LGPN SOUTH 2025 AGENDA

18 – 19 November, Radisson Blu, Edwardian, Heathrow

Delivering tangible solutions for the public sector

LGPN is a unique, two-day learning and networking event which brings together the most inspirational leaders and transformational suppliers in local government to share cutting-edge insights, knowledge and experience. Our agenda is carefully curated to address the most relevant and emerging challenges in the sector.

Day 1
Day 2

18 November 2025

8:00 am - 8:45 am

Main Room

Registration
8:45 am - 9:00 am

Main Room

Chair's opening remarks

Nadira Hussain

Chief Executive Officer
SOCITM

Welcome to the Local Government Partnership Network!
9:00 am - 9:40 am

Main Room

The road ahead – Shaping the future of digital in local government

Atika Mohammed

Director of Digital and ICT
Luton Borough Council

Mark Lumley

Director Digital, IT & Resilience
London Borough of Hounslow

From entrepreneur to e-government advisor and local government reform, Jens Gemmel von Döllinger brings his ideas and innovation to drive systemic change through innovative public service delivery models and the application of AI and data analytics.
Working in Public Service Reform for over two decades as a Systems Thinking Practitioner and author of ‘Living Council: A Manifesto for Practice’, Jens designs and implements sustainable operating models for organisations that provide city and community solutions – places where we live, invest, work, learn, visit and play.
He has led on some of the most impactful public sector transformations in the UK and helped reshape the priorities of over a dozen local authorities, cities and their partners. Jens was Highly Commended for two IoD National Director of the Year Awards 2023, in the categories ‘Public & Third Sector’ and for ‘Sustainability’, recognising his groundbreaking work on prevention-first models for local government.

Jens Gemmel

Public Sector Reformist

Owen Pritchard

Head of Cyber, Digital and Technology
LGA

As digital transformation becomes increasingly crucial for local governments, leaders are seeking ways to overcome challenges and leverage opportunities in this evolving landscape.

This opening panel will set the stage for the con...

As digital transformation becomes increasingly crucial for local governments, leaders are seeking ways to overcome challenges and leverage opportunities in this evolving landscape.

This opening panel will set the stage for the conference, exploring:
• The importance of collaboration both internally and across authorities, to address common challenges and reduce duplication of efforts in digital transformation, including sharing digital solutions across different councils
• Strategies to identify and develop digital services that meet the needs of diverse community members and ensure digital inclusion
• How to evaluate the impact and success of digital transformation initiatives within local governments such as enhanced capacity and increased staff wellbeing
• Predictions of where the next 5-10 years could take us and what is needed to ensure successful transformation across local authorities
9:45 am - 10:05 am

Main Room

Smart councils: digital innovation in the age of LGR

Content Guru is a leading provider of enterprise-grade cloud Customer Experiences (CX), and is at the forefront of the Generative AI evolution. Content Guru’s storm® platform supports mission-critical CX for the UK’s leading businesses and public sector organisations. Through brain®, AI services provide leading automated and human-assist capabilities to bolster CX performance before, during, and after an interaction.
storm brings together intelligent automation, third-party systems integration, and on-demand scalability to enhance all citizen communication functions. With true omni-channel engagement capabilities, storm gives organisations the power to create consistent and seamless experiences for citizens, inspiring loyalty and powering success.

Jonathan Hames

Business Development Executive
Content Guru

As the shift to unitary and combined authorities accelerates, the challenge is clear: integrate systems, cultures, and processes without compromising service quality, but whilst cutting costs. With residents expecting seamless and respon...

As the shift to unitary and combined authorities accelerates, the challenge is clear: integrate systems, cultures, and processes without compromising service quality, but whilst cutting costs. With residents expecting seamless and responsive services, mirroring the consumer-grade experiences they encounter daily, the stakes have never been higher.
Digital and AI innovation will be critical – not just as a tool for efficiency, but as the foundation layer for Britain’s new citizen-centric, future-ready public sector.
Join Martin Taylor, Co-founder and Deputy CEO of CX technology leader Content Guru, to explore how councils can harness digital innovation and intelligent automation to transform citizen engagement. From personalising interactions to streamlining service delivery, this session will focus on practical strategies to build a more agile, connected and citizen-centric local government, fit for the future
10:10 am - 10:40 am

Main Room

Dragon's den - Speed presentations

Dragons’ Den – a quick-fire pitch session featuring all of our sponsors. Each supplier delivers a 60-second elevator pitch about their solution – giving you an opportunity to earmark suppliers and solutions you are most interested ...

