Speakers

Anna Randle, Chief Executive, New Local

Anna started her career at New Local (then the New Local Government Network), which set her on a path along which she has worked on local government reform from multiple perspectives: within local government, central government, think tanks and not-for-profit consultancies.

Common threads through all her work have been re-building the relationship between communities and the state, empowering communities and shaping services around people’s lives.

Prior to rejoining New Local, Anna was CEO of Collaborate CIC, where her work included supporting multiple local authorities to build new strategies for change, facilitating cross-sector collaboration across local government, the NHS and the VCSE, and facilitating a leadership programme for council CEOs in partnership with SOLACE.

Previously Anna was Head of Policy and Strategy for the London Borough of Lambeth, where she helped lead strategy and innovation with a focus on building new models of collaborative public services, after time as a Special Advisor in two government departments.

Ben Lucas, Founding Director, Metro Dynamics; Chair, Growth and Reform Network

Ben is Executive Chair of the Growth and Reform Network and Founding Director at Metro Dyanmics where he leads major strategy projects across the UK. He is an expert on the political and economic drivers that are needed for growth and how to shape narratives that best reflect these. He advises places on governance, inclusive growth and how best to work with Westminster and Whitehall.

Ben has worked with Ministers, Officials and Local Government Leaders on a range of public policy issues, including two highly influential Commissions, the 2020 Public Services Commission and the RSA City Growth Commission.

He is a Policy Associate at the Future Governance Forum, a member of the Evidence to Impact Committee of Foundations, The What Works Centre for Children and Families, and Founding Director of The Power Test podcast.

Claire Dhami, Head of Systems Change and Inclusion, West Midlands Combined Authority

Claire is an accomplished leader in the public sector, renowned for her innovative and inclusive approach. As the Head of Systems Change and Inclusion at West Midlands Combined Authority, she has driven significant policy changes and secured substantial investments, including £23.8 million for the Inclusive Communities pillar and £39.6 million to develop a new secure facility for children.

Claire leads the Public Sector Innovation agenda, transforming public services across areas like early years, youth unemployment, health and social care, and homelessness. Notably, she established the first Violence Reduction Unit with both a unique faith alliance and a sports partnership. Claire has a strong background in public service reform, inclusive growth, and equality, diversity, and inclusion. Her instrumental role in driving initiatives has promoted equity and sustainability across the region. Claire’s dedication to social justice and her impactful contributions have made a significant difference.

Emma de Closset, Chief Executive, UK Community Foundations

Emma is the Chief Executive of UK Community Foundations (UKCF), a place-based network which invests in communities through local giving and philanthropy.

Prior to joining UKCF in January 2025, Emma was a Director in the Cabinet Office. She led operational and policy delivery for international summits, serving as the Chief Operating Officer for the UK’s G7 Presidency in 2021 and the Prime Minister’s Deputy Representative for the AI Safety Summit in 2023.

She was instrumental in the creation of the National Leadership Centre for public sector leaders (now part of the Leadership College for Government). Emma has served twice in the Prime Minister’s Office:  first, as a No10 policy advisor during the coalition years, returning in 2017 to lead No10 special projects.

In between her civil service roles, she worked for the Boston Consulting Group in New York City and was Director of Strategy for a major youth programme in the UK. Emma has a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Queen’s College, Oxford, and she held a von Clemm Fellowship at the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences at Harvard.

Emma Hanley, Senior Contracting & Procurement Manager at Kirklees Council

Emma has been a Senior Contracting & Procurement Manager at Kirklees Council since 2017. In her role Emma manages the Contracts Team and is responsible for the Council’s Adult Social Care Contracts (including housing related support supported housing domiciliary care, extra care, care homes, day care and day opportunities contracts). She also leads commissioning for housing related support, which included developing the Kirklees Integrated Support Services with investment from the Life Chances Fund.

Prior to this role, Emma held the position of Supporting People Manager at Kirklees Council, and she has worked in housing related support contracting since 2005.

Grace Pollard, Head of Policy and Insight, New Local

Grace joined New Local in October 2019. Prior to this, Grace was a Policy Adviser supporting the London Assembly Transport Committee and held previous roles supporting the Police and Crime Committee and EU Exit Working Group. Before this, Grace was a trainee on the CharityWorks graduate scheme. At New Local, Grace leads on developing the evidence base for community power – looking at the impact of these practices across the public sector. She also manages our member research programme of Innovation Insights and Innovation In Depths. Grace holds a BA in Archaeology and Anthropology from the University of Oxford and an MSc in Law, Anthropology and Society from the LSE. 

Helen Bailey, Chief Executive, Sutton Council

Helen is the Chief Executive of the London Borough of Sutton. She has held Chief Executive roles in the London Borough of Islington and in North Somerset and she is also Director of the Leadership Centre in Local Government.

Helen has experience in central and London government, having been a senior treasury official and has led the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime. She is an experienced consultant, a Trustee of Guys and St Thomas Charity and a former housing association board member.

