building Society. He is passionate about reducing health inequality and ensuring that no communities - regardless of race, colour or creed - get left behind. Thursday 16 October 2025 14:15–14:55 Local Power, National Plan: Delivering the 10-Year Health Strategy Bury Theatre, Royal Armouries Go to session

< Back Previous Org The Electoral Commission https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk More information to come. Next