2025 Sponsors and Exhibitors Arup Read More Cratus Read More EY Read More Newtrality Read More Profit Impact Stand B Read More The MJ Read More Transform Read More Zellis Read More Lightning Reach Stand 1 Read More Locality Stand 2 Read More ICS.AI Stand 4 Read More Engage Process Stand 5 Read More Granicus Stand 6 Read More MHR Stand 7 Read More Commercial Services Group Stand 8 Read More CIPFA Stand 9 Read More Jadu Stand 10 Read More CCLA Stand 11 Read More Trueman Change Stand 12 Read More Netcall Stand 13 Read More Beam Stand 14 Read More Harmony Fire Stand 15 Read More Submit.com Stand 16 Read More LGC Stand 17 Read More Commonplace Stand 18 Read More Bevan Brittan Stand 20 Read More Migration Support Stand 21 Read More Policy in Practice Stand 22 Read More Govmetric Stand 23 Read More SpaceHive Stand 24 Read More

2025 Speakers From seasoned public sector leaders to fresh voices shaping the future, Solace Summit 2025 brings together the thinkers and doers driving change across local government. Expect real-world insights, bold ideas, and candid conversations—all designed to help you lead with purpose, act with confidence, and deliver lasting impact. Explore the full programme. More speakers to be added in the coming weeks! Stay tuned to this page for updates. Robin Tuddenham President of Solace and Chief Executive, Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council Liz McQue Facilitator & Solace Associate Ed Whiting OBE Chief Executive, Leeds City Council Chris Naylor Solace Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Nazeya Hussain Solace Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Kirsty Wark Speaker, award-winning journalist and presenter Mike Land City Manager of Coppell, Texas, and President-Elect of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Brenda Orchard President of CAMA and Chief Administrative Officer, Lennox and Addington County Craig Swift-McNair General Manager, Woollahra Council, Sydney, Australia Tom Stannard Chief Executive, Manchester City Council Dr Owen Williams OBE Chief Executive,Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust John Clarke Head of Client Solution – Healthcare, Netcall Jon Rouse CBE Chief Executive, Stoke on Trent City Council and Solace Policy Lead for Housing, Planning and Infrastructure Joanna Key Director General for Regeneration, Housing and Planning, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Diksha Vyas Head of Digital Change and Service Improvement, Bracknell Forest Council Tracey Anderson Head of Scrutiny and Ward Forums, London Borough of Hackney 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 Kathryn Rees Executive Director Corporate and Support Services, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Vicki Bates Assistant Director, Governance and Monitoring Officer, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Kate Joseph CB Chief Executive, Sheffield City Council Averil Price Solace Associate and Director, Avie Consultancy Kersten England CBE Chair, The Young Foundation; Director of Engagement, Bradford 2025, Yorkshire Universities Dr Peter O’Brien Executive Director, Yorkshire Universities Sarah Norman Chief Executive, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, and Chair of the Yorkshire and Humber Councils’ Chief Executives’ Group Dr Mariana Pexton Deputy Chief Executive, Leeds City Council Ciara Graven Consultant – Economics and Casemaking Team, Arup Gareth Fairweather Senior Leader, Urban and Regional, Arup Simon Allsop B.Com, CPFA Managing Consultant, CIPFA John O'Halloran Director of Consultancy, CIPFA Asim Ali VP of UK Sales, Granicus Jonathan Bradley Senior Experience Partner, Granicus Lemn Sissay OBE FRSL Playwright, memoirist, performer and broadcaster Dr Henry Kippin Chief Executive, North East Combined Authority Amy Harhoff Chief Executive, East Midlands Combined County Authority Mark Rogers Chief Executive, The Leadership Centre Helen Bailey Chief Executive, London Borough of Sutton Katie Piper OBE Writer, Activist and Broadcaster Evelyn John Inner Circle Consulting Nicola Monk Divisional CEO, Energy & Environment, Procurement & Partnerships, Commercial Services Group Rosa Foster Director, Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission Jon Gleek Head of Research, LGIU Lisa Smith Director of Strategy, Performance and Partnerships, Liverpool City Council Lee Goodenough Executive Director, Harmony Fire Andrew Ferrier Chief Executive, Test Valley Borough Council Lord Gary Porter Political Leader and National Voice on Housing Safety Jonathan Clifton Director of Strategy and Communications, Sheffield City Council Kamal Patel Partner in EY-Parthenon’s Infrastructure Advisory Pactice, EY Marcus Richards Partner in EY-Parthenon’s Infrastructure Advisory Practice, EY Kevin Bolt MBA Managing Director, Step-Change Management Eleanor Kelly Former Chief Executive Hayley Hamlett Director of HR & Corporate Affairs