Dragons’ Den – a quick-fire pitch session featuring all of our sponsors. Each supplier delivers a 60-second elevator pitch about their solution – giving you an opportunity to earmark suppliers and solutions you are most interested in.
10:45 am - 12:00 pm

Main Room

Networking and business meetings

15 minute meetings with suppliers who are offering solutions most relevant to your challenges. Please check the schedule on the back of your delegate pass for your meeting timings.
12:05 pm - 12:25 pm

Main Room

Delivering leaner, more efficient services

Yogita Popat

Programme Director, Strategy, Culture and Sustainability
London Borough of Barnet

As local governments face ongoing financial challenges, this session will explore how data, digital tools, and technology can drive leaner, more efficient boroughs. With savings becoming harder to find and spending pressures increasing, ...

As local governments face ongoing financial challenges, this session will explore how data, digital tools, and technology can drive leaner, more efficient boroughs. With savings becoming harder to find and spending pressures increasing, we need innovative solutions. This session will discuss what those solutions are and how we, as a sector, can implement them collaboratively.
12:30 pm - 12:50 pm

Main Room

Case study – From zero to digital transformation at scale

Nathan Pierce

Chief Digital and Innovation Officer
Haringey Council

Faced with increasing funding gaps, local authorities are looking to digital transformation to modernize and streamline services. This case study will cover how one council rapidly built an in-house digital team to drive their transforma...

Faced with increasing funding gaps, local authorities are looking to digital transformation to modernize and streamline services. This case study will cover how one council rapidly built an in-house digital team to drive their transformation. From the benefits of shifting from disparate projects run by external consultants to a dedicated internal team for sustainable digital transformation to how to practically establish a full internal team and create a culture of innovation, this presentation will share lessons learned and tangible examples along the journey of zero to transformation as scale.
12:55 pm - 1:15 pm

Main Room

The connected council: unlocking agentic automation and reducing cost

Outsource Automation Solutions (OAS) is an award-winning Blue Prism Partner helping councils move from silos to synergy through our Connected Council approach.
Our mission is to maximise public value by connecting existing systems and services — not replacing them — using Intelligent Automation and AI to deliver reliable, scalable outcomes that last.
With experience across multiple UK councils and a library of proven, reusable automations, OAS enables faster delivery, lower cost, and measurable improvement in resident experience.
OAS offers competitive Blue Prism licensing and a full lifecycle of services — from design and deployment to orchestration and voice automation — and every OAS automation comes with a lifetime warranty.

Pete Marshall

Chief Sales & Marketing Officer
Outsource Automation Solutions Ltd

Gary Malley

CT Service Manager: Applications
Thurrock Council

The Connected Council is a new way for councils to work: simple, joined-up and built around residents. Information flows safely across the organisation, eliminating siloed decision-making and enabling a single, trusted view of each resid...

The Connected Council is a new way for councils to work: simple, joined-up and built around residents. Information flows safely across the organisation, eliminating siloed decision-making and enabling a single, trusted view of each resident with or without a CRM. We show you how Intelligent orchestration and agentic workers act proactively utilising safe, governed AI to handle routine tasks and deliver low-cost, personalised interactions across any channel. Residents tell their story once, receive quicker answers and benefit from services that organise themselves around their circumstances. The Connected Council reduces cost, cuts duplication and enables every team to act early & together to deliver better outcomes using the systems they already have.
1:15 pm - 1:55 pm

Main Room

Networking lunch

An opportunity to connect with your peers and suppliers to talk over the learnings from the event. Lunch is served buffet style and a range of options are available to cater for different dietary requirements.
2:00 pm - 2:35 pm

Main Room

Speed exchange – Peer-to-peer learning in action

Dive into a dynamic and engaging format designed to spark meaningful conversations and foster peer to peer connections. In this session, attendees will participate in four 10-minute blocks of informal discussions, each focused on differe...

