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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.

Our dedicated site for Solace's flagship event for local government & public sector professionals, the Solace Summit. Find out more about the 2025 line-up including our speakers, sessions & socials. The Future of Local Government Starts at Solace Summit 21–22 October, 2026 ACC Liverpool The Solace Summit 2026 heads to Liverpool for an unmissable gathering of local government leaders. Join us to explore fresh ideas, ambitious strategies, and the powerful connections shaping the future of public service. Buy Tickets What is the Solace Summit? Better leadership starts here. Hosted by Solace, the Summit brings together people across local government — from emerging talent to experienced executives — to share insight, shape ideas, and drive change. Across two days of thought-provoking sessions, powerful connections, and practical content, the Summit is your space to reflect, recharge, and reimagine the future of public service. 2024 FEATURED 3 DAYS OF LEARNING, 40+ SPEAKERS AND SO MUCH MORE. Meet The Speakers of 2025 Hear from experienced leaders who bring real insight and fresh thinking from across the sector. Our speakers are respected experts, known for their practical knowledge, honest perspectives, and thoughtful ideas. View All Speakers 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 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ... 9 PEOPLE THEME 1: Local government is, at its heart, a people business. This theme explores how we lead with empathy, empower communities, and invest in the workforce of the future — asking what it means to put people first in a system under strain, and how we build cultures of care, trust, and accountability. PARTNERS We’re grateful to our partners for their continued support. Their contribution plays a key role in making this event a success and strengthening the work we do with communities across the country. View All Partners 1 2 3 1 ... 1 2 3 ... 3 LIVERPOOL 2025 Don't miss the future of local government.

2025 Programme Day One Day Two 09:15–09:45 Solace AGM Members only Barton Suite, Royal Armouries 09:00–10:00 Registration All Remaining Delegates, Exhibition and Refreshments Foyer/Exhibition, New Dock Hall 10:00–10:50 Storming and Forming: The Creation of Combined and Strategic Authorities Main Stage, New Dock Hall Speakers: Dr Henry Kippin , Chief Executive, North East Combined Authority Amy Harhoff , Chief Executive of East Midlands Combined Authority Mark Rogers , Chief Executive, Leadership Centre 10:50–11:10 Exhibition and Refreshments Exhibition, New Dock Hall 11:10–12:00 Keynote: Leading Through A Crisis Main Stage, New Dock Hall Chair: Helen Bailey , Chief Executive, London Borough of Sutton Speaker: Tom Stannard , Chief Executive, Manchester City Council and Solace Policy Lead for Health and Social Care 12:00–12:50 Keynote: Katie Piper OBE Main Stage, New Dock Hall Speaker: Katie Piper OBE , Writer, Activist and Broadcaster 12:50–13:00 Solace President's Closing Speech Main Stage, New Dock Hall Speaker: Robin Tuddenham , Solace President and Chief Executive of Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council 13:00–14:00 Exhibition and Lunch Exhibition, New Dock Hall Conference Close

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST Fill in the form below to be the first to hear about Summit's plans for 2024. If you need any further help please get in touch via email events@solace.org.uk . Contact us Stay up to date with everything Summit Address Ground Floor, 2 Red Hall Court, Wakefield, England, WF1 2UN Email events@solace.org.uk Phone 0207 233 0081 Social Media First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for submitting!

BECOME A SPEAKER Share your expertise Session submissions for this year’s Summit are now closed. Thank you to everyone who contributed their ideas.

Manny Singh Planning Services Improvement Manager < Speakers < Previous Next > Manny Singh Planning Services Improvement Manager Wealden District Council Manny has worked in local government for eighteen years and the Private Sector for four years and is the Planning Services Improvement Manager. Manny is passionate about public services and how he can contribute to differences he can make to our residents and communities. His professional journey has been defined by a commitment to enhancing the customer journey, improving service access, and influencing managed services with a firm belief that exceptional results can be achieved in even the most dynamic… Show More

FAQ page for the Solace Summit conference; an event designed for local government and public sector professionals. Help Centre Whether you're getting ready for the Solace Summit or need support during the event, this is your go-to spot for answers. From travel and timings to session access and venue details, we’ve gathered the most common questions and key resources to help you have a smooth, stress-free experience. Need more help? Call us on 0207 233 0081 or email events@solace.org.uk and we’ll be happy to assist. Frequently asked questions Miscellaneous Venue Information Refunds & Transfers Programme Evening Events Special Assistance Dietary Requirements Accommodation & Parking Exhibitors Will you be filming or photographing the Summit? Please be advised that filming and/or photography will be taking place for the duration of the Solace Summit. Solace reserves the right to photograph and video any or all aspects of its events for training and/or promotional purposes, including event attendees, without the expressed written permission of persons who may be included in such photograph or video by virtue of their attendance. Solace may use any event photograph or video in full or in edited version in publications or other media materials produced, including but not limited to brochures, magazines, newspapers, websites and social media. If any event attendee does not wish for us to use their image or likeness, they should inform us by emailing,  events@solace.org.uk and include the following information: Email subject: Use of personal image   Event title Event date Event location In signing up for this event I understand that it is my responsibility to email Solace and advise in writing if I do not wish my likeness or image collected at this event to be used as indicated.

Partnership Enquiry Partner with us If you're seeking avenues to engage with the foremost thought leaders and address pivotal issues in local governance, look no further than the Solace Summit. Establish yourself as a key influencer, and actively participate in meticulously curated days of insightful discussions, debates, and analyses. Seize the opportunity to glean valuable insights from distinguished speakers in the field while connecting with senior decision-makers representing prominent local authorities. The Solace Summit 2024 was a roaring success! Connect with our team today to explore how your organisation can become a partner in Solace Summit 2025. Get in touch

Session Proposal Please note we are no longer accepting submissions. The Solace Summit is a hub for innovative ideas and creative thinking, exploring new policies and launching products. We invite members and partners to contribute ideas for Manchester 2024 sessions this year. Public sector leaders face diverse challenges, and this year we want to hear from you to help us shape the themes and the conference. We seek proposals focusing on innovative, replicable initiatives that have improved outcomes or reduced costs. Sessions, lasting 30 to 75 minutes, can be round tables, interactive workshops or keynote sessions, aiming to advance local government practices and share knowledge. To submit a Solace Summit 2024 session proposal, complete the form below with detailed information. Commercial partner involvement may incur fees, to be discussed.

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