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Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Asia and Africa Gallery, Royal Armouries 19:15–20:00 Summit Presidential Drinks Reception

Richard GawthorpeGroup Business Development Director < Speakers < Previous Next > Richard Gawthorpe Group Business Development Director Norse Group As Norse Group Business Development Director, Richard is at the forefront of driving strategic client retention, acquiring new clients, and fostering revenue growth, all with a strong focus on sustainability and environmental consciousness. With over 30 years of experience in the built environment for private and public sectors, he understands that achieving a net-zero carbon future requires collaborative efforts and innovative solutions. Richard is known for his ability to cultivate long-term relationships and joint venture partnerships, which are crucial to… Show More

Angela BarniclePublic Practice Non-Executive Director and Chief Officer Asset Management & Regeneration < Speakers < Previous Next > Angela Barnicle Public Practice Non-Executive Director and Chief Officer Asset Management & Regeneration Leeds City Council Angela has a passion for cities and economic development and with it, delivering transformational change and inclusive growth. Having worked extensively across the UK advising on large-scale city development and transport schemes, organisational design and place positioning, Angela now leads the Asset Management and Regeneration Service for Leeds City Council. There, she focuses on realising the development opportunities and optimum real estate solutions to support the city's growth. The Service is currently engaged in Place Programmes across the city, including… Show More

Saba HussainPrincipal Partnerships Policy & Commissioning Lead < Speakers < Previous Next > Saba Hussain Principal Partnerships Policy & Commissioning Lead Surrey County Council Saba is a dedicated and passionate local government Officer with over 20 years of experience working with partners to ensure residents live their best lives and striving to create access to opportunities for all. As well as being the front door for charities in Surrey, leading key commissions and improvements, Saba has delivered some major, sustainable, innovative, high-impact change programmes and projects including making Surrey the first county to eradicate period poverty by providing free period products to anyone who… Show More

Abi GbagoChief Executive < Speakers < Previous Next > Abi Gbago Chief Executive London Borough of Newham Abi Gbago started as Newham Council’s permanent Chief Executive in September 2023. Abi has extensive experience including most recently as the Executive Director of Children and Education at Bristol City Council with responsibilities including community safety and employment, skills and learning. Working closely with Mayor of Bristol, cabinet members and the senior leadership team in one of the largest Core City Councils in the UK, she has been instrumental in developing and implementing a transformation programme to deliver improved services… Show More

Ben MurrayPolicy and Research Manager < Speakers < Previous Next > Ben Murray Policy and Research Manager St Helens Borough Council Ben Murray is Policy and Research Manager for St Helens Council. He has previously worked in roles at the Local Government Association, and the National Association for Local Councils where he campaigned on behalf of local government on issues around finance, devolution, housing, skills, and public health. In his roles he also provided support to councils including advice and guidance and ran support programmes to help councils with their workforce gaps. In his current role Ben has been supporting the… Show More

All Speakers Tom Stannard Chief Executive, Manchester City Council Tom Stannard is the Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, one of the largest Core Cities in the UK and a highly performing organisation of almost 7,000 staff. Manchester is a fast growing and diverse city of over 600,000 people, with a proud history of successfully competing on the global stage to attract investment, jobs and visitors. Tom works closely with Cllr Bev Craig as Leader of the Council, focussed on maximising these strengths and ensuring that growth generates benefits for the whole city, providing excellent day-to-day services and improving the lives of Manchester’s residents. Manchester is the major driver of regional growth across the 3M population, £87bn GDP Greater Manchester city region. The City Council is a key member of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and partner in the £8BN+ GMCA devolution programme, and Tom is currently the GMCA Chief Executive lead for the economy, business and international portfolio. He also leads Manchester’s integrated health and social care system as the designated Place-Based Lead for Manchester in the Greater Manchester Integrated Care System (ICS), with NHS Greater Manchester. Tom joined Manchester City Council following more than 27 years of experience in local government across the UK, including in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and London. Most recently he spent four years as the Chief Executive of Salford City Council, leading the Council to some of the highest levels of performance in the North West, and recognition in 2024 as City of the Year and the LGC’s Best Place to Work. He is nationally recognised as a leading voice in local government, and has a track record of delivery in regeneration, inclusive growth, public service reform and improving council services. Tom is a Chartered Surveyor, a Member and Chair of the UK Institute of Economic Development, and a Commissioner on the Living Wage Foundation for the UK. For a number of years, he has been a member, policy lead and spokesperson for Solace, currently on Health and Social Care Thursday 16 October 2025 14:15–14:55 Local Power, National Plan: Delivering the 10-Year Health Strategy Bury Theatre, Royal Armouries Go to session Thursday 16 October 2025 15:45–16:25 Delivering Together: How Local Authorities and Strategic Authorities Are Jointly Driving Place-Based Transformational Growth Hall B, Royal Armouries Go to session Friday 17 October 20225 11:10–12:00 Leading Through A Crisis Main Stage, New Dock Hall Go to session