Dive into a dynamic and engaging format designed to spark meaningful conversations and foster peer to peer connections. In this session, attendees will participate in four 10-minute blocks of informal discussions, each focused on different topic or challenge relevant to digital transformation in local government. This fast-paced, interactive experience encourages peer-to-peer learning, idea sharing, and collaborative problem-solving. Whether you’re seeking fresh perspectives, practical solutions, or simply a chance to connect with like-minded professionals, this session is the perfect opportunity to learn, network, and grow together.
2:40 pm - 3:00 pm

Main Room

AI, access, and the cost of complacency

Quorum Cyber is on a mission to help good people win. Founded in Scotland in 2016, we’ve become one of the fastest-growing cyber security companies, protecting over 400 customers across four continents. We deliver tailored, threat-led cyber security services that empower local governments to stay ahead of attackers, align security with strategic goals and budgets, and thrive in an unpredictable digital world. 
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner for Security, a member of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA), and the 2025 Microsoft Security MSSP of the Year. We are building a future where security and efficiency go hand in hand, allowing authorities to concentrate on what truly matters – transformative work that benefits the community. 

Mark Cunningham-Dickie

Principal Incident Response Consultant
Quorum Cyber

This session will explore the ethical, financial, political, and legal costs of cyber incidents in an era of rapid AI integration. As local governments race to embrace AI to drive efficiency and reduce costs, they also open the door to a...

This session will explore the ethical, financial, political, and legal costs of cyber incidents in an era of rapid AI integration. As local governments race to embrace AI to drive efficiency and reduce costs, they also open the door to a new wave of digital risk: innocent mistakes and ransomware attacks amplified by AI-driven vulnerabilities and over-provisioned access.
As a frontline incident responder and negotiator, Mark will explain how a single incident can escalate into a multimillion-pound crisis — AI may not be taking your job, but it may cost you it.
3:05 pm - 3:25 pm

Main Room

Leading the AI revolution in local government

ICS.AI is the UK’s fastest-growing profitable AI business, transforming public sector services through our unified AI platforms. ICS.AI delivers an award-winning SMART: AI Transformation Programme, empowering councils, universities, and public organisations to modernise operations and enhance services.    
Their unified AI solutions are trusted nationwide, with customers including Telford & Wrekin Council, Lewes and Eastbourne Councils, and Derby City Council who identified savings of £7.5M through an AI transformation process, while improving services and ensuring financial sustainability.  
This ICS.AI transformation process guarantees £5m savings to a medium-sized authority, without lock-in or fragmentation, setting new standards for ethical AI in public services.

Martin Neale

Founder & CEO
ICS AI

Andy Brammall

Director of Digital & Physical Infrastructure and Customer Engagement
Derby City Council

Derby City Council, in partnership with ICS.AI, share their pioneering AI transformation journey that has identified £7.5 million in verified savings. Explore Derby’s replicable national model for local government AI adoption—coveri...

Derby City Council, in partnership with ICS.AI, share their pioneering AI transformation journey that has identified £7.5 million in verified savings. Explore Derby’s replicable national model for local government AI adoption—covering strategy, implementation challenges, and outstanding results. Delegates will learn how Derby identified 250+ AI opportunities, prioritised over 50 high-impact use cases, and deployed solutions such as the “Darcie” digital assistant across customer services, adult social care, debt recovery, and internal operations. The session highlights leadership alignment, ethical governance, and scalable innovation driving efficiency, resilience, and smarter public service delivery through AI.
3:30 pm - 4:45 pm

Main Room

Networking and business meetings

15 minute meetings with suppliers who are offering solutions most relevant to your challenges. Please check the schedule on the back of your delegate pass for your meeting timings.
4:50 pm - 5:30 pm

Main Room

AI in local government – Beyond the hype

Andy Kennell

Service Director ICT
Somerset Council

Melanie Rose

Director of IT and Digital Services
Islington Council

Emma Rudd

Head of Digital Transformation
Kent County Council

Andy Brammall

Director of Digital and Physical Infrastructure and Customer Engagement
Derby City Council

With AI technologies moving beyond hype and towards practical implementation in local governments, this panel discussion explores how local authorities can move towards meaningful adoption of this exciting tool.

