08:30–10:15 Summit Delegates: Optional Pre-Conference Walking Study Tours Leeds South Bank Regeneration City Square Regeneration, Culture and Public Art City Square 2025 Programme Day One Day Two 09:15–09:30 Springboard Registration Spring and Summer 25/26 cohorts only Pearl Suite, Royal Armouries 09:30–10:30 Springboard Session Spring and Summer 25/26 cohorts only Pearl Suite, Royal Armouries Facilitator: Liz McQue , Solace Associate Guest Speaker: Robin Tuddenham , Solace President and Chief Executive at Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council 09:15–09:45 New to Summit? First Time Delegates Welcome and Registration Foyer, New Dock Hall 10:00–11:00 Registration All Delegates Foyer, New Dock Hall 10:00–11:00 Exhibition and Refreshments Exhibition, New Dock Hall 11:00–13:15 Featured Compère and Chair: Kirsty Wark Speaker, award-winning journalist and presenter Kirsty Wark will be leading the following sessions. Exhibition, New Dock Hall 11:05–11:15 Welcome from Leeds City Council Main Stage, New Dock Hall Guest Speaker: Ed Whiting , Chief Executive of Leeds City Council 11:15–11:25 Solace President's Opening Speech Main Stage, New Dock Hall Speaker: Robin Tuddenham , Solace President & Chief Executive at Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council 11:25–11:35 Keynote: Finding Home in Halifax: Stela’s Story Main Stage, New Dock Hall Speaker: Stela, service user at St Augustine’s Centre, Halifax 11:35–12:15 Equity and Purpose – Progress, Possibility, and the Path Ahead Main Stage, New Dock Hall Speakers: Chris Naylor, Solace Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Nazeya Hussain , Solace Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 12:15–13:15 International Perspective Main Stage, New Dock Hall Speakers: Mike Land , President Elect, International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Brenda Orchard , President of CAMA and Chief Administrative Officer, Lennox and Addington County Craig Swift-McNair, General Manager, Woollahra Council, Sydney, Australia 13:15–14:15 Exhibition and Lunch Exhibition, New Dock Hall 14:15–14:55 Sub-Plenary A: Local Power, National Plan: Delivering the 10-Year Health Strategy This session will be held under Chatham House Rule. Bury Theatre, Royal Armouries Chair: John Clarke , Head of Client Solution – Healthcare, Netcall Speakers: Tom Stannard , Chief Executive, Manchester City Council and Solace Policy Lead for Health and Social Care Dr Owen Williams , Chief Executive, Northern Care Alliance Sub-Plenary B: 1.5 Million Homes: Ambition, Action, and Accountability This session will be held under Chatham House Rule. Pearl Suite, Royal Armouries Chair: Jon Rouse CBE , Chief Executive, Stoke on Trent City Council and Solace Policy Lead for Housing, Planning & Infrastructure Speaker: Joanna Key , Director General, Regeneration, Housing and Planning, MHCLG 15:00–15:40 Roundtable 1A: Investing in Place to Build Financial Resilience Aire Suite, Royal Armouries Roundtable 1B: Shaping Communities – How Leaders Unlock Social and Economic Value Barton Suite, Royal Armouries Workshop 1A: Amplify – Future Ready Councils: If We Can Share a Problem, We Can Share a Solution Bury Theatre, Royal Armouries Workshop 1B: Navigating Local Government Reform: Lessons from the Digital Frontline of Devolution Pearl Suite, Royal Armouries Workshop 1C: Cross-party Working Against a Backdrop of No Overall Control Royal Armouries Hall A, Royal Armouries Workshop 1D: Life Safety First: Turning Risk into Assurance Royal Armouries Hall B, Royal Armouries 15:45–16:25 Workshop 2A: The Leader’s Mirror: Defining the Legacy You Leave Behind Bury Theatre, Royal Armouries Workshop 2B: Public Collaborations: What Are They For? Who Does All the Work? How Long Do They Last? And Who Really Benefits? Pearl Suite, Royal Armouries Workshop 2C: Leading with Purpose: Exploring the Nexus of Strategy and Leadership in Local Government Royal Armouries Hall A, Royal Armouries Workshop 2D: Delivering Together: How Local Authorities and Strategic Authorities Are Jointly Driving Place-Based Transformational Growth Royal Armouries Hall B, Royal Armouries Roundtable 2A : Local Government Reorganisation: Practical Advice and Support Aire Suite, Royal Armouries Roundtable 2B: The Silent Stakeholder: Why Residents Deserve a Seat at the LGR Table Barton Suite, Royal Armouries Roundtable 2C: Test, Learn and Grow: How Do We Build a Movement? Hotot Suite, Royal Armouries Main Stage, New Dock Hall Speaker: Lemn Sissay OBE FRSL , British Author and Broadcaster 16:30–17:30 Keynote: Empowering the Vulnerable: Lemn Sissay’s Journey of Advocacy and Change 17:30–18:15 Drinks Reception Exhibition, New Dock Hall Kindly sponsored by Transform. 18:15 Day One Close Exhibition, New Dock Hall 19:15–20:00 Presidential Drinks Reception Asia and Africa Gallery, Royal Armouries Kindly sponsored by Zellis. 20:00–00:00 Summit Charity Dinner Royal Armouries Hall, Royal Armouries Proudly supporting YoungMinds and St. Augustine's Centre. Please give generously . Dinner drinks kindly sponsored by Newtrality.

