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Networking 20:00–00:00 Charity Dinner Rum Warehouse Previous Proudly supporting Crisis and St Augustine's Charity Dinner sponsored by Xylo AI Dinner wine kindly sponsored by Zellis Next

< Back Previous Business Partner, Exhibitor, Breakout, Sponsor IESE http://www.iese.org.uk Stand 19 IESE is a not-for-profit organisation owned by local authorities, helping public services improve through innovation, research, events, awards and partnerships. We connect leaders, share best practice and support transformation. Our solutions, including CareCubed and the Cyber Centre of Excellence, enable better decisions, stronger resilience, fairer commissioning and improved community outcomes. Next

Previous Next Emma Foy Industry Lead for Local Government, TechnologyOne Emma Foy is the Industry Lead for Local Government at TechnologyOne, where she champions digital transformation across councils and public sector organisations. She brings deep expertise in modernising services and helping local authorities unlock the power of connected, cloud‑based technology. With a background of over ten years of being Section 151 in various local authorities, she now works closely with leaders to streamline operations and drive meaningful community outcomes. Emma is known for her collaborative approach, her commitment to innovation, and her passion for helping local government build more resilient, efficient, and future‑ready services. 15:30–16:30 North West Breakout: Connected Devolution: Implications for Local Government Leadership Breakout View Session Speakers: Emma Foy , Industry Lead for Local Government, TechnologyOne Jonathan Werran , Chief Executive, Localis

Break 09:15–10:30 Registration | All Delegates Galleria Previous Next

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Pearl Suite, Royal Armouries 14:15–14:55 Sub Plenary 1.5 Million Homes: Ambition, Action, and Accountability Chair Jon Rouse CBE, Chief Executive, Stoke on Trent City Council and Solace Policy Lead for Housing, Planning and Infrastructure Speaker/s Joanna Key, Director General for Regeneration, Housing and Planning, MHCLG Local authorities are central to delivering the Government’s 1.5 million homes target, one of the most ambitious housing targets in a generation. This session explores how planning reform, local leadership, and community-focused development can turn national ambition into local impact.

Panel Session 10:00–11:00 Beyond Barriers: Authentic Women’s Leadership in Local Government Main Stage Kath O'Dwyer, Solace Group Board Chair Read More Alison McCullagh, Chief Executive, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, and Solace Northern Ireland Branch Chair Read More Emma Palmer, Chief Executive, Powys County Council, and Solace Wales Branch Vice Chair Read More Pippa Milne, Chief Executive, Argyll and Bute Council, and Solace Scotland Branch Chair Read More Previous Speakers: Alison McCullagh , Chief Executive, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, and Solace Northern Ireland Branch Chair Emma Palmer , Chief Executive, Powys County Council, and Solace Wales Branch Vice Chair Pippa Milne , Chief Executive, Argyll and Bute Council, and Solace Scotland Branch Chair Next

Previous Next Nikita Hunt Policy Officer, Test Valley Borough Council Nikita Hunt is a Policy Officer in the Strategy and Innovation Team at Test Valley Borough Council, bringing experience across social work, housing, homelessness, policy development, and public service transformation. Having begun her career in social work, Nikita developed expertise in safeguarding, assessments, and supporting individuals with complex needs before transitioning into local government housing. Nikita has since specialised in housing allocations, homelessness, and health and welfare assessments. Alongside her professional experience, Nikita draws on lived experience, which informs her approach to policy development and strengthens her commitment to creating inclusive and effective public services. Alongside her policy role, Nikita serves as Equity Lead for the Test Learn & Grow Programme and is a Homelessness and Temporary Accommodation Associate with the LCN Policy Network, contributing to national policy development and sector-wide discussions. Nikita is also a participant in the AMPLify Talent Cohort Programme, supporting their development as an emerging strategic leader within local government. Passionate about inclusion, innovation, and equity, Nikita is committed to developing evidence-informed policies and services that improve outcomes for people and communities. 09:10–09:20 Rewiring the State Amplify Cohort 5: Organisational Change and Equity: Beyond Rhetoric Showcase View Session Andre Small , Customer Service (CSAT and Complaints), Epping Forest District Council Nikita Hunt , Policy Officer, Strategy and Innovation Team, Test Valley Borough Council

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

Previous Next Jess Gibbons Chief Executive, Brighton and Hove City Council Jess Gibbons is Chief Executive of Brighton & Hove City Council, Chair of Solace in the South Board and deputy spokesperson for Climate and Environment on the Solace Policy Board. Jess is passionate about supporting communities to thrive and recognises the need for strong partnership working across the public and voluntary sectors to deliver for our communities. Brighton and Hove is a dynamic, creative and innovative city, with huge opportunities and challenges. The Council has a clear plan to deliver a better Brighton and Hove for all; and is changing itself to be a learning organisation that is creative, connected and confident in how it responds and grasps those issues and opportunities, including the potential created by being a constituent Council in the Sussex and Brighton Mayoral Authority. Jess has experience from across the voluntary, private and public sector. She is a strong strategic and collaborative leader, motivated by delivering quality services in partnership with communities. Jess’s most recent local government career includes being Chief Operations Officer at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, Director for Communities and Neighbourhoods at Wiltshire Council, and Director of Community Services at the London Borough of Camden. 13:15–13:25 Rewiring the State Brighton and Hove: Transforming into a Learning Organisation Showcase View Session Speakers: Jess Gibbons , Chief Executive, Brighton and Hove City Council Lindsey Pearce , Head of Learning, Inclusion and Organisational Development, Brighton and Hove City Council 10:10–10:20 Rewiring the State Brighton and Hove: Transforming Into a Learning Organisation Showcase View Session Speakers: Jess Gibbons , Chief Executive, Brighton and Hove City Council Chris Wales , Director of Digital Innovation, Brighton and Hove City Council