The session will e...

With AI technologies moving beyond hype and towards practical implementation in local governments, this panel discussion explores how local authorities can move towards meaningful adoption of this exciting tool.

The session will explore:
• Real-world examples of AI applications in local government, including lessons learnt from key initiatives
• Frameworks for responsible AI governance, including risk assessments, supplier policies, and compliance
• Strategies for ethical AI adoption including ensuring data security, and addressing concerns around job displacement and digital exclusion
• Guidance on enhancing organizational readiness through staff training, establishing AI boards, and leveraging tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot
• Methods to assess the financial savings, efficiency gains, and improved service delivery achieved through AI implementation in local government
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Main Room

Hotel check-in/free time
7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Main Room

Drinks reception & networking dinner

Networking sessions – throughout the event we host a networking lunch as well as a dinner and drinks reception to give you ample opportunity to connect with your peers and suppliers over the learnings from the event. Dinner is served i...

Networking sessions – throughout the event we host a networking lunch as well as a dinner and drinks reception to give you ample opportunity to connect with your peers and suppliers over the learnings from the event. Dinner is served in formal-style seating to a set menu. Our delegate team will speak to you to ensure we cater for any specific dietary requirements.
12:30 pm - 12:50 pm

Breakout Room 1

Case study – Seamless connectivity for all: how OpenRoaming Wi-Fi networks can tackle data poverty and drive digital inclusion

David Wilkins

Head of Smart City
Westminster City Council

This case study explores Westminster’s pioneering Connected London Wi-Fi initiative, which leverages OpenRoaming technology to create a seamless, city-wide public Wi-Fi experience. By enabling users to automatically connect across mult...

This case study explores Westminster’s pioneering Connected London Wi-Fi initiative, which leverages OpenRoaming technology to create a seamless, city-wide public Wi-Fi experience. By enabling users to automatically connect across multiple networks without repeated logins, the project addresses the fragmentation of public Wi-Fi and provides a practical, low-cost solution to data poverty. The presentation will share key lessons from the pilot, demonstrate how seamless connectivity can empower residents and visitors, and offer actionable insights for councils and cities aiming to increase digital inclusion and bridge the connectivity gap.
2:40 pm - 3:00 pm

Breakout Room 1

Connected communities. Smarter services. Better outcomes. – Communications that empower citizens

Mitel is a global market leader in business communications. Founded over 50 years ago, we help public sector organisations connect, collaborate and provide innovative services. Our innovation and communications experts serve business users in more than 100 countries.

Mitel understands the unique challenges of the need to reduce complexity and integrate disparate communications, even when facing increased demand and scrutiny from citizens to do more with less. You can be reliable, compliant, and secure while improving the service to your citizens with the increased productivity that Mitel Government Solutions deliver

Nicholas Hanna

Head of Local & Central Government Sales
Mitel

Every interaction matters. Citizens expect fast, transparent, and reliable communication, whether they’re seeking advice, or reporting an issue.

Join the Mitel Government Team to explore how our next-generation communication pla...

Every interaction matters. Citizens expect fast, transparent, and reliable communication, whether they’re seeking advice, or reporting an issue.

Join the Mitel Government Team to explore how our next-generation communication platform is transforming public engagement with secure, critical, real-time tools, and compliant solutions.
Discover how we support local authorities to streamline services, improve responsiveness, and build lasting trust through omnichannel tools that connect employees and citizens effortlessly. See how intelligent automation, AI-driven insights and translation tools are helping to provide accessibility for non-native English speakers, enabling an inclusive, citizen-first digital engagement.
3:05 pm - 3:25 pm

Breakout Room 1

Cyber accountability in local government: what every executive needs to know

Thrive delivers global technology outsourcing for cybersecurity, Cloud, networking, and other complex IT requirements. Thrive’s NextGen platform enables customers to increase business efficiencies through standardization, scalability, and automation, delivering
oversized technology returns on investment (ROI). They accomplish this with advisory services, vCISO, vCIO, consulting, project implementation, solution architects, and a best-in-class subscription-based technology platform. Thrive delivers exceptional high-touch
service through its POD approach of subject matter experts and global 24x7x365 SOC, NOC, and centralized services teams. Learn more at www.thrivenextgen.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Chris Gunner

vCISO
Thrive

This session explores the critical cybersecurity challenges facing public sector organisations, with a focus on Local Government. Through real-world examples, we’ll demonstrate how breaches and failures often stem not from technical fl...

