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

All Speakers Mark Gannon Director of Client Solutions, Netcall Mark Gannon, Director of Client Solutions, Netcall. Former CIO at Sheffield City Council, Mark now works with over 30 local authorities to support digital transformation. He will set the stage by outlining the macro-level challenges and opportunities of devolution and service transformation through a digital lens. A senior leader from local government who will share insights from their council's digital transformation journey. They will cover the strategy, goals, and challenges faced during the transition, highlighting the importance of having a clear vision for digitisation and a solid delivery foundation. The session will also offer a practical perspective on achieving digital innovation and continuing service improvements amid significant governance changes. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:00–15:40 Navigating Local Government Reform: Lessons from the Digital Frontline of Devolution Pearl Suite, Royal Armouries Go to session

Vicky WillettDirector for Policy and Transformation < Speakers < Previous Next > Vicky Willett Director for Policy and Transformation St Helens Borough Council Vicky is Director for Policy and Transformation at St Helens Council with responsibility for ICT and Digital, organisational transformation, people management and performance improvement. Vicky is a people-focused leader, passionate about leveraging data and technology to achieve better outcomes for people and places.

< All sponsors Engage Process Stand 5 www.engageprocess.com Engage Process empowers leaders to bridge cost savings with better service delivery. Our platform delivers strategic insight through collaborative process improvement, allowing teams to visualise, analyse, and optimise services. Trusted across government, we support informed decision-making, helping organisations deliver high-impact changes and continuous improvement for their communities.

Stand TBC < Back Snowflake www.snowflake.com Councils are complex, data-rich organisations. However, this data is often fragmented across departments, trapped in legacy systems, and difficult to access for timely decision-making. Snowflake, a cloud-based data platform, offers a modern solution to this fundamental challenge, empowering your council to become truly data-driven. Snowflake is a data platform built on the cloud that centralises all of your council's data—from social care records and housing applications to waste management schedules and financial systems—into a single, secure environment. Unlike traditional, costly data platforms, Snowflake’s unique architecture separates computing power from storage. This means you only pay for the resources you use, making it highly efficient and scalable, a critical consideration for managing tight public sector budgets. The key benefits for councils are transformative: Break Down Silos: Snowflake allows you to connect data from different departments to create a holistic view of your citizens and services. This enables proactive, preventative interventions and more effective resource allocation. Secure Collaboration: You can securely share data with trusted partners, such as the NHS, police, or neighbouring councils, without complex data transfers. This enables seamless, real-time collaboration on shared priorities like public health or crime prevention. Empower Decision-Making: By providing a single source of truth, Snowflake enables your teams to use data analytics and AI to understand trends, predict demand for services, and measure the impact of your initiatives, leading to more intelligent and effective policy-making.

Jon PriceExecutive Director - People, Adults, Health & Housing < Speakers < Previous Next > Jon Price Executive Director - People, Adults, Health & Housing Dorset Council Jon is an experienced Director of Adult Social Services who has worked across local government, health and the private sector. He has over 25 years’ experience working across the public sector and has delivered programmes of transformation and improvement across a range of Councils from London Boroughs to large rural unitary authorities and through integrated services with the NHS. Jon has extensive experience in building partnerships across the public, private and voluntary sectors at a systems level. In recent years he has… Show More

Josh DunnDirector Sustainability < Speakers < Previous Next > Josh Dunn Director Sustainability EY Josh leads our Sustainable Places practice, working closely with local government to balance financial, economic, social and environmental sustainability, building more resilient communities and improved resident outcomes. He has worked in local government for more than a decade, focusing on built and natural environment and improving place-based services, and has worked with over 35 Council’s in that time. He specialises is net zero, climate change and how the transition to a green economy will impact the future of local gov… Show More

Peter AghManaging Director < Speakers < Previous Next > Peter Agh Managing Director ICMA Europe Peter Agh is the Managing Director of ICMA Europe, former Vice-President of ICMA and former President of the Slovak City Managers Association. Peter has 15+ years of experience as City Manager of the Municipalities of Nove Zamky, Dvory, Kamenin, Bratislava (all in Slovakia). In addition to his professional experience, Peter is a graduate of Harvard University (Kennedy School of Government - Senior Executive Program) and the University of Virginia (Weldon Cooper Center - Senior Executive Institute). He completed his PhD… Show More

Stand TBC < Back Zest www.zest.uk.com Zest is one of the UK’s fastest-growing investor-operators of public access EV charging infrastructure. Based in Leeds, the company partners with local authorities and the real estate sector across the UK. Major public sector projects include work with Transport for London, Hackney Council, the North East Combined Authority, and Portsmouth City Council. Zest is on a mission to make the switch to electric vehicles a practical choice for everyone by accelerating access to abundant, convenient, and reliable charging. Backed by the Government-sponsored Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund (CIIF), Zest is able to invest in larger-scale projects that anticipate future demand, act quickly to deliver essential EV infrastructure, and make a real contribution to the UK’s net zero goals. As a certified B Corporation, Zest meets rigorous social and environmental standards, underscoring its commitment to a triple bottom line: people, planet, and profit. In March, the company was recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces™ 2025 by Great Place to Work®, the global authority on workplace culture.

