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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

Devolution and LGR Zone 10:05–10:20 Devolution and LGR Drop-in Rewiring the State Previous Drop in for an informal conversation about devolution and local government reorganisation with the Solace team and associates. Next

Inspector Matthew SpencerInspector < Speakers < Previous Next > Inspector Matthew Spencer Inspector Police Scotland Inspector Spencer is the Community Inspector for Levenmouth in Fife, and is also the deputy local area commander for the Levenmouth area. Inspector Spencer has responsibility for all community and response resources in the station, and has worked in the area since July 2022. He has a background in response and community policing with a number of specialisms including public order, search and CBRN. Inspector Spencer has worked hard to develop a number of areas around public health policing and… Show More

Lucy EasthopeProfessor in Practice of Risk and Hazard, Co-Founder < Speakers < Previous Next > Lucy Easthope Professor in Practice of Risk and Hazard, Co-Founder University of Durham, After Disaster Network Lucy Easthope is the UK’s leading authority on recovering from disaster. She has been an advisor on nearly every major disaster of the past two decades, including the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, 9/11, the 7/7 bombings, the Salisbury Poisonings, Grenfell, and the war in Ukraine. She also advised the Prime Minister’s Office on the Covid-19 pandemic. She challenges others to think differently about what comes next after tragic events, and how to plan for future ones. Lucy grew up in… Show More

Lynn Overmann Executive Director < Speakers < Previous Next > Lynn Overmann Executive Director The Beeck Center at Georgetown University Lynn Overmann is the Executive Director at the Beeck Center at Georgetown University. She previously served as a Senior Advisor for Delivery with the U.S. Digital Service, embedded in the Domestic Policy Council to advise Ambassador Susan Rice on priority policy implementation. In this role, Lynn oversaw teams of digital service experts across diverse projects, including targeted efforts to make the asylum system more effective and humane, increasing access to federal funding for low-capacity communities, and improving the delivery of… Show More

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

All Speakers Jon Gleek Head of Research, LGIU Jon joined LGIU in the summer of 2025 as Head of Research following over a decade of experience in local government in South Yorkshire and London. He has extensive experience of senior management and high-profile roles in councils related to population level research, academic partnerships, insight development for policy making and strategy development, change management and service improvement. Jon is responsible for the organisation’s research and insight function, leading the portfolio of LGIU’s research partnerships and managing the Local Democracy Research Centre. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:00–15:40 Shaping Communities – How Leaders Unlock Social and Economic Value Barton Suite, Royal Armouries Go to session

< Back Previous Exhibitor, Sponsor CCLA Investment Management https://www.ccla.co.uk Stand 17 CCLA is one of the UK’s leading investment managers for local authorities, charities and faith-based organisations, and has been managing funds for more than 60 years. Our aim is to meet our clients’ financial objectives in a way that we believe aligns with their values and furthers their mission. CCLA, part of the Jupiter Group, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Next

Work With Solace Partner with us Partner with us at the Solace Summit to connect with the senior leaders shaping local government, join focused discussions on the issues that matter, and build meaningful relationships with decision-makers across the UK. Get In Touch Download the Working With Solace Brochure

Liz McQueLeadership and Organisational Development Support Facilitator < Speakers < Previous Next > Liz McQue Leadership and Organisational Development Support Facilitator Solace Associate Liz is an experienced public service leader who has worked at chief executive level for over 10 years. Liz has operated as a strategic leader supporting public service organisations representing the interests of local authorities as employers, working with partners to improve outcomes for communities. Much of Liz’s time is spent working with groups facilitating large events involving different partners and smaller team events for senior managers, board members and local politicians. Liz has worked on European projects with senior… Show More

Break 12:45–14:00 Lunch and Exhibition Exhibition Previous More information to follow. Next