This session explores the critical cybersecurity challenges facing public sector organisations, with a focus on Local Government. Through real-world examples, we’ll demonstrate how breaches and failures often stem not from technical flaws, but from systemic issues, such as underfunding, fragmented ownership and decision paralysis within complex supply chains. Attendees will gain practical insights into the organisational and strategic pitfalls that can undermine cyber resilience and learn what leaders must do to address them.
12:30 pm - 12:50 pm

Breakout Room 2

Case study – Empowering digital champions to drive innovation and collaboration across organisations

Sarah Chamberlain

Director of IT & Programmes
BCP Council

Discover how BCP Council’s Digital Champions programme is transforming digital adoption and service delivery across the organisation. Discover how to build a thriving network of Digital Champions, who drive innovation, mentor colleague...

Discover how BCP Council’s Digital Champions programme is transforming digital adoption and service delivery across the organisation. Discover how to build a thriving network of Digital Champions, who drive innovation, mentor colleagues, and act as first responders to digital queries. Learn how a council-wide, bottom-up strategy has accelerated digital transformation—saving time, improving services, and fostering a culture of empowerment and collaboration and gain practical insights and actionable strategies to empower your own Digital Champions and drive digital excellence in your council.
2:40 pm - 3:00 pm

Breakout Room 2

Balancing your budgets: driving financial transparency and control in local government

Bottomline helps businesses transform the way they pay and get paid. A global leader in business payments and cash management, Bottomline’s secure, comprehensive solutions modernize payments for businesses and financial institutions globally. With over 35 years of experience, moving more than $16 trillion in payments annually, Bottomline is committed to driving impactful results for customers by reimagining business payments and delivering solutions that add to the bottom line. Bottomline is a portfolio company of Thoma Bravo, one of the largest software private equity firms in the world, with more than $184 billion in assets under management. For more information visit www.bottomline.com.

Kevin Grant

Managing Director, Treasury Management
Bottomline

Local governments face increasing pressure to manage public funds efficiently while ensuring payments compliance and transparency. Bottomline’s Kevin Grant discusses the importance of modernising your financial operations to address t...

Local governments face increasing pressure to manage public funds efficiently while ensuring payments compliance and transparency. Bottomline’s Kevin Grant discusses the importance of modernising your financial operations to address these challenges and meet today’s demands. Learn how to:
– Gain a clearer view of your cash position through real-time bank statement analysis
– Maintain public trust and stay within regulations by leveraging technology to optimise payment processes
– Streamline operations and reduce errors with integrated payments and ERP systems
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear directly from Kevin and discover how your local authority can take practical steps towards smarter long-term financial resilience.
3:05 pm - 3:25 pm

Breakout Room 2

Why your lawyer could hold the key to transformation

Iken is a trusted UK-based provider of case, legal, and knowledge management software designed specifically for the public sector.

Our case-centric system supports teams across Legal Services, Governance, Compliance, HR, and Transformation, helping them manage complex workflows, streamline service delivery, and collaborate securely across departments.

From centralising information to enabling remote and resilient working, Iken Cloud gives teams the tools they need to demonstrate value, reduce risk, and deliver better outcomes for their organisation.

Tanya Corsie

Chief Executive Officer
Iken

Michael Graham

Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services
Reading Borough Council

While you’re rationalising systems and driving digital transformation, there’s a category of data you’re probably ignoring – data that reveals whether your services actually work. Your legal team sits at the end o...

While you’re rationalising systems and driving digital transformation, there’s a category of data you’re probably ignoring – data that reveals whether your services actually work. Your legal team sits at the end of every value chain, capturing what really happened versus what was supposed to happen. They see which processes break down, which systems cause problems, and which interventions succeed. This session explores how to transform unstructured legal intelligence into strategic insights that can validate transformation decisions, prove ROI, and reveal opportunities you didn’t know existed. Discover why your lawyers might hold the answers to your most pressing questions.