FAQ page for the Solace Summit conference; an event designed for local government and public sector professionals. Help Centre Whether you're getting ready for the Solace Summit or need support during the event, this is your go-to spot for answers. From travel and timings to session access and venue details, we’ve gathered the most common questions and key resources to help you have a smooth, stress-free experience. Need more help? Call us on 0207 233 0081 or email events@solace.org.uk and we’ll be happy to assist. Please note that our FAQs will be updated for Liverpool 2026 shortly. Frequently asked questions Miscellaneous Venue Information Refunds & Transfers Programme Evening Events Special Assistance Dietary Requirements Travel Partnership Accommodation & Parking Exhibitors Will you be filming or photographing the Summit? Please be advised that filming and/or photography will be taking place for the duration of the Solace Summit. Solace reserves the right to photograph and video any or all aspects of its events for training and/or promotional purposes, including event attendees, without the expressed written permission of persons who may be included in such photograph or video by virtue of their attendance. Solace may use any event photograph or video in full or in edited version in publications or other media materials produced, including but not limited to brochures, magazines, newspapers, websites and social media. If any event attendee does not wish for us to use their image or likeness, they should inform us by emailing, events@solace.org.uk (mailto:events@solace.org.uk)and include the following information: • Email subject: Use of personal image   • Event title • Event date • Event location In signing up for this event I understand that it is my responsibility to email Solace and advise in writing if I do not wish my likeness or image collected at this event to be used as indicated.

Our dedicated site for Solace's flagship event for local government & public sector professionals, the Solace Summit. The Future of Local Government Starts at Solace Summit 21–22 October, 2026 ACC Liverpool The Solace Summit 2026 heads to Liverpool for an unmissable gathering of local government leaders. Join us to explore fresh ideas, ambitious strategies, and the powerful connections shaping the future of public service. Buy Tickets What is the Solace Summit? Better leadership starts here. Hosted by Solace, the Summit brings together people across local government — from emerging talent to experienced executives — to share insight, shape ideas, and drive change. Across two days of thought-provoking sessions, powerful connections, and practical content, the Summit is your space to reflect, recharge, and reimagine the future of public service. 2025 FEATURED 2 DAYS OF LEARNING, 35+ SPEAKERS AND SO MUCH MORE. Meet The Speakers of 2025 Hear from experienced leaders who bring real insight and fresh thinking from across the sector. Our speakers are respected experts, known for their practical knowledge, honest perspectives, and thoughtful ideas. View All Speakers Robin Tuddenham President of Solace and Chief Executive, Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council Liz McQue Facilitator & Solace Associate Ed Whiting OBE Chief Executive, Leeds City Council Chris Naylor Solace Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Nazeya Hussain Solace Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Kirsty Wark Speaker, award-winning journalist and presenter 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ... 9 PEOPLE THEME 1: Local government is, at its heart, a people business. This theme explores how we lead with empathy, empower communities, and invest in the workforce of the future — asking what it means to put people first in a system under strain, and how we build cultures of care, trust, and accountability. PARTNERS We’re grateful to our partners for their continued support. Their contribution plays a key role in making this event a success and strengthening the work we do with communities across the country. View All Partners 1 2 1 ... 1 2 ... 2 LIVERPOOL 2026 Don't miss the future of local government.