Ste SharplesAssistant Director - People Management, ICT and Digital < Speakers < Previous Next > Ste Sharples Assistant Director - People Management, ICT and Digital St Helens Borough Council Ste has worked at the Council for almost 40 years, and spent many years in the Councils Development section designing and implementing a wide range of in-house systems, as well as supporting most of the package systems that the Council operates. A developer by background, Ste moved on from Development to become Head of IT, and then to his current role of Assistant Director for ICT & Digital, where he has recently delivered the Councils new ICT, Digital, and Data… 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

Stand TBC < Back Oracle www.oracle.com Oracle Corporation plays a vital role in empowering public services across the UK to innovate, adapt, and deliver better outcomes for citizens. As a trusted technology partner, Oracle supports government departments, local authorities, healthcare providers, and public agencies in modernising their operations—securely, efficiently, and at scale. With deep expertise in cloud, data, and digital transformation, Oracle enables public sector organisations to unlock the full value of their information, streamline complex processes, and enhance citizen experiences. Whether it's helping councils accelerate digital services, supporting healthcare organisations with data-driven decision-making, or enabling government bodies to collaborate more effectively, Oracle’s solutions are designed for resilience, security, and agility

Jane BarrettFounding Partner < Speakers < Previous Next > Jane Barrett Founding Partner Cadence Innova Jane is the Founding Partner at Cadence Innova, and a highly accomplished and dynamic change leader and innovator, who led a multi award winning management consultancy from Inspiring Leadership, to most empowering female management consultancy, to service delivery excellence for Gender Pay Gap. With a wealth of experience in delivering rapid turn-around, clear thinking, advice and leadership, Jane engages with senior stakeholders in complex governance environments to prevent problems escalating. Jane’s experience ranges from central and local government to security… Show More

Jo PittLocal Government Policy Manager < Speakers < Previous Next > Jo Pitt Local Government Policy Manager CIPFA Joanne Pitt is an experienced local government adviser and has 25 years of public sector experience. She was responsible for the delivery of the CIPFA Financial Management Code and is an advocate of strong financial management and good governance. She is a national speaker and author of numerous publications on topics such as government funding, housing and financial sustainability.  Through her work with CFOs across the country she supports local government improvement and reform using data analysis and strong evidence-based… Show More

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Aire Suite, Royal Armouries 15:00–15:40 Workshop Investing in Place to Build Financial Resilience Speaker/s Kamal Patel, Partner in EY-Parthenon’s Infrastructure Advisory Practice, EY Marcus Richards, Partner in EY-Parthenon’s Infrastructure Advisory Practice, EY How can councils build long-term financial resilience through investment and regeneration? This roundtable will explore how public and private capital can be aligned to deliver growth, affordability, and inclusivity, whilst also strengthening financial resilience. It will draw from examples across the UK and globally, including housing, transport and other forms of social infrastructure. Discussion will cover the tools available to unlock regeneration, the attributes investors look for, and how funding reform and fiscal devolution could further strengthen local government financial sustainability. Delivered by

Tim KleinschmidtHead of Service Design < Speakers < Previous Next > Tim Kleinschmidt Head of Service Design Cadence Innova Tim Kleinschmidt leads the service design practices for Cadence Innova with over fifteen years of experience designing and improving online and offline services within the public sector, with a focus on creating a better end-to-end experience. He is an intuitive customer-centric leader who combines systems thinking, design methodologies, best practices, process improvement techniques, and effective communication to bring people together to create better digital services and throughout his career focused on improving online and offline services in Defence, Energy, Health,… Show More

Leigh Bowman-PerksCEO < Speakers < Previous Next > Leigh Bowman-Perks CEO Inspiring Leadership Foundation Leigh is a researcher and author of ‘Inspiring Women Leaders’ and forthcoming book ‘Inspiring Leadership & Toxic Turnarounds’, an international speaker, executive coach and facilitator. As a businesswoman and CEO of a charity that aims to improve the economic empowerment and safety of vulnerable women and children, she understands the challenges of leading teams and running a complex international organisation. She has made it her mission in life to develop more inspiring leaders globally, helping to change the landscape so… Show More

Martine Wright MBE < Speakers < Previous Next > Martine Wright MBE Martine Wright MBE , 7/7’s most injured survivor lost both legs in the Circle line bombing during the 2005 terrorist attacks on the London underground, yet she considers herself a lucky woman with a whole new life of opportunities. Martine Wright MBE has since rebuilt her life, skydived, learned to fly, become a wife, mother, captain of the British Paralympic Sitting volleyball team, Ambassador, Patron, an inspirational and motivational speaker and much more! On 6 July 2005 Martine Wright MBE… Show More

All Speakers Sarah Norman Chief Executive, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, and Chair of the Yorkshire and Humber Councils’ Chief Executives’ Group Chief Executive of Barnsley Council since 2019 and previously Chief Executive of Dudley Council between 2015 and 2019. I am also the Chair of the Yorkshire and Humber Chief Executive’s Group, who support the Yorkshire Leaders Board to meet their priorities, explore policy issues and work collaboratively to address challenges faced by our councils and share good practice amongst our places. This includes working closely with our key partners and stakeholders, such as Yorkshire Universities. Before that my background was in Adults and Children’s services and I was previously both the DASS and the DCS at the City of Wolverhampton. I have also spent periods of time in central government agencies and the voluntary sector and did two terms as an elected member in Liverpool in the 1990s. Passionate about making a difference in our places I was delighted to see Barnsley receive the “double” win and crowned Council of the Year at both the LGC and MJ Awards in 2023 to reflect in particular our success at transforming our town centre to make Barnsley the Place of Possibilities. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:45–16:25 Public Collaborations: What are they for? Who does all the work? How long do they last? And who really benefits? Pearl Suite, Royal Armouries Go to session

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