President's Conference 2025

A warm welcome will greet you at the Socitm registration desk where you can sign in and receive your delegate pass. You’re then free to start networking as well as helping yourself to refreshments – including breakfast pastries.

Socitm President Carol Williams will make us all welcome, run through the practical housekeeping, set the scene, share her thoughts and reflect upon her last 12 months in leading the organisation. Carol will then kick the conference off by introducing our first keynote speaker.

Carol Williams, Director of transformation and digital, Walsall Council

Overcome barriers stopping progress in your organisation. Hear a fascinating perspective from Norfolk County Council CEO Tom McCabe. He’ll give you key insights you can use to tackle siloed systems, budget challenges, or culture. Tom will show how collaboration and innovation makes a real-world impact.

Tom McCabe, CEO, Norfolk County Council

Socitm’s Digital Trends research is a highlight of the year. We will bring 2025’s report to life through pratical ways this can help you. From emerging technologies to evolving digital cultures and data-driven decision-making, the report provides a roadmap with use cases for leaders navigating their digital journey. Walk away with the tools to drive better outcomes for people, communities, and places.

Martin Ferguson, Director of Policy & Research, Socitm
Yasmine Hajji, Research Analyst, Socitm
Diana Rebaza, Research Analyst, Socitm

As councils navigate increasing service demands with constrained resources, traditional digital transformation approaches no longer deliver the required results. Join us to discover how local authorities are achieving remarkable improvements in efficiency and citizen satisfaction through an integrated strategy of low-code development, intelligent automation and harnessing the power of AI. Discover how sustainable digital transformation delivers both immediate impact and long-term organisational resilience.

Mark Gannon, Director of Client Solutions, Netcall
Paul Doney, Service Manager Digital Solutions, Newcastle City Council

It’s time to gather our thoughts from the morning sessions over refreshments and snacks. This is an opportunity to connect with fellow colleagues both from the public and private sector.
Curious about cyber security, data or printing? Get away from some of the bustle and focus in on things you need to know more about in breakout rooms.

We can’t reaimagine service delivery on our own. We’re better together. Listen to how collaboration, data-driven insights, and people-first innovation can transform places with help from the private sector. This interactive panel will share real-world examples of partnership-driven success, highlighting how we can achieve more together.

Join this session and get closer to the direction from central government. Whether it’s measurement and evaluation, the future of procurement, cyber or AI, there is a lot to consider. Does the national vision support your place based ambition? Where’s the overlap? Wherever and however we work out the detail, a collaborative and informed approach is critical.

Emily Sullivan, Head of Product (Local Digital), MHCLG 

The University of Derby Civic team will demonstrate the power of collaboration to drive meaningful change. Hear about its CivicLAB which is a unique commitment to a place-based approach to improving outcomes for all. Innovative research, fresh insights, and a focus on delivering real public value, this initiative is making a positive difference in the community. You can do the same with the right relationships.

We know how important these sections of a conference are. It’s time to make new connections, say hello to colleagues across the sector you’ve not seen for some time and reflect on the morning’s programme over lunch. Keep the conversation going and enjoy further food for thought.
Curious about cyber security, data or printing? Get away from some of the bustle and focus in on things you need to know more about in breakout rooms.

Learn from local authority organisations across the devolved nations as they share key developments, challenges, and innovations shaping public services beyond England. This discussion will provide valuable perspectives on policy approaches, regional priorities, and collaborative opportunities. Gain a broader understanding of how different governance models impact service delivery and community outcomes.

Dave Sanderson, Director of Member Services, Socitm (Chair)
Martyn Wallace, Chief Digital Officer, Digital Office Scottish Local Government (COSLA)
Alison Allen, Chief Executive, NILGA
Lindsey Phillips, Chief Digital Officer, WLGA
Eve Roodhouse, Director of Strategy & Policy, LGA

Building on the insights from day one, this interactive roundtable session will help you translate key challenges into actionable strategies. Through guided discussion, participants will identify practical steps to drive progress. This is a chance to collaborate, share ideas, and leave with a clear plan tailored to your organisation’s needs.

Another chance to network and compare notes from the afternoon sessions over refreshments and snacks.
Curious about cyber security, data or printing? Get away from some of the bustle and focus in on things you need to know more about in breakout rooms.

Our Top Talent programme gives people the chance to develop their skills and grow as future leaders. Witness participants showcase their journey, presenting insights from the challenge they’ve been tackling. Always an uplifting highlight of the conference, this is a chance to hear fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and the next generation’s approach to solving key sector challenges.

Top Talent Cohort

Join Impera and visionary councils on stage for a dynamic session exploring how data is transforming public services and driving social progress. Through live conversations with social impact funders and local authorities, we’ll dive into real-world examples of how data insights are shaping strategy, improving decision-making, and delivering better outcomes for communities. Discover their journeys, challenges, and the bold, innovative approaches being used to create lasting impact across places and people.

Pye Nyunt, CEO, Impera Analytics

On behalf of us all Carol will reflect on a significant conference for Socitm and bring proceedings to a close.

Carol Williams, Director of transformation and digital, Walsall Council

Our current president, Carol Williams, will lead us through what Socitm has done with and for members over the last year. Then she’ll hand over to incoming president Kurt Frary.