All Speakers Mike Land City Manager of Coppell, Texas, and President-Elect of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Michael Land is the City Manager of Coppell, Texas, a role he has held since 2017 following five years as Deputy City Manager. With over three decades of public service experience, Mike is also the President-Elect of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). His career includes serving as Town Manager for Prosper, City Manager and Community Development Director for Gainesville, Texas, and Planning & Zoning Director in Tavares, Florida. He also worked in private-sector land planning in Sarasota and Orlando, where he chaired Sarasota County’s Affordable Housing Task Force. Mike is a Credentialed Manager through ICMA, a Certified Public Manager, and holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design and Master of Science in Land Development from Texas A&M University. He is a graduate of the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia and holds a Project Management Certificate from Duke University. A dedicated mentor and leader, Mike has served as President of the Texas City Management Association, on the ICMA Board of Directors, and on advisory boards for Texas State University, UTA’s MPA program, and Texas Women’s Leadership Institute. Recognized among “21 Leaders for the 21st Century” by the Collin County Business Press, Mike is committed to advancing professional local government and fostering community success. He and his wife Lisa live in Coppell and enjoy spending time with their three daughters and four grandchildren. Thursday 16 October 2025 12:15–13:15 International Perspective Main Stage, New Dock Hall Go to session

< Back Previous Business Partner Robertson Group https://www.robertson.co.uk As one of the UK's largest family-owned regeneration, infrastructure and support services businesses, Robertson combines the scale, expertise and long-term commitment needed to deliver lasting change. Through our diverse portfolio of businesses, we develop, deliver and maintain the buildings and critical infrastructure that support our customers and their communities across the UK. Working in close partnership with our customers, we help solve complex challenges, unlock opportunities and create sustainable long-term value. Everything we do is guided by our purpose: to assure a sustainable future. We support public sector organisations in responding to evolving service demands, financial pressures and strategic priorities by aligning estate, asset and facilities strategies with wider organisational objectives. Our collaborative approach enables customers to optimise performance, improve resilience and create high-performing places that deliver meaningful outcomes, ultimately delivering a greater sense of place. Our expertise spans strategic estate planning, asset management, regeneration, energy and decarbonisation, supporting organisations across local government, education, defence, healthcare, housing and rail. With our group capability, we support an asset throughout its entire lifecycle, and place this at the heart of transformational change. As a trusted partner for transformation, Robertson brings together specialist capabilities in asset and facilities management, regeneration, decarbonisation, funding and investment, and place-making. We provide the insight, expertise and delivery capability needed to make informed decisions, reduce risk and maximise the value of public assets. From estate optimisation and regeneration programmes to long-term investment planning and operational delivery, we help organisations transform estates and infrastructure in ways that generate lasting social, environmental and economic benefits for the communities they serve. Next

Previous Next André K. Small Customer Service (CSAT and Complaints), Epping Forest District Council André K. Small is a customer experience and service improvement leader with a passion for using customer insight, complaints intelligence, and data analytics to drive meaningful organisational change. As Team Manager for Customer Service (CSAT & Complaints) at Epping Forest District Council, Andre oversees the Council's complaints function, Contact Centre operations, and the Epping Community Hub. He leads on complaints analytics and performance reporting, transforming customer feedback and operational data into actionable insights that support service improvement, organisational learning, and evidence-based decision-making. Working closely with internal teams and external partners, André champions collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement to enhance customer experiences and ensure services remain responsive to the evolving needs of residents. He also serves on the Council's Housing Complaints Panel, promoting accountability,transparency, and service learning across housing services. Drawing on both his professional experience and Caribbean heritage, André is a strong advocate for inclusive, customer-centred public services that reflect and respond to the diverse communities they serve. He is particularly interested in how data analytics, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies can be harnessed to improve outcomes, strengthen organisational performance, and shape the future of local government. André believes that the most effective organisations combine human insight, community understanding, and data-driven decision-making to create services that are trusted, innovative, and designed around the needs of the people they serve. 09:10–09:20 Rewiring the State Amplify Cohort 5: Organisational Change and Equity: Beyond Rhetoric Showcase View Session Andre Small , Customer Service (CSAT and Complaints), Epping Forest District Council Nikita Hunt , Policy Officer, Strategy and Innovation Team, Test Valley Borough Council