Asim AliVice-President of Sales < Speakers < Previous Next > Asim Ali Vice-President of Sales Granicus For almost 25 years, Asim has worked closely with Public Sector organisations, helping them use digital tools, technology, and consultancy to gain better outcomes for their customers, whilst creating significant internal efficiencies and cost-savings. Over the last decade, UK public sector bodies, have been under tremendous pressure to continue to provide services to their communities whilst having to make huge cuts to their budgets. Over 450 public sector agencies have turned to Granicus to help them to reach and… Show More

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 Hotot Suite, Royal Armouries 15:45-16:25 Roundtable Test, Learn and Grow: How Do We Build a Movement? Chair Evelyn John, Managing Director, Inner Circle Consulting Speaker/s Lisa Smith, Director of Strategy, Performance and Partnerships, Liverpool City Council Andrew Ferrier, Chief Executive, Test Valley Borough Council Jonathan Clifton, Director of Strategy and Communications, Sheffield City Council The sessions offers an opportunity to hear about the flagship Test, Learn and Grow programme. You’ll hear practical insights directly from participants in this pioneering approach to public service reform alongside leads from Cabinet Office, explore how a ‘test and learn’ mindset can support system-wide improvement, and how we can build a wider ‘movement’ the bridges between places and central government and closes the gap between policy intent and delivery.

Day One Day Two Previous Next Thursday 16 October 2025 13:15–14:15 International Meeting and Lunch

Sarah WarrenSEND/EHCP Advisor < Speakers < Previous Next > Sarah Warren SEND/EHCP Advisor Agilisys Sarah is the SEND/EHCP Advisor at Agilisys Transform, on the EHCP Plus solution. Before joining Agilisys, Sarah spent over 14 years working in local authority SEND teams as a Caseworker and EHC Plan Writer, as well as previously as a teacher in a SEND school. Work has been for over 15 different local authorities, giving insight into different ways of working and EHC Plan styles and formats. Sarah has been working closely with the team at Agilisys to help develop and optimise… Show More

< All sponsors CIPFA Stand 9 www.cipfa.org CIPFA is the home of excellence in public finance. We exist to ensure public money is well spent and well managed for the benefit of us all. We are a UK-based international accountancy membership and standard-setting body and the only such body globally dedicated to public financial management.

Dwayne JohnsonExternal Advisor < Speakers < Previous Next > Dwayne Johnson External Advisor ICS.AI Dwayne Johnson has a 40-year career in Local Government serving as an Executive Director for 15 years before becoming a Chief Executive for 4 years. Dwayne now leads a Consultancy focused on Local Government and AI. He has significant experience working within Political environments and has given evidence at All-Party Committees at Westminster as well as visiting Downing Street to describe how one Council he worked for managed to transform its services and received plaudits from Regulators. His experience in… Show More

Andrew Muter Director < Speakers < Previous Next > Andrew Muter Director Darlingburn Ltd Andrew Muter worked in local government and public service roles for thirty-eight years, including eleven years as a district council chief executive, ten years on the corporate management team of a county council and three years leading the government of a Crown Dependency. He currently works with Darlingburn Ltd, providing specialist consultancy value for money and governance work, including where councils are at high risk of failure. He is a former Solace Board member and finance lead.

All Speakers Averil Price Solace Associate and Director, Avie Consultancy The Legacy Coach for senior public service leaders in transition – promotion, pivot, or retirement. I am a senior leader with 20+ years wide-ranging experience as a Local Authority Director. Following a serious brain haemorrhage, I transitioned from local government to self-employed business owner in 2022. As Director of Avie Consultancy Limited I deliver executive legacy coaching & consultancy to individuals and local authorities in the UK. I help leaders plan and execute a successful transition to whatever their next stage is. And I help them celebrate the impact they have made so far in their lives, their leadership legacy. As a Solace Associate, I provide coaching, action learning set facilitation and leadership development courses at a national level. My book ‘The Legacy Coach’ will be published, hopefully, in October 2025, providing an ideal companion for leaders’ transitional journeys. Thursday 16 October 2025 15:45–16:25 The Leader’s Mirror: Defining the Legacy You Leave Behind Bury Theatre, Royal Armouries Go to session