The day’s agenda will cover:
- The One Habit Advantage
What if one small habit could increase performance by 15%? - Sourcing the Stack
The vision for local government technology is a shared, strategic foundation that will enable councils to operate to coherent national standards while retaining local autonomy. In this session Phil will discuss progress on co-creating the vision, and the next steps in the pipeline. - Transformation and LGR: Opportunities and Challenges
- Change, Transformation & Customer Experience
This presentation will explore the journey Caerphilly has embarked on to modernise services, make financial savings and improve Customer Experience. - Every day, councils receive a wealth of insight from resident contact – but how often do we truly turn that into action?
This session will explore how our work on insights is helping us better listen to and respond to what really matters to our communities in Redbridge. Rather than simply reporting on data, we’ve focused on building a practical framework that turns everyday contact into real understanding and genuine action. We’ll share how this approach is enabling us to spot emerging local issues earlier, gain a clearer picture of public sentiment, and support more relevant content across services that is more useful to the right people. We’ll also reflect on how these insights make us better able to cope and respond when things get difficult or busy, while helping to build trust with our communities. - Reorganisation to Reinvention: Embedding Digital and AI into the Future of Local Government
As local government reorganisation accelerates across the UK, councils face a once-in-a-generation opportunity—not just to restructure, but to fundamentally rethink how services are delivered.
This session explores how digital transformation and AI can move from isolated innovation to core infrastructure in newly formed authorities. With many councils still grappling with legacy systems, fragmented data, and budget constraints, the challenge is no longer whether to adopt AI—but how to do so meaningfully, ethically, and at scale.
This is a candid look at how councils can avoid “lifting and shifting” old problems into new structures—and instead use reorganisation as a catalyst for true transformation. - LGR? Or no LGR? Why workforce reshaping is continuous regardless
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) may be paused in some areas and subject to new decisions in others, but the need to reshape organisations is continuous.
Financial pressures, rising service demand, policy reform and AI are just some of the drivers requiring councils and other public sector bodies to rethink how they are structured and how their operating models evolve to meet changing community priorities, while maintaining high-quality services and remaining financially sustainable.
Join Paul Robinson, Strategic Director for the Nottinghamshire LGR programme and former SRO of the Cumbria reorganisation programme, alongside Gareth O’Reilly, VP of Global Services at Orgvue, as they explore the latest developments in local government, what they mean for councils today, and the workforce risks and opportunities facing organisations across the sector.
Drawing on real-world experience, they will discuss how leaders can build a trusted view of their workforce, assess risk, model change and make confident decisions while balancing uncertainty with long-term transformation opportunities. - Deepening Devolution: Funding, Powers and the Future Shape of Local Government
- Advancing AI in Local Government: Progress, Impact and Priorities
- FM Benchmarking
Exploring the quality of data that UK Council’s hold about their property portfolios and the inherent commercial and operational risks that gaps present. We will also talk about the requirement for transparency and a comparison to the NHS and the annual ERIC return.
Agenda may be subject to change and will be updated regularly
speakers & panel members
Kat Thorne
Conference Chair
‘The Morning Gamechanger’
#1 Positive Habits, TEDx Speaker
Kat Thorne is an international keynote speaker & positive habits expert helping organisations unlock higher performance through one small, practical habit change. Her work shows that habits are not personal – they are a strategic advantage in human performance, improving focus, energy and productivity. She equips teams with simple tools to drive measurable results at work and home.
Phil Rumens
Principal Technologist, Government Digital Service - Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
Phil is Principal Technologist for GDS Local, part of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), having previously spent over 20 years leading digital teams in local government. He is leading national work on a vision for local government technology, to bring clarity, coherence and practical direction for cross sector change.
Sarah-Joy Lewis
Head of LGR & Transformation, Local Partnerships
Sarah‑Joy Lewis is Head of LGR & Transformation at Local Partnerships. She leads complex public sector change across local and national government, with expertise in transformation delivery, commercial capacity building, climate strategy and energy. She also has a strong background in local authority commercialisation and social housing leadership.