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Pearl Suite, Royal Armouries 14:15–14:55 Sub Plenary 1.5 Million Homes: Ambition, Action, and Accountability Chair Jon Rouse CBE, Chief Executive, Stoke on Trent City Council and Solace Policy Lead for Housing, Planning and Infrastructure Speaker/s Joanna Key, Director General for Regeneration, Housing and Planning, MHCLG Local authorities are central to delivering the Government’s 1.5 million homes target, one of the most ambitious housing targets in a generation. This session explores how planning reform, local leadership, and community-focused development can turn national ambition into local impact.

Speakers From seasoned public sector leaders to fresh voices shaping the future, Solace Summit 2025 brings together the thinkers and doers driving change across local government. Expect real-world insights, bold ideas, and candid conversations—all designed to help you lead with purpose, act with confidence, and deliver lasting impact. Explore the full programme. More speakers to be added in the coming weeks! Stay tuned to this page for updates. Robin Tuddenham President of Solace and Chief Executive, Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council Liz McQue Facilitator & Solace Associate Ed Whiting OBE Chief Executive, Leeds City Council Chris Naylor Solace Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Nazeya Hussain Solace Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Kirsty Wark Speaker, award-winning journalist and presenter Mike Land City Manager of Coppell, Texas, and President-Elect of the 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 Tom Stannard Chief Executive, Manchester City Council Dr Owen Williams OBE Chief Executive,Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust John Clarke Head of Client Solution – Healthcare, Netcall Jon Rouse CBE Chief Executive, Stoke on Trent City Council and Solace Policy Lead for Housing, Planning and Infrastructure Joanna Key Director General for Regeneration, Housing and Planning, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Diksha Vyas Head of Digital Change and Service Improvement, Bracknell Forest Council Tracey Anderson Head of Scrutiny and Ward Forums, London Borough of Hackney Mark Gannon Director of Client Solutions, Netcall Craig Barker Senior Manager, Digital and Customer Experience, Cumberland Council Kate Hurr Assistant Director, Digital Innovation and ICT, Cumberland Council Kathryn Rees Executive Director Corporate and Support Services, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Vicki Bates Assistant Director, Governance and Monitoring Officer, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Kate Joseph CB Chief Executive, Sheffield City Council Averil Price Solace Associate and Director, Avie Consultancy Kersten England CBE Chair, The Young Foundation; Director of Engagement, Bradford 2025, Yorkshire Universities Dr Peter O’Brien Executive Director, Yorkshire Universities Sarah Norman Chief Executive, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, and Chair of the Yorkshire and Humber Councils’ Chief Executives’ Group Dr Mariana Pexton Deputy Chief Executive, Leeds City Council Ciara Graven Consultant – Economics and Casemaking Team, Arup Gareth Fairweather Senior Leader, Urban and Regional, Arup Simon Allsop B.Com, CPFA Managing Consultant, CIPFA John O'Halloran Director of Consultancy, CIPFA Asim Ali VP of UK Sales, Granicus Jonathan Bradley Senior Experience Partner, Granicus Lemn Sissay OBE FRSL Playwright, memoirist, performer and broadcaster Dr Henry Kippin Chief Executive, North East Combined Authority Amy Harhoff Chief Executive, East Midlands Combined County Authority Mark Rogers Chief Executive, The Leadership Centre Helen Bailey Chief Executive, London Borough of Sutton Katie Piper OBE Writer, Activist and Broadcaster Evelyn John Inner Circle Consulting Nicola Monk Divisional CEO, Energy & Environment, Procurement & Partnerships, Commercial Services Group Rosa Foster Director, Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission Jon Gleek Head of Research, LGIU Lisa Smith Director of Strategy, Performance and Partnerships, Liverpool City Council Lee Goodenough Executive Director, Harmony Fire Andrew Ferrier Chief Executive, Test Valley Borough Council Lord Gary Porter Political Leader and National Voice on Housing Safety Jonathan Clifton Director of Strategy and Communications, Sheffield City Council Kamal Patel Partner in EY-Parthenon’s Infrastructure Advisory Pactice, EY Marcus Richards Partner in EY-Parthenon’s Infrastructure Advisory Practice, EY Kevin Bolt MBA Managing Director, Step-Change Management Eleanor Kelly Former Chief Executive Hayley Hamlett Director of HR & Corporate Affairs

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