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

Adrian CooperCEO < Speakers < Previous Next > Adrian Cooper CEO Oxford Economics Adrian Cooper is responsible for coordinating and managing Oxford Economics' global economic analysis, forecasting and consultancy activities, and overseeing its global team of over 550 professionals including more than 350 economists and analysts. He has led Oxford Economics' work on a wide array of projects, ranging from policy advice to government departments in Europe, the US, Africa, and Asia to detailed analysis of the economic impact of particular industries and investment proposals. Adrian spent the first seven years of his… Show More

Simon AllsopManaging Consultant < Speakers < Previous Next > Simon Allsop Managing Consultant CIPFA Simon Allsop is a CIPFA qualified accountant and a Managing Consultant with CIPFA. He was previously the joint Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer) for both Derbyshire Police and Fire. He has 30 years of experience working with and in a range of public-sector bodies mainly local government, fire and police. He has extensive experience of audit and advisory work as a former senior manager in KPMG’s public sector audit and advisory team working with the NAO and Audit Commission,… Show More

Dr William BurnsSocial Care Policy Advisor < Speakers < Previous Next > Dr William Burns Social Care Policy Advisor CIPFA William leads on CIPFA’s work in adult and children’s social care. His work focuses on sustainable social care reform, and he has produced thought leadership in the areas of charging reform, children’s social care reform, Scotland’s National Care Service, social care funding, and demand management.

Daniella BarrowSenior Director of Consulting < Speakers < Previous Next > Daniella Barrow Senior Director of Consulting Norse Group As Senior Director of Consulting within the Norse Group, Daniella is responsible for the strategic delivery of partnerships and leading on the strategic direction for the Group’s professional property consultancy services for its joint venture and public sector clients. With a passion for creating better spaces for communities, Daniella has played a vital role working with public sector partners on many significant projects, working closely to deliver outstanding properties and places in the built environment. With over 20 years of… Show More

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

< All sponsors Profit Impact Stand B www.profit-impact.co.uk Profit Impact is a B Corp certified consultancy that helps UK Councils and SMEs become more sustainable. Supporting Councils provide targeted support, helping them meet green targets and boost the local economy. For SMEs, they offer practical guidance and tools to integrate sustainability, reduce costs, and gain a competitive advantage.

All Speakers Jon Rouse CBE Chief Executive, Stoke on Trent City Council and Solace Policy Lead for Housing, Planning and Infrastructure Jon Rouse is Chief Executive of Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Previously, he was Chief Officer at the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, co-ordinating the delivery of Greater Manchester’s strategy for the transformation of health and care services. Other previous roles include: Director General for Social Care, Local Government and Care Partnerships, Department of Health Chief Executive, London Borough of Croydon Chief Executive, Housing Corporation Chief Executive, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment He has also held a wide range of non-executive positions and is currently a Director of Bradford Children and Families Trust. He currently sits on the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS Board as a partner member. He is the executive champion for children’s health. Jon is also currently the Solace national lead for Housing, Planning and Infrastructure and is a member of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods. Thursday 16 October 2025 14:15–14:55 1.5 Million Homes: Ambition, Action, and Accountability Pearl Suite, Royal Armouries Go to session

Daniela RivasCity Manager of Newton City < Speakers < Previous Next > Daniela Rivas City Manager of Newton City Newton City, Kansas Daniela Lujano Rivas currently serves as the Newton, Kansas City Manager. As City Manager, she leads the city’s administrative operations including the execution of the Mayor and City Commissioners policies and vision. She has a bachelor’s degree in finance from the W. Frank Barton School of Business from Wichita State University and a Master of Public Administration from the Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs at Wichita State University where her studies emphasized public finance and city/county management. She earned… Show More

Kevin Sinfield CBEFormer Leeds Rhinos and England Rugby League Captain < Speakers < Previous Next > Kevin Sinfield CBE Former Leeds Rhinos and England Rugby League Captain Former captain of the Rhinos, Kevin Sinfield became the leading points scorer in the club’s history in 2012, leading the team to seven Championships. In 2004 he led the side to their first Grand Final victory and the first league title in 32 years. In 2005, he then lifted the World title. He was also recognised for his achievements by becoming the fourth Englishman ever to win the prestigious Rugby League Golden Boot. Fittingly in his 521st and final game for… Show More

All Speakers Tracey Anderson Head of Scrutiny and Ward Forums, London Borough of Hackney Tracey has built a diverse career spanning both the public and private sectors, with experience in financial services, council governance and scrutiny. As Head of Scrutiny and Ward Forums in Hackney, she has dedicated nearly two decades to governance and scrutiny. In her role as the statutory scrutiny officer, Tracey oversees the council’s Overview and Scrutiny function, leading a well-regarded scrutiny team that collaborates with councillors, officers, partners and residents to develop and implement a comprehensive scrutiny work programme. Her leadership has shaped council and partner organisation policies, strategies, and service improvements while navigating complex and contentious issues. Her team has been recognised as a leading example of championing a more inclusive approach to governance and strengthening democratic accountability in local public services. Tracey has also played a key role in developing ward-level community engagement for councillors. Under her strategic leadership, ward forums have strengthened councillors’ community leadership roles, fostered stronger connections between elected representatives and their ward communities, and facilitated community action at a local level. Her work has brought local decision-making to the heart of the community, developing strong networks of local partners, organisations and residents and providing a platform for local engagement and conversation. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:00–15:40 Future-Ready Councils: If we can share a problem, we can share a solution Bury Theatre, Royal Armouries Go to session

Margherita SicaProduct Manager < Speakers < Previous Next > Margherita Sica Product Manager Agilisys Margherita is a Product Manager at Agilisys Transform, responsible for the EHCP Plus solution. Over the past year, Margherita has focused on developing GenAI products specifically in the social care and education space, working closely with frontline workers to build solutions that reduce the administrative burden allowing teams to focus on higher value-add tasks. Margherita is also part of the Portfolio Transformation team at Blenheim Chalcot, the UK's leading digital venture builder, supporting transformation projects for BC and its businesses, with a… Show More