19 November 2025

8:50 am - 8:55 am

Main Room

Chair's opening remarks

Nadira Hussain

Chief Executive Officer
SOCITM

Welcome to Day 2 of the Local Government Partnership Network.
8:55 am - 9:35 am

Main Room

Panel discussion - Balancing innovation and budget constraints in local government

Kevin Taylor

Senior IT Manager
Suffolk County Council

David Bowles

Chief Information Officer
Portsmouth City Council

Martin Chalmers

Director of Digital, Data and Technology
Slough Borough Council

Eddie Copeland

Director
London Office of Technology & Innovation

Local authorities face the challenge of driving digital innovation while grappling with tight budgets and financial constraints. This panel will explore this balancing act which requires strategic thinking, creative resource allocation, ...

Local authorities face the challenge of driving digital innovation while grappling with tight budgets and financial constraints. This panel will explore this balancing act which requires strategic thinking, creative resource allocation, and a focus on high-impact, cost-effective solutions to ensure continued progress in digital transformation. It will cover:

• The importance of prioritising citizen-centric solutions that directly address residents’ needs through self-service solutions and automation to maximise impact while minimising costs
• How to foster a culture of innovation, empowering employees to propose, develop and optimise their use of digital technologies internally to drive transformation and facilitate efficiencies under increasing workloads.
• Strategies for reallocating resources to fund digital initiatives, whilst leveraging cross-departmental collaboration to maximise existing budgets.
• How to effectively measure the impact of innovation initiatives, ensuring that limited funds are directed towards the most effective projects.
9:40 am - 10:00 am

Main Room

One city: creating a transformational digital experience for Londoners

Roc Technologies delivers transformational IT solutions to public and private sector organisations across the UK. We are a team of brilliant minds, bringing together highly secure infrastructure, advanced cyber security, intelligent automation and modern cloud services, all supported by our 24/7 Managed Services Operations Centre.

Our expertise is backed up by some of the UK’s most rigorous data and security accreditations; we’ve earned the trust of the nation’s largest and most complex organisations and have safeguarded their most sensitive data for over a decade.

Chelsea Chamberlin

CTO
Roc Technologies

Scott Mc Kinnon

Field Chief Security Officer
Palo Alto Networks

Public sector leaders are balancing greater digital ambition with tighter scrutiny, rising security risks, and increasing expectations from citizens and staff.

Join Chelsea Chamberlin, CTO at Roc Technologies, and Scott McKinnon, ...

Public sector leaders are balancing greater digital ambition with tighter scrutiny, rising security risks, and increasing expectations from citizens and staff.

Join Chelsea Chamberlin, CTO at Roc Technologies, and Scott McKinnon, Field Chief Security Officer at Palo Alto Networks, as they share how they are supporting the City of London to transforming its digital infrastructure with the UK’s first end-to-end Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions.

This pioneering initiative will break down long-standing silos between departments, systems, and services, creating a unified, secure foundation that enables true zero trust, protects users wherever they work, and enhances performance across the City’s digital ecosystem.

For public sector executives, it’s a clear example of how the right network strategy can simplify complexity, improve collaboration, and deliver smarter, safer, and more connected public services.

Key learning points:

• How SASE enables zero trust, visibility, and resilience in one integrated framework.
• The operational and financial efficiencies gained by unifying fragmented networks.
• How intelligent connectivity improves the experience for staff and citizens while providing a platform for continuous innovation.
10:05 am - 10:25 am

Main Room

Case study – Bridging the digital skills gap: from competence development to cyber security

Darren Everden

Head of Technology
Hillingdon Council

With digital transformation front of mind for many local authorities, many still face the challenge of upskilling their workforce to meet the demands of their new technologies. This case study explores innovative strategies to address th...

