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

Stand TBC < Back Workday www.workday.com In an era of unprecedented pressure, local government Chief Executives face a critical dual mandate: delivering efficient public services while driving transformational change. This requires a profound understanding of your organisation's greatest assets—your people and your finances. Yet, these two pillars often operate in fragmented, outdated systems that were not built for today's complexities, leading to costly, disruptive upgrades, and a siloed view that hinders strategic decision-making. Workday was founded on a different principle: a single, intelligent cloud platform for finance, HR, and planning. We provide a unified system that connects your entire organisation, providing real-time insight from a single source of truth. This empowers you to move beyond manual reconciliation and make agile, data-driven decisions that are essential for today's public services. Unlike legacy systems, our commitment to continuous innovation ensures you are always on the latest version without the burden of expensive, lengthy upgrade projects. The future of public service demands a new approach. Workday provides the clarity and agility to modernise your operations, ensuring you can lead with confidence and deliver exceptional outcomes for your communities. To learn how we're helping organisations across the UK, we invite you to explore more at workday.com/AI

Kim WrightChief Executive < Speakers < Previous Next > Kim Wright Chief Executive London Borough of Brent Kim has been Chief Executive of Brent Council since May 2023 and leads a workforce of 2500 people in a community of 340,000 residents. Before joining Brent, she was Chief Executive of Lewisham Council where she led the council’s response to the global pandemic. Kim has worked in Local Government for over 32 years and has spent 25 years working in London’s local authorities, including senior roles at Hackney Council and Barnet Council, responsible for a large range of… Show More

< All sponsors Cratus cratus.co.uk Cratus Group is a specialist communications consultancy focused on local government, planning, and the built environment. We help organisations engage with communities, navigate politics, and tell their story with impact. Through strategic advice, public affairs, and creative campaigns, we connect people, places, and policy to deliver positive change.

All Speakers Andrew Ferrier Chief Executive, Test Valley Borough Council Thursday 16 October 2025 15:45-16:25 Test, Learn and Grow: How Do We Build a Movement? Hotot Suite, Royal Armouries Go to session

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Bury Theatre, Royal Armouries 15:00–15:40 Workshop Future-Ready Councils: If we can share a problem, we can share a solution Speaker/s Diksha Vyas, Head of Digital Change and Service Improvement, Bracknell Forest Council Tracey Anderson, Head of Scrutiny and Ward Forums, London Borough of Hackney This session sets out a bold new approach: a federated, public sector-led consultancy model that brings councils together to co-design scalable solutions to shared challenges. Grounded in shared expertise, co-creation, and equity, this model aims to eliminate duplication, level the playing field, and accelerate progress for all—empowering a more collaborative, future-ready public sector. We believe the future of local government delivery lies in enabling people across our councils to lead change with shared purpose, and to collaborate across organisational and geographic boundaries. Big Idea: A Sector-Led Consultancy Model for Shared Challenges Let’s ask some difficult questions: How much is each council spending on software, consultants, and bespoke solutions to tackle the same problems? How many of us depend on “luck”—a good account manager, a standout hire, or a place in a central government pilot—to make progress? What happens to councils that miss out, but still face the same pressures? And what about the systems and services we tolerate—not because they work, but because the cost or risk of change feels too high? Now imagine a future where: Councils pool their talent, experience, and creativity to design common solutions. A national challenge, such as improving EHCP outcomes or reducing housing pressures, is tackled by a multi-disciplinary team drawn from across authorities. These solutions—whether new processes, policy frameworks, or digital prototypes—are freely shared, adapted locally, and scaled. No council is left behind, because innovation is a shared sector asset, not a privilege. This model functions as a public sector “think-and-do tank,” built from within by the people who understand the challenges best. It’s practical. It’s equitable. And it’s entirely achievable. Takeaways A compelling new vision for collaborative delivery across local government Inspiration from leaders who have embraced courage, purpose, and systems thinking Practical pathways to get involved—from digital participation to secondments Energy, ambition, and momentum to help shape a shared delivery future Delivered by

All Speakers Jonathan Bradley Senior Experience Partner, Granicus Jonathan Bradley leads the UK arm of Granicus’ Experience Services, where he partners exclusively with public sector organisations to design modern, meaningful customer experiences. As a Senior Experience Partner, he’s passionate about making public services more accessible, intuitive, and impactful—helping people get what they need, when they need it, with ease. With over 25 years of experience across the public sector, Jonathan brings deep insight and a human-centred mindset to digital transformation. His mission? To help organisations shift from process-driven systems to people-first solutions that genuinely improve lives and strengthen communities. Outside of work, Jonathan finds harmony in music—he’s a proud member of the Mousehole Male Voice Choir, where he lends his voice to a tradition that celebrates community, culture, and connection. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:45-16:25 The Silent Stakeholder: Why Residents Deserve a Seat at the LGR Table Barton 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 Speakers Rosa Foster Director, Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission Rosa is a climate and environment specialist with over 20 years’ experience in leading operational programmes, including partnership-led major infrastructure schemes. As Director of the Leeds and Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commissions, she works at the nexus of stakeholders — government, academia, industry and communities — to translate evidence into practical climate policy and action. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:00–15:40 Shaping Communities – How Leaders Unlock Social and Economic Value Barton Suite, Royal Armouries Go to session

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Hall B, Royal Armouries 15:00–15:40 Workshop Life Safety First: Turning Risk into Assurance Speaker/s Lee Goodenough, Executive Director, Harmony Fire Lord Gary Porter, Political Leader and National Voice on Housing Safety Kevin Bolt MBA, Managing Director, Step-Change Management Eleanor Kelly, Former Chief Executive Session Outline and Objectives How do you save £20 million and shave six years off your building safety programme—without cutting corners? That’s exactly what Edinburgh Council achieved using the Life Safety First Framework : a board-level toolkit that turns unknown risk into full assurance, with resident safety at its core. In a post-Grenfell world, regulators, residents, and boards are demanding answers. Downgrades, budget chaos, and blind compliance are leaving councils exposed. And while AI and smart tech promise breakthroughs, without a solid safety framework they can create more confusion than clarity. This high-energy panel brings together: Lee Goodenough , CRO, who shaped the framework now transforming safety across the UK. Lord Gary Porter , political leader and national voice on housing safety. Takeaways A proven roadmap – how downgraded councils can restore credibility and regulatory confidence. Smarter investment – the £20m/6-year lesson: spending the right money on the right risks. Future-ready safety – why AI and smart tech only work when built on a strong, accurate analytical base. Come curious, leave equipped : this is not another policy talk—it’s a practical, regulator-aligned framework that could transform your council’s safety strategy, balance sheet, and reputation. Delivered by

All Speakers Lee Goodenough Executive Director, Harmony Fire Lee Goodenough, Executive Director at Harmony Fire, has been instrumental in shaping the framework now transforming safety across the UK. With a proven track record of leadership and innovation, Lee drives change that ensures compliance, strengthens resilience, and raises safety standards, influencing the way organisations and communities protect people nationwide. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:00–15:40 Life Safety First: Turning Risk into Assurance Hall B, Royal Armouries Go to session