Caroline is Director of Inclusive Economy in London Borough of Islington, leading its radical and progressive economic development programme – including leveraging social value through affordable workspace, shaping inclusive town centres and building inclusive practice in growth sectors. Previously, Caroline worked in Belfast City Council, where she led on major regeneration and conflict transformation programmes, brokering complex political and community deals, resulting in £150m+ investment in local neighbourhoods. She is currently a trustee at the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES), as well as chair of the Place sub-group of the Mayor’s London Anchor Institutions Network.

Debbie Barnes was appointed to Chief Executive of Lincolnshire County Council on 1st January 2020. Prior to this, Debbie was Director of Children's Services and held this position since 2013. During her time as chief executive, Debbie has led the development of the ten year Corporate Plan for the Council and has driven through a one council approach, integrating service planning and delivery across the council and with partners. Starting her career as a children’s nurse, Debbie is passionate about the benefits of integrated health and care services to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities and address health inequalities.

Jon Rouse is Chief Executive of Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Previously, he was Chief Officer at the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership and a Director-General at the Department of Health and Social Care. He is a Director of Bradford Children and Families Trust and sits on the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS Board as a partner member and executive champion for children’s health. Jon is the SOLACE national lead for Housing, Planning and Infrastructure and a member of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods.

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 (ASELA) and a Commission for the Essex Climate Action Committee. Jonathan also represents Solace (Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers) at board level as a Non-Executive Director, and is on the DCN (District Council Network) national Chief Executive Group as a South East Region representative.

Kim has been Chief Executive of Brent Council since May 2023 and leads a workforce of around 2500 people, with a focus on delivering of corporate priorities. Before joining Brent, Kim had been Chief Executive of Lewisham Council where she led the council’s response to the global pandemic, and prior to that, she held a range of Corporate Director roles at Hackney Council, responsible for a large range of front facing services. Kim began her local government career in leisure services at Spelthorne Borough Council, moving on to work at Barnet Council before joining Hackney. She has several pan London roles – as Chair of the London Partnership Board’s Tackling Structural Inequalities subgroup and as Deputy Chair of London’s Local Resilience Forum.

Louise Neilan is currently Assistant Director for Communications and Engagement at Thurrock Council, and also the Chair of LGcomms –a national membership body working to raise the standard of communications in the public sector. She has extensive experience in local government communications, having worked at Southwark Council, the Audit Commission, and other London Boroughs over her 25 year career. She believes passionately in the power of collaboration and networks to solve problems and support colleagues and communities, and has presented widely on learnings from crises, including the London Bridge and Borough terror attacks in 2017.

Mark has been a teacher, a local and regional government officer and a civil servant. He also runs the Leadership Centre, a charity committed to, er, leadership as the means of improving outcomes for communities. His abiding interests are excellence in public service and the preservation of record shops.

Matt O’Neill is an accomplished public sector leader with over two decades of experience in economic development, regeneration, and strategic planning across Northern England. As the Executive Director of Growth and Sustainability at Barnsley Council, he leads initiatives in economic regeneration, planning, housing, culture, zero carbon, environment, transport, and regulatory services. Matt has driven transformative projects like Street Seam Digital Campus and Yorkshire Rose sculptures, and initiatives like Health on the High Street and Pathways to Work. He is known for his strategic thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative approach.

Paul Sesay is a significant leader in the UK's diversity, equality, and inclusion sector. In 2006, he founded several important organisations, including the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers, National Diversity Awards, and Inclusive Awards; in addition to these roles, Sesay is also the founder of Black Leaders and Black Inclusion Week, initiatives aimed at promoting and celebrating black leadership and inclusion in various sectors. Sesay's work primarily involves collaborating with large organisations to enhance their diversity and inclusion profiles. He also actively engages in community initiatives, focusing on empowering individuals from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds. His efforts have played a crucial role in acknowledging and celebrating the commitment to diversity by numerous organisations and individuals across the UK. Through his leadership and dedication, Paul Sesay has made a substantial impact on promoting inclusive practices and diversity across different sectors in the UK, positively affecting many lives and the culture of various organisations.