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Networking 19:15–20:00 Presidential Drinks Reception Rum Warehouse Robin Tuddenham, Solace President and Chief Executive, Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council Read More Previous More information to follow. Next

Rachel MckoyDirector of Law & Governance (Monitoring Officer) < Speakers < Previous Next > Rachel Mckoy Director of Law & Governance (Monitoring Officer) London Borough of Hounslow Rachel is an experienced senior leader who is passionate about good governance, democracy, fairness, and delivering for local communities. Rachel has acquired substantial experience within the legal, governance, and commercial space. Her specialism of planning and regeneration has also provided her with exposure to a myriad of high-profile strategic schemes and national infrastructure projects, within local and central government. Her experience as President of Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) and as a NED on the Solace Board has further provided… Show More

Showcase Zone 08:55–09:05 Stockport: From Consultation to Co-Creation: Equality and Community Networks Rewiring the State Clare Redfern, Service Manager, Neighbourhood Coordination and Support Service, Stockport Council Read More Victoria Shaw,Chief Operating Officer, Sector 3 Read More Previous Five years ago, Stockport Council and its voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise partners set up Equality and Community Networks to reach the communities traditional consultation was missing. Hear how they now give communities a direct route into policy, commissioning and service design. Next

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Hotot Suite, Royal Armouries 15:45-16:25 Roundtable Test, Learn and Grow: How Do We Build a Movement? Chair Evelyn John, Managing Director, Inner Circle Consulting Speaker/s Lisa Smith, Director of Strategy, Performance and Partnerships, Liverpool City Council Andrew Ferrier, Chief Executive, Test Valley Borough Council Jonathan Clifton, Director of Strategy and Communications, Sheffield City Council The sessions offers an opportunity to hear about the flagship Test, Learn and Grow programme. You’ll hear practical insights directly from participants in this pioneering approach to public service reform alongside leads from Cabinet Office, explore how a ‘test and learn’ mindset can support system-wide improvement, and how we can build a wider ‘movement’ the bridges between places and central government and closes the gap between policy intent and delivery.

Previous Next Nicola Monk Divisional CEO, Commercial Services Group Nicola Monk is Divisional CEO at Commercial Services Group, one of the UK’s most successful Local Authority Trading Companies. She brings a strong track record in public service leadership (including 29 years in local government) and is passionate about the role of collaboration in driving better outcomes for communities. At Commercial Services Group, Nicola leads a wide-ranging portfolio – from energy and environmental services to procurement and recruitment – with a focus on making life easier for partners and helping organisations deliver lasting impact. Known for her open, people-centred approach, Nicola is committed to creating meaningful partnerships, supporting innovation, and ensuring public services have the tools they need to thrive in challenging times. 15:30–16:30 South East Breakout: Beyond the Tipping Point: How do we Actually Make Long Term Change Happen Breakout View Session Speakers: Nicola Monk , Divisional CEO, Commercial Services Group Dr Jonathan Carr-West , Chief Executive, LGIU

Previous Next Kurtis Toy Chief Executive, Cyber Centre of Excellence (iESE) Kurtis Toy is a Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) and CEO of Onca Technologies Ltd who has also been appointed as the CEO of the CCoE. After gaining an MSc in Biology, Kurtis worked for an oil servicing company where he ended up working in IT. He became responsible for the IT and information security in the company, leading to him becoming Global IT Coordinator. He then gained an additional MSc in Information Technology, next becoming Global IT Team Leader, which included responsibility for cyber security, before moving to Onca Technologies full time, which he established in 2016. Further qualifications Kurtis has since gained include becoming a GDPR Foundation and Practitioner (Data Protection Officer), ISO 9001 Internal Auditor training and ISO 27001 Lead Implementor. He is also a CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional). He describes the CCoE as giving local authorities access to an umbrella of protection akin to a “validated Google of cyber security knowledge”. 11:30–12:30 North West Breakout: Cyber Resilience in Transition: Securing Public Services Through Reorganisation and Digital Disruption Breakout View Session Speaker: Kurtis Toy , Chief Executive, Cyber Centre of Excellence

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

Shaza Brannon Planning Policy Manager < Speakers < Previous Next > Shaza Brannon Planning Policy Manager South Kesteven District Council Shaza is a chartered town planner with over 15 years’ of experience working within local authorities across the East Midlands, specialising in planning policy. Shaza currently manages the Planning Policy Team at South Kesteven District Council in Lincolnshire. Working with councillors, senior leadership and stakeholders, Shaza is committed to delivering excellence in the public sector to serve the local community. Following the successful Examination in Public and adoption of the South Kesteven Local Plan in 2020, Shaza is now… Show More

Louise MarshallSenior Fellow in Public Health < Speakers < Previous Next > Louise Marshall Senior Fellow in Public Health The Health Foundation Louise Marshall is Senior Fellow in Public Health at the Health Foundation, where her work focuses on the wider determinants of health, and complex systems approaches to health and health inequalities. Louise is a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health and is registered as a Public Health Specialist with the UK Public Health Register. Alongside her role at the Health Foundation, Louise worked as Consultant in Public Health at Oxfordshire County Council during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021,… Show More

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

All Speakers Joanna Key Director General for Regeneration, Housing and Planning, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Joanna Key is Director General, Regeneration, Housing and Planning at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Joanna was previously Director of Growth and Infrastructure at HM Treasury and Director for Domestic Affairs at the Cabinet Office. Prior to the Cabinet Office, she spent three years working as a director at the Department for Exiting the European Union, leading the work on the legal and constitutional implications of the UK’s departure from the EU. Joanna joined the UK Civil Service in the mid-1990s and, over her career, has worked on a wide range of issues including economic growth, Brexit, planning and housing, climate change and energy policy. Married to a diplomat, she has lived, worked and travelled extensively in the Balkans and China, returning to the UK in 2015 after three years working in Beijing on urban policy and growth. She has a master’s degree in economics. Thursday 16 October 2025 14:15–14:55 1.5 Million Homes: Ambition, Action, and Accountability Pearl Suite, Royal Armouries Go to session

Paul MannersCo-Director of the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) and an Associate Professor of Public Engagement at UWE Bristol < Speakers < Previous Next > Paul Manners Co-Director of the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) and an Associate Professor of Public Engagement at UWE Bristol Paul Manners is the Co-Director of the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) and an Associate Professor of Public Engagement at UWE Bristol. Since founding the NCCPE in 2008, Paul has sought to achieve more meaningful societal impact in academic research by championing innovative public engagement and promoting the integration of public voices into academic work.