Hamida Ali, Head of Learning and Practice, Future Governance Forum

Hamida has over 20 years experience of addressing equality and diversity in public sector organisations including local and regional government, the criminal justice system, public service broadcasting and the trade union movement. Hamida served as a councillor for Woodside ward in the London Borough of Croydon from 2014-2022. In October 2020, Hamida was elected as Leader of the Council and responsible for steering the council through a period of significant turbulence prompted by serious financial and governance problems. Prior to that, Hamida served as a cabinet member for Safer Croydon and Communities from 2016-2020 leading on community safety, community and voluntary sector relations and equality and diversity. Hamida led a public health approach to tackling serious violence, including domestic violence and knife crime. Since standing down as a councillor, Hamida has joined the team who deliver some of the leadership development programmes for councillors in leading roles for the Local Government Association.

James Moody, Director of Strategy and Innovation, Test Valley Borough Council

James has a background of working both within Local Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector. Currently the Policy Manager at Test Valley Borough Council, he has a wide-ranging corporate brief that includes place shaping, strategic planning and partnership working.

James was previously Chair of Trustees for DEVELOP and oversaw its merger with Community First in 2016. Prior to this, he was also one of the founding members of the charity that established the UK Youth Parliament and served as its first Chair of Trustees. James is passionate about community development and the role of volunteering as part of supporting strong and vibrant communities.

Rt Hon John Denham (MC), Professorial Research Fellow, University of Southampton

John is a Professorial Research Fellow in the Department of Politics and International Relations and Director of the Centre for English Identity and Politics at the University of Southampton.

He was Labour MP for Southampton Itchen (1992-2015) and served as a Minister (1997-2003 and 2007-2010). John’s final Ministerial role was as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. He chaired the Home Affairs Select Committee from 2003 – 2007.

Outside the University he was a founding Director of the Southern Policy Centre, an independent regional think tank. John co-authored New Local’s 2024 report, Place-Based Public Service Budgets: Making Public Money Work Better for Communities, with Jessica Studdert.

Katharine Hammond, Chief Executive, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority

Katharine joined SYMCA as Chief Executive in May 2025. She joined following a 22-year career in the civil service the last four of which were spent as Director General for Strategy in GCHQ, one of the UK’s three world-class intelligence agencies. She has worked extensively on policing including for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; on prisons and criminal justice in both the Home Office and Ministry of Justice; on Afghanistan in the FCDO and spent almost eight years in the Cabinet Office working firstly for Sir John Chilcot on his report into the origins of the Iraq War and then as Director of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat focussed on risk, resilience and crisis management.

Laurie Brennan, Head of Policy and Partnerships, Sheffield City Council

Laurie is an experienced policy professional with a strong background in developing and managing strategic initiatives within local government. From September 2009 to May 2016, Laurie served as a Policy Officer and subsequently as the Policy and Improvement Manager at Sheffield City Council, focusing on corporate strategy, socioeconomic challenges, and collaboration with city leaders. Since May 2019, she has held the position of Head of Policy & Partnerships at Sheffield City Council.

Prior experience includes the role of Research & Policy Officer and Principal Policy Officer at the Borough of Pendle from July 2004 to December 2008, where she facilitated partnerships and secured funding for initiatives aimed at improving youth aspirations. Educational qualifications include a MA with Distinction in Research Methods in Politics & International Relations and a Post Graduate Certificate in Leadership with Distinction, both from The University of Sheffield.

Rob Tabb, Programme Lead: Public Service Innovation at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

Rob is currently the Programme Lead for Public Service Innovation at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, a role he has held since 2024.

Previously, Rob served as Policy Lead for Employment and Skills at the same organisation from 2019 to 2024. With experience as a Senior Finance Manager at Wirral and West Cheshire Community NHS Trust from 1998 to 2001, Rob also worked at Knowsley MBC in various roles from 2009 to 2018, including Principal Manager of Culture and Change. His education includes a Master’s degree in Public Sector Management from the University of Chester and a PGDip in Health Services Management from The University of Manchester.

Satvir Kaur MP, Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office

Satvir Kaur is the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office. She has been the Member of Parliament for Southampton Test since 2024. She previously served as Leader of Southampton City Council from 2022 to 2023, being the first female Sikh leader of a local authority in Britain. She also represented Shirley on the City Council from 2011 until 2024. 

Thomas Johnson, Head of Reform Strategy and Policy, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Deputy SRO Prevention Demonstrator

Warren Heppolette, Director: Prevention Demonstrator, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Warren started his career in local government as a neighbourhood housing officer over 25 years ago before moving into policy and strategy roles.

He joined the NHS in 2006 and has been Director of the Association of Greater Manchester PCTs (developing joint commissioning and leadership arrangements across the PCTs) and Director of Policy & External Relations for NHS Greater Manchester.

In 2012 Warren joined NHS England as the Greater Manchester Area Team’s Director of Operations & Delivery with responsibility for performance, CCG assurance and emergency preparedness.

Since 2014 Warren has played a central role to bring devolved powers and budgets to Greater Manchester and is currently the Executive Lead Strategy and System Development for the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership.