< All sponsors Submit.com Stand 16 www.submit.com Submit.com is a comprehensive, end-to-end programme management platform built specifically for grantmakers, scholarship administrators, and awards coordinators. It streamlines the full programme lifecycle from application intake and evaluation to compliance, impact reporting, and stakeholder engagement in a single, secure, and highly configurable solution. This empowers teams to save significant administrative hours, improve decision fairness, and amplify grant and application programme impact.

Darius WardPrincipal Consultant < Speakers < Previous Next > Darius Ward Principal Consultant Trueman Change We are thrilled to introduce Darius Ward, our Principal Consultant and the newest member of Trueman Change, to our esteemed Solace colleagues this year. With a career dedicated to both the public and private sectors, Darius has demonstrated a passion for improving processes and elevating them to higher standards of efficiency and effectiveness. His commitment to our Trueman Change value of making it better is evident in his diverse skill set and unwavering focus on making things better. For nearly… Show More

< All sponsors Trueman Change Stand 12 www.truemanchange.co.uk At Trueman Change, empathy underpins everything we do. We understand the public sector’s challenges and share your commitment to success. Our psychology-driven approach focuses on people, their motivations, behaviours, and concerns creating smooth, impactful transitions. We make change less overwhelming, more rewarding, and deliver positive, lasting results our clients trust.

< All sponsors Newtrality www.newtrality.co.uk Newtrality is a consultancy firm that focuses on complex programme and transformation delivery. We work with councils to provide practical support and challenge to some of the sector’s biggest challenges. Whether it is LGR, Devolution, complex systems change, improving service delivery or driving savings and transformation, we can be trusted to deliver.

All Speakers Lisa Smith Director of Strategy, Performance and Partnerships, Liverpool City 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 Pearl Suite, Royal Armouries 15:00–15:40 Workshop Navigating Local Government Reform: Lessons from the Digital Frontline of Devolution Speaker/s 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 With local government reform reshaping councils across England, leaders face an urgent challenge: how to deliver seamless, citizen-centric services while navigating the complexity of system consolidation, workforce transitions, and operational realignment. In this session, we bring together those who have been through it to share hard-won insights on what works - and what doesn’t - when transforming service delivery amidst structural change. Join us for a discussion that blends strategic vision with real-world experience. The speakers will explore the ‘why’ of reform - unlocking efficiencies, economies of scale, and aligning services to citizen needs - while tackling the practical hurdles: multiple IT systems, complex migrations and integrations and the impact on people and processes. Expect candid reflections, actionable insights and a roadmap for delivering effective, digital-first services in the face of local government reform. Takeaways Get real-world, practical advice – This session focuses on actionable insights from those who have done it, rather than high-level theory. Avoid common pitfalls – Learn from the challenges and successes of others to make informed decisions in your own digital transformation journey. Stay ahead of change – Gain the knowledge and confidence to proactively shape your council’s approach, rather than reacting under pressure. Delivered by

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

Nazeya HussainNon-Executive Director – Lead on Diversity & Inclusion, Solace < Speakers < Previous Next > Nazeya Hussain Non-Executive Director – Lead on Diversity & Inclusion, Solace Executive Director, London Borough of Lewisham Nazeya has worked in local Government for over twenty years and is currently working as an Executive Director of Place in London. She specialises in urban regeneration and wider public sector reform agenda. Her work continues to focus on how we design places to improve life chances for those who are marginalised and often not heard. She has a passion for enhancing community engagement and the needs to shift to more integrated forms of co-design and collaboration within communities. She… Show More

All Speakers Dr Henry Kippin Chief Executive, North East Combined Authority Dr Henry Kippin is the Chief Executive of the North East CA, responsible for its delivery programme spanning inclusive economic growth, transport, skills, housing, culture, public service innovation, net zero and devolution. He previously served as Chief Executive of the North of Tyne Combined Authority, and as an Executive Director at the West Midlands Combined Authority. Prior to this he held a number of roles in UK and international public policy, including as CEO of Collaborate and managing the cross-party RSA Public Services Commission. He is a trustee of the Young Foundation, a visiting professor at Newcastle University and was a visiting fellow of the UNDP Global Centre for Public Service Excellence from 2013 – 2018. In 2024 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law by Northumbria University. Friday 17 October 20225 10:00–10:50 Storming and Forming: The Creation of Combined and Strategic Authorities Main Stage, New Dock Hall Go to session

All Speakers Jon Gleek Head of Research, LGIU Jon joined LGIU in the summer of 2025 as Head of Research following over a decade of experience in local government in South Yorkshire and London. He has extensive experience of senior management and high-profile roles in councils related to population level research, academic partnerships, insight development for policy making and strategy development, change management and service improvement. Jon is responsible for the organisation’s research and insight function, leading the portfolio of LGIU’s research partnerships and managing the Local Democracy Research Centre. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:00–15:40 Shaping Communities – How Leaders Unlock Social and Economic Value Barton Suite, Royal Armouries Go to session

< All sponsors Netcall Stand 13 www.netcall.com Netcall's AI-powered platform helps local councils work smarter, faster and improve efficiency across all of their operations. Our comprehensive solution accelerates IT, boosts productivity, enhances customer service and transforms workflows. Trusted by 1 in 3 local authorities including Newcastle and Lancashire County Councils, we build connected communities while reducing costs.

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