With digital transformation front of mind for many local authorities, many still face the challenge of upskilling their workforce to meet the demands of their new technologies. This case study explores innovative strategies to address the digital skills gap within local government teams, focusing on cyber security and the adoption of new technologies. By leveraging targeted benchmarking and training programs, and implementing cutting-edge tools like generative AI, Darren demonstrates how his team is building resilience and fostering digital competence across diverse workforce segments.
10:30 am - 11:30 am

Main Room

Networking and business meetings

15 minute meetings with suppliers who are offering solutions most relevant to your challenges. Please check the schedule on the back of your delegate pass for your meeting timings.
11:35 am - 12:15 pm

Main Room

Panel discussion – Digital inclusion as the cornerstone of effective and equitable digital transformation

Becky Chapman

Chief Digital and Innovation Officer
Westminster City Council

Karolina Majkowska

Digital Inclusion and Training Lead
Royal Borough of Greenwich

Emma Sharpe

Digital Programme Manager
Brent Council

As public services increasingly move online, creating equitable access becomes essential to prevent marginalizing vulnerable populations. Digital inclusion is a critical foundation for local government digital transformation, ensuring th...

As public services increasingly move online, creating equitable access becomes essential to prevent marginalizing vulnerable populations. Digital inclusion is a critical foundation for local government digital transformation, ensuring that technological advancements serve all community members, regardless of their current digital capabilities.

This panel will explore:

• The importance of balancing digital-first approaches with traditional service delivery
• How to effectively embed digital inclusion principles into digital transformation efforts up front, ensuring accessibility for both customers and staff
• Techniques for maximising social value opportunities within new and existing technology contracts to support digital inclusion initiatives without the need for additional budget
• Methods for empowering local organisations to become digital champions through training programs and partnerships, extending your reach beyond limited internal resources
• Assessing the real-world impact of digital inclusion efforts by understanding individual motivators for digital engagement, from education to accessing essential services
12:20 pm - 12:55 pm

Main Room

Local government reorganisation – digital horizons shaping the future

Jonathan Stephenson

Chief Executive
Brentwood Borough and Rochford District Council

Lisa Trickey

Digital Advisor
Local Government Association

Luke Newcombe

Programme Manager - Local Public Services & Nations and Regions
techUK

Phil Rumens

Principal Technologist
Government Digital Service

The UK local government landscape is undergoing significant changes with the move towards unitary councils. This transition presents both challenges and opportunities for digital transformation.

This panel will explore sector-wide...

The UK local government landscape is undergoing significant changes with the move towards unitary councils. This transition presents both challenges and opportunities for digital transformation.

This panel will explore sector-wide support for digital change during and beyond Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). We’ll discuss how councils can access coordinated resources, tools, and expertise to deliver modern, resilient services.
12:55 pm - 1:00 pm

Main Room

Chairs' closing remarks
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Main Room

Networking lunch

An opportunity to connect with your peers and suppliers to talk over the learnings from the event. Lunch is served buffet style and a range of options are available to cater for different dietary requirements.
10:05 am - 10:25 am

Breakout Room 1

Case study – Bringing IT in-house to transform digital services

Sherrill Holder

Assistant Director of ICT
Gloucestershire County Council

Jim Donaldson

Head of Service Management
Gloucestershire County Council

There are many ways to conduct digital transformation projects, from working with external suppliers to hiring internal talent. This case study will explore how one council successfully transitioned its ICT services from outsourced provi...

There are many ways to conduct digital transformation projects, from working with external suppliers to hiring internal talent. This case study will explore how one council successfully transitioned its ICT services from outsourced providers to an in-house model, driving efficiency, innovation, and improved user experiences. From the decision-making process, to effectively establishing an in-house innovation team and developing internal expertise, this presentation will share key lessons learned along the journey of transitioning digital in-house.
10:05 am - 10:25 am

Breakout Room 2

Case study – Lessons from the private sector for local government digital transformation

Nickki Johns

Head of Digital
Vale of Glamorgan Council

In this presentation, Nickki Johns, a seasoned digital leader with over two decades of private sector experience across industries like retail, financial services, and technology, will explore how local councils can adopt private sector ...

In this presentation, Nickki Johns, a seasoned digital leader with over two decades of private sector experience across industries like retail, financial services, and technology, will explore how local councils can adopt private sector strategies to accelerate their digital transformation. From leveraging cutting-edge technologies to fostering a culture of innovation and agility, this case study will share actionable insights on mindset shifts, collaboration techniques, and customer-centric approaches to modernise services, enhance efficiency, and deliver better outcomes for their communities.