Rebecca PurnellAssistant Chief Executive < Speakers < Previous Next > Rebecca Purnell Assistant Chief Executive West Northamptonshire Council Rebecca is the Assistant Chief Executive for the new West Northamptonshire Council which launched on 1 April 2021 replacing Northampton, South Northamptonshire, Daventry and Northamptonshire Councils. Rebecca is a Non-Executive Director for Northamptonshire Children’s Trust which delivers Early Help and Social Care to children, young people, and their families.  Rebecca is a Non-Executive Director for Northamptonshire Partnership Homes, an arms-length management organisation that manages West Northamptonshire Council’s housing services.  Rebecca was part of the Springboard 2019 cohort and… Show More

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Exhibition, New Dock Hall 13:15–14:15 Exhibition and Lunch

Showcase Zone 09:50–10:00 Blackburn with Darwen: The Trojan Horse of Leadership Development Rewiring the State Claire Trickett, Workforce and Organisational Development Consultant, Blackburn with Darwen Council Read More Sue Featherstone, Solace Associate and Director, Developing Success Read More Previous The Trojan Horse of Leadership Development: How building internal coaching capability unlocked vertical development across the organisation Developing coaching capability strengthens both individual leaders and the wider system. Leaders become more self-aware, purposeful, and inclusive - while also developing others through everyday interactions. This creates a ripple effect across the organisation, supporting culture change, improving wellbeing, and enabling more adaptive, equitable leadership. Next

All Speakers Kersten England CBE Chair, The Young Foundation; Director of Engagement, Bradford 2025, Yorkshire Universities An experienced executive and non executive leader, Kersten has been Chair of The Young Foundation since September 2022. Passionate about building community, social justice, equality, diversity and healthy democratic practice, her career over four decades has included work in the voluntary and community sector, higher education, central government and more than 30 years in local government. Between 2009 and 2023 she was a local authority Chief Executive, initially in York for six years and latterly eight years for the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. Kersten’s current portfolio of work includes: Chair of the Bradford Culture Company, which will deliver the programme for Bradford’s year as the UK City of Culture in 2025; Trustee of the National Literacy Trust; a consultant for the Association of Local Authority Chief Executives; Co-Director of the Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership; and she is a lay canon of Bradford Cathedral. Previously, Kersten was a Trustee of Nesta, a member of the Archbishop of York’s symposium on social and economic affairs, and the President of the Society of Metropolitan Chief Executives. Kersten was awarded a CBE in the 2019 New Years Honours for her contribution to the communities and economy of the Bradford District. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:45–16:25 Public Collaborations: What are they for? Who does all the work? How long do they last? And who really benefits? Pearl Suite, Royal Armouries Go to session

Anna Rose Director and Chair of Public Practice (and Head of the Planning Advisory Service) < Speakers < Previous Next > Anna Rose Director and Chair of Public Practice (and Head of the Planning Advisory Service) Local Government Association and Public Practice Anna is currently the Head of the Planning Advisory Service, delivering improvement in planning services across the country. Anna started her planning career advising NFU members on planning, transport and environmental law before moving to Rugby Borough Council and becoming their Head of Planning and Culture at Rugby. In 2014 she became Milton Keynes Council’s Director of Growth, Economy and Culture. Anna is a past President of the Planning Officers Society; a trustee of the TCPA and sits as the… Show More