All Speakers Lemn Sissay OBE FRSL Playwright, memoirist, performer and broadcaster Google “Lemn Sissay” and all the return hits will be about him. There is only one person in the world named Lemn Sissay Awarded the 2024 Hay medal for poetry Lemn Sissay OBE FRSL is also a playwright, memoirist, performer and broadcaster. His latest book “Let The Light Pour In” is a Sunday Times Best Seller. The paperback comes out in 2025. His autobiography My name is Why was a Number One Sunday Times Best Seller. In 2021 he helped select the work for Hold Still which also became a Sunday Times Bestseller. His Theatre adaptation of Benjamin Zephaniah’s Refugee Boy is a text on The National Curriculum. In 2022 he was made a Fellow of The Royal Society of Literature. In September 2024 Sissay was made honorary fellow of Mansfield College Oxford and 2020 he became Honorary Fellow at Jesus College Cambridge. Lemn was named MBE for services to literature, awarded by The Queen at Buckingham Palace and then he was named OBE for services to Literature and Charity, awarded by King Charles at Windsor Castle in 2023. He was chancellor of University of Manchester from 2015 to 2023. He is the only Guest Director of Brighton Festival two have been two years (2020 and 2021). In 2024 he was the curator of the first Ethiopia Pavilion at Venice Biennale 2024. He has read poetry on stages throughout the world: from The Library of Congress in The United States to The National Theatre in Addis Ababa. From the Opera House of Dubai in The United Emirates to London Palladium in England. Sissay was the first poet commissioned to write for The Olympics in 2012. His Olympic poem Spark Catchers is a landmark poem on Queen Elizabeth Park today. His other landmark Poems are in Manchester London and Addis Ababa. There have been a few BBC TV documentaries about his life the latest is “The memory of me”. Listen to his desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4 or “Origin Stories” his series on Superheroes relating to the care system. His Channel Four Documentary “Superkids” was nominated for BAFTA, Broadcast and Grierson Awards. Lemn Sissay has received seven Honorary Doctorates at Universities throughout UK.. He is presently Honorary Bencher at The Inner Temple. He is Honorary Chair of creative writing at The University of Manchester. Lemn was approached by The City of London and accepted Freedom of The City of London. To be approached in such a way is an honour which includes Nelson Mandela. He has been photographed by Steve McCurry, Rankin, Zoë Law and Ethiopia’s greatest living photographer Aida Muluneh. A painting of Lemn is in The National Portrait gallery. He is trustee of The Foundling Museum under its new director Emma Ridgway and he is founding trustee of The Gold From The Stone Foundation which supports Christmas Dinners for Care Leavers on Christmas Day. Thursday 16 October 2025 16:30–17:30 Empowering the Vulnerable: Lemn Sissay's Journey of Advocacy and Change Main Stage, New Dock Hall Go to session

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

Gordon WilmottHead of Market for Public Services < Speakers < Previous Next > Gordon Wilmott Head of Market for Public Services Zurich Municipal Gordon Wilmott is Head of Market for Public Services at Zurich Municipal, where he leads the division in meeting the needs of its customers – local authorities from small parish councils to counties and everything in between. Providing tailored risk management and insurance solutions to support clients in maximising their impact and delivering for their communities. Gordon has also lead the division supporting the Third Sector in his time with Zurich Municipal. Prior to his roles in ZM, Gordons career… Show More

All Speakers Kathryn Rees Executive Director Corporate and Support Services, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Kathryn has extensive experience of leading transformation and change in Local Government through several roles in Stockport and Wigan Council. She is passionate about improving the lives of people and communities. She joined Stockport Council as the Director of Strategy in June 2019 and is currently the Executive Director for Corporate and Support Services, where she has responsibility for finance, legal and democratic services, workforce, communications, strategy, digital, data, partnerships and community engagement. She also led the development of Stockroom, a project to transform vacant retail units into a new innovative space for creativity, discovery and learning. Kathryn plays a key role in the Health and Care partnership, providing leadership for enabling programmes including workforce, data, digital, estates, communication and engagement. She also chairs the Greater Manchester Smart Cities Board. Kathryn previously worked for 9 years in Wigan Council where, as Assistant Director of Transformation, she played an integral part in the design and delivery of the Wigan Deal which transformed the way the council worked with communities. Kathryn joined Mencap as a trustee in January 2022. In addition to the board, she is a member of the Delivery and Strategic Impact Committee. Since May 2024 Kathryn has also sat on the board of Care City, a community interest company delivering health and social care transformation. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:00–15:40 Cross-party Working Against a Backdrop of No Overall Control Hall A, Royal Armouries Go to session

Jonathan StephensonJoint Chief Executive < Speakers < Previous Next > Jonathan Stephenson Joint Chief Executive Brentwood Borough Council & Rochford District Council Jonathan has worked within local government for over 25 years, predominantly undertaking senior leadership roles, across a range of different organisations, Ipswich Borough Council, The London Borough of Enfield, Babergh & Mid Suffolk District Councils, Brentwood Borough Council and Rochford District Council. Jonathan is currently Joint Chief Executive at Brentwood Borough Council and Rochford District Council. Working more widely in Essex he is also the lead CEO for Housing and Infrastructure for the Association of South East Essex Local Authorities… Show More

All Speakers Eleanor Kelly Former Chief Executive Thursday 16 October 2025 15:00–15:40 Life Safety First: Turning Risk into Assurance Hall B, Royal Armouries Go to session

Daniela RivasCity Manager of Newton City < Speakers < Previous Next > Daniela Rivas City Manager of Newton City Newton City, Kansas Daniela Lujano Rivas currently serves as the Newton, Kansas City Manager. As City Manager, she leads the city’s administrative operations including the execution of the Mayor and City Commissioners policies and vision. She has a bachelor’s degree in finance from the W. Frank Barton School of Business from Wichita State University and a Master of Public Administration from the Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs at Wichita State University where her studies emphasized public finance and city/county management. She earned… Show More

Day One Day Two Previous Next Friday 17 October 20225 Main Stage, New Dock Hall 12:00–12:50 Keynote Katie Piper Speaker/s Katie Piper OBE, Writer, Activist and Broadcaster Few stories capture the power of human strength and kindness quite like Katie Piper’s. After surviving a life-changing attack, Katie chose not only to rebuild her own life but to use her platform to help others do the same — founding a charity, writing best-selling books, and championing inclusion through her broadcasting and advocacy work. In this candid and hopeful session, Katie reflects on what it means to lead with empathy and purpose when faced with profound change. She’ll explore how people and communities can come together to restore confidence, belonging, and opportunity — themes that sit at the heart of local government work. Katie’s story challenges us to look differently at vulnerability and courage, and to recognise the quiet power of everyday leadership — whether supporting a neighbour, shaping public services, or nurturing a culture of care within our teams. This is a rare opportunity to hear from someone who embodies optimism in action — reminding us that healing and progress, both personal and collective, begin with compassion and belief in the potential of others.

Jonathan DiggesChief Investment Officer < Speakers < Previous Next > Jonathan Digges Chief Investment Officer Octopus Energy Jonathan oversees fund management investment strategy. Since joining Octopus in 2015, he has been Product Head for Octopus Inheritance Tax Service, led the Specialist Finance Investment Team and chaired the Octopus Investment Committee.

< All sponsors Policy in Practice Stand 22 policyinpractice.co.uk Policy in Practice empowers people via proactive, integrated support. Millions of families are missing out on £23 billion of support during a cost of living crisis. Ask us how much is unclaimed in your area and how we are helping one in four local authorities to boost resident’s incomes and reduce their costs.

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