Day 1
Day 2

LGPN SOUTH 2025 AGENDA

18 – 19 November, Radisson Blu, Edwardian, Heathrow

Delivering tangible solutions for the public sector

LGPN SOUTH 2025 AGENDA

18 November 2025

8:00 am - 8:45 am

Main Room

Registration

8:45 am - 9:00 am

Main Room

Chair's opening remarks

Nadira Hussain

Chief Executive Officer SOCITM

9:00 am - 9:40 am

Main Room

The road ahead – Shaping the future of digital in local government

Atika Mohammed

Director of Digital and ICT Luton Borough Council

Mark Lumley

Director Digital, IT & Resilience London Borough of Hounslow

Jens Gemmel

Public Sector Reformist

Owen Pritchard

Head of Cyber, Digital and Technology LGA

9:45 am - 10:05 am

Main Room

Smart councils: digital innovation in the age of LGR

Jonathan Hames

Business Development Executive Content Guru

10:10 am - 10:40 am

Main Room

Dragon's den - Speed presentations

10:45 am - 12:00 pm

Main Room

Networking and business meetings

12:05 pm - 12:25 pm

Main Room

Delivering leaner, more efficient services

Yogita Popat

Programme Director, Strategy, Culture and Sustainability London Borough of Barnet

12:30 pm - 12:50 pm

Main Room

Case study – From zero to digital transformation at scale

Nathan Pierce

Chief Digital and Innovation Officer Haringey Council

12:55 pm - 1:15 pm

Main Room

The connected council: unlocking agentic automation and reducing cost

Pete Marshall

Chief Sales & Marketing Officer Outsource Automation Solutions Ltd

Gary Malley

CT Service Manager: Applications Thurrock Council

1:15 pm - 1:55 pm

Main Room

Networking lunch

2:00 pm - 2:35 pm

Main Room

Speed exchange – Peer-to-peer learning in action

2:40 pm - 3:00 pm

Main Room

AI, access, and the cost of complacency

Mark Cunningham-Dickie

Principal Incident Response Consultant Quorum Cyber

3:05 pm - 3:25 pm

Main Room

Leading the AI revolution in local government

Martin Neale

Founder & CEO ICS AI

Andy Brammall

Director of Digital & Physical Infrastructure and Customer Engagement Derby City Council

3:30 pm - 4:45 pm

Main Room

Networking and business meetings

4:50 pm - 5:30 pm

Main Room

AI in local government – Beyond the hype

Andy Kennell

Service Director ICT Somerset Council

Melanie Rose

Director of IT and Digital Services Islington Council

Emma Rudd

Head of Digital Transformation Kent County Council

Andy Brammall

Chief Executive Officer
SOCITM

Director of Digital and ICT
Luton Borough Council

Director Digital, IT & Resilience
London Borough of Hounslow

Head of Cyber, Digital and Technology
LGA

Business Development Executive
Content Guru

Programme Director, Strategy, Culture and Sustainability
London Borough of Barnet

Chief Digital and Innovation Officer
Haringey Council

Chief Sales & Marketing Officer
Outsource Automation Solutions Ltd

CT Service Manager: Applications
Thurrock Council

Principal Incident Response Consultant
Quorum Cyber

Founder & CEO
ICS AI

Director of Digital & Physical Infrastructure and Customer Engagement
Derby City Council

Service Director ICT
Somerset Council

Director of IT and Digital Services
Islington Council

Head of Digital Transformation
Kent County Council

Director of Digital and Physical Infrastructure and Customer Engagement
Derby City Council

Head of Smart City
Westminster City Council

Head of Local & Central Government Sales
Mitel

vCISO
Thrive

Director of IT & Programmes
BCP Council

Managing Director, Treasury Management
Bottomline

Chief Executive Officer
Iken

Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services
Reading Borough Council

Chief Executive Officer
SOCITM

Senior IT Manager
Suffolk County Council

Chief Information Officer
Portsmouth City Council

Director of Digital, Data and Technology
Slough Borough Council

Director
London Office of Technology & Innovation

CTO
Roc Technologies

Field Chief Security Officer
Palo Alto Networks

Head of Technology
Hillingdon Council