Liz Lucas
Director of Transformation, Digital and Procurement, Caerphilly County Borough Council
Passionate about improving public services, Liz leads teams responsible for transformation, digital, customer services and procurement, helping the council deliver positive change for residents and communities. She has a particular interest in how behavioural science, technology and innovation can support service improvement and create better experiences for both citizens and staff. Through collaborative leadership and a commitment to continuous improvement, Liz is helping shape the future of local government in Caerphilly.
Julia Brennan
Director of Local Government, Housing and Communities, Transform UK
Julia brings deep expertise and lived experience of the local government landscape, having worked closely with councils across the UK to shape and deliver innovative transformation. She leads with fresh perspective, proven methodologies, and a practical understanding of the challenges facing both local and central government.
A Chartered Management Consultant, Julia blends specialist knowledge in local government, housing, and the wider public sector with agility and cross-disciplinary creativity. She has led complex, multi-disciplinary transformation programmes that drive meaningful change and deliver lasting impact.
Julia stays close to what’s happening across the sector and the wider industry, ensuring her work is informed by the latest thinking, trends, and opportunities. She partners with clients to co-create solutions to their most pressing challenges, always focused on sustainable growth, building resilience, and developing trusted, long-term relationships.
Approachable and pragmatic, she draws on her own experience of being in her clients’ shoes—bringing empathy, authenticity, and a solutions-focused mindset to every challenge she takes on.
Corinne Barret
Digital Programme Lead for Customer Experience, Redbridge Council
With over 30 years of experience in local government, Corinne has specialised in communications, digital engagement, and customer experience transformation. My career has focused on leading strategic communications, developing impactful social media approaches, and delivering digital programmes that enhance customer experience and service delivery. I am passionate about using digital innovation and effective communication to create better outcomes for residents, communities, and organisations.
Melanie Evans
Customer Success Manager, Orlo
Melanie is a Customer Success Manager specialising in local government, with over 5 years of experience working within the public sector. Helping organisations navigate the ever-evolving landscape of digital citizen engagement, Melanie is passionate about bridging the gap between technology and community, working closely with front-line teams to ensure they have the tools and insights needed to deliver exceptional community engagement in a digital-first world.
Tom Hindmarch
Digital Policy Adviser - Cyber, Digital & Technology, Local Government Association
Tom Hindmarch is a Digital Adviser at the Local Government Association (LGA), where he leads their AI programme of work. Tom chairs the LGA’s AI Network, connecting over 1,000 local government practitioners. He’s led key initiatives such as the State of the Sector: AI Report, the Local Government AI Case Study Bank, and The Technology Innovation Showcase, establishing himself as a recognised voice and convener in the local government digital space.
Salena Mulhere
Deputy Chief Executive, Test Valley Borough Council
Salena started her career as a temporary admin assistant at her local council before moving quickly into front line customer services where she developed a real passion for the difference local government could make to individuals and communities if it listened to, and worked in partnership with, local residents and local organisations across a range of sectors.
In 2020 she was appointed Assistant Chief Executive of the London Borough of Lewisham with a wide strategic portfolio including Organisational Development and Transformation, Policy and Communications. In 2023 she joined Test Valley Borough Council in Hampshire as Deputy Chief Executive.
Gareth O’Reilly
VP, Global Services, Orgvue
Gareth O’Reilly has spent over a decade helping some of the world’s largest organisations build the capability to design and execute their own transformations. Currently Global Vice President, Professional Services at Orgvue, Gareth partners directly with clients to translate ambitious change programmes into practical, evidence-based action, building the internal skills, methods and confidence organisations need to navigate large-scale transformation. His work centres on the “Organisation as a System” approach: understanding what people actually do, not just where they sit on a chart, so that redesign and workforce decisions are grounded in evidence. Leading a global team spanning EMEA, North America and APAC, Gareth has supported transformation programmes across sectors from financial services and public sector to FMCG and manufacturing, with a consistent focus on leaving clients better equipped to lead the next change themselves.
David Parrett
Founder & Principal, Cadaema Consulting
David Parrett is the Founder and Principal of Cadaema Consulting Services, a strategic consultancy specialising in estates, facilities management and organisational transformation across the public sector. With board-level experience spanning both the public and private sectors, David helps organisations develop and implement practical strategies that deliver measurable, lasting results. A recognised thought leader in public sector estates, he is passionate about improving data quality, commercial performance and long-term sustainability. His collaborative approach, combined with extensive experience as both client and provider, enables him to support organisations in making informed, evidence-based decisions that drive meaningful change.
Trusha Patel
Digital Experience and Content Lead, Redbridge Council
Trusha is a Digital Experience and Content Lead at Redbridge Council, leading on digital content, accessibility and customer experience improvements across online services. Passionate about delivering better outcomes for residents and communities, Trusha uses data, customer insight and collaborative working to drive continuous improvements that are inclusive, effective and responsive to the needs of residents.
Akash Paun
Programme Director - Devolution, Institute for Government
Akash is Programme Director for Devolution at the Institute for Government in London. He leads work on the state of devolution in all parts of the United Kingdom, and has a particular focus on the powers, performance and policy choices of mayoral strategic authorities in England. Akash has previously worked at the UCL Constitution Unit, the British Academy, the London School of Economics, and as an expert adviser to the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales.
Paul Robinson
Strategic Director LGR, Nottinghamshire County Council
Paul Robinson is one of the UK’s most experienced leaders in local government and LGR, currently serving as Strategic Director for the Nottinghamshire LGR programme. He previously played a leading role in the Cumbria LGR programme before joining Westmorland and Furness Council as Director of Enabler Services, helping to establish and lead one of the new unitary authorities created through reorganisation.
With responsibility for major HR, digital and transformation workstreams, Paul has first-hand experience of delivering large-scale organisational restructuring while maintaining service continuity. Having led some of the most complex aspects of LGR, including workforce transition, organisational design, data integration and ICT transformation, he brings a practical perspective on reshaping organisations, managing workforce risk and delivering sustainable transformation in the public sector.
Lisa Trickey
Lead Advisor for Digital Change, Local Government Association
Lisa Trickey is an experienced local government digital and technology leader, known for balancing the human aspects of change with the realities of working in a digital AI-enabled world. With over three decades of experience, she has led the development and delivery of digital and technology strategies. At Dorset Council, she played a key role in delivering Local Government Reorganisation and led on digital strategy and delivery. Lisa is currently a Lead Adviser for Digital Change at the Local Government Association.
Deborah Ward
Chief Executive, Thurrock Council
Deborah Ward is Chief Executive of Thurrock Council and an experienced public sector leader with a career spanning national and local government, including roles leading large organisations and professional leadership in housing, community development, health and social care. She has led major programmes of organisational transformation, service improvement and system change, including as Chief Executive of Dorset County Council and through senior roles with Homes England, Southampton City Council and the Local Government Association.
Her experience includes leading organisations through significant financial, political and operational complexity, working across organisational boundaries and building partnerships to deliver change. Deborah brings a practical leadership perspective to the opportunities presented by AI, data and digital capability, particularly how they can help local government navigate reorganisation and transformation, improve productivity and make better decisions for residents and communities.
event timetable
08:30 Registration & networking
09:30 Plenary
10:50 Refreshment break
11:20 Every day, councils receive a wealth of insight from resident contact – but how often do we truly turn that into action?
11:50 Reorganisation to Reinvention: Embedding Digital and AI into the Future of Local Government
12:20 LGR? Or no LGR? Why workforce reshaping is continuous regardless
12:50 Lunch break
13:35 Deepening Devolution: Funding, Powers and the Future Shape of Local Government
14:05 Advancing AI in Local Government: Progress, Impact and Priorities
14:35 Refreshment break
15:00 FM Benchmarking
15:30 Chair’s closing remarks
15:40 Conference Close
Please note agenda will be updated regularly. Speakers, subject matter and timings may be subject to change.
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