Carol Williams, Director of transformation and digital, Walsall Council
Kurt Frary, Head of IT, CTO, Norfolk County Council
Nadira Hussain, CEO, Socitm
David Bryant, Finance and commercial director, Socitm

After an inspiring and thought-provoking day, it’s time to absorb all that information and unwind at our President’s Conference drinks reception

Whether you choose to carry on existing conversations or start fresh ones with new contacts, this is an opportunity to reflect and relax in a welcoming and friendly environment where catching up and connecting is key.

Our President’s dinner isn’t just about good food and great company. It’s also the time where we acknowledge and celebrate the hard-work, vision, delivery, best practice and personal achievements of digital leaders in the public sector.

In these most challenging times , peer appreciation and support are more important than ever. The President’s dinner is an opportunity to demonstrate how much our community, as a whole, values, recognises and appreciates the triumphs of individual members. This is why our President, President’s team and our partners have such pleasure in welcoming you to the evening.

A warm welcome will greet you at the Socitm registration desk where you can sign in and receive your delegate pass. You’re then free to start networking as well as helping yourself to refreshments – including breakfast pastries.

Kurt will make us all welcome on our second and final day, run through the practical housekeeping, set the scene, share his reflections on all we’ve covered so far.

Kurt Frary, Head of IT, CTO, Norfolk County Council

This panel brings together international guests to share insights on the challenges and innovations shaping public services worldwide. Take away lessons on how different countries are tackling key issues and driving progress. This session offers a valuable opportunity to gain fresh perspectives, explore new ideas, and consider how global best practices can inform local strategies.

Learn how to create a flexible work environment while maintaining compliance and a strong organisational presence. Discover the advantages of integrating budgeting and forecasting with your finance system to enhance decentralised budget control and streamline contract management through a single provider. Explore how centralising data can establish a single source of truth, and see how our SaaS plus model can free up system administration and IT resources allowing our team to focus on driving organisational transformation.

Emma Foy, Local Government Lead, TechnologyOne
Ian Cook, Industry Solutions Architect, TechnologyOne

Join a panel of senior local government leaders as they explore what’s next for the sector. With their unique strategic insight, these chief executives will horizon scan the challenges and opportunities on the road ahead—from policy shifts to emerging technologies and evolving community needs. This is a rare opportunity to hear from those at the helm, shaping the future of public services.

Nadira Hussain, CEO, Socitm (Chair)
Simon Fletcher, Chief Executive, Litchfield District Council
Emma Bennett, Chief Executive, Walsall Council 
Kath O’Dwyer, Board Chair, Solace

It’s time to gather our thoughts from the morning sessions over refreshments and snacks. This is an opportunity to connect with fellow colleagues both from the public and private sector.
Curious about cyber security, data or printing? Get away from some of the bustle and focus in on things you need to know more about in breakout rooms.

How can private sector collaboration drive innovation, improve public services, and create lasting impact? Join this interactive session when our panel will share examples from their organisations where this is happening.

Our Empowering Women is unique, don’t miss the testimony from this cohort. Hear how the programme has made a difference to their outlook through the highs and lows of the group challenge they’ve been tackling. Always an uplifting highlight of the conference, this is a chance to hear fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and the next generation’s approach to solving key sector challenges.

Empowering Women Cohort

Derby City Council talks about their pioneering AI journey, building on a legacy of digital services, making the bold move of becoming the first Local Authority to employ Artificial Intelligence as its first point of contact on both online and telephone front doors. Building on successful foundation projects exceeding targeted benefits by over 100%, followed by the continued rapid and widespread adoption of Generative AI across all areas of Council operations, including previously difficult to engage professional contexts, delivering pilot success, embracing and adapting bleeding edge technology, a laser focus on savings while protecting public services, and the critical success factors of executive and political leadership and governance. The session will conclude with an open-mic Q&A with Darcie, the Council’s latest version of its Generative AI Digital Helper.

Paul Simpson, Chief Executive, Derby City
Andy Brammall, Director – Digital & Physical Infrastructure and Customer Engagement, Derby City

Our new President Kurt Frary will pick out the numerous highlights from the conference in his closing remarks. will also look forward to the year ahead, commenting on exciting plans for Socitm and the essential supportive community which makes up the society.

Kurt Frary, Head of IT, CTO, Norfolk County Council

We know how important these sections of a conference are. It’s time to make new connections, say hello to colleagues across the sector you’ve not seen for some time and reflect on the morning’s programme over lunch. Keep the conversation going and enjoy further food for thought.
Curious about cyber security, data or printing? Get away from some of the bustle and focus in on things you need to know more about in breakout rooms.

During breaks and lunches at President’s Conference you can get away from some of the bustle and focus in on things you need to know more about.

Get the time and focus you need in breakout rooms looking at:

• Cyber security: cloud
  Unlike traditional security models built around a fixed data centre, Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) shifts enforcement to the cloud edge. Closer to where your users, devices, and applications reside.
  Join Abzorb for a walkthrough of Cisco’s SASE solutions, which bring together core security features:
  • DNS filtering
  • Secure web access
  • Firewall-as-a-service
  • Data loss prevention
  • Access controls

  You’ll also look at how Cisco’s Zero Trust approach helps reduce risk by verifying every access attempt, not just those inside your network.
  Protect your organisation from the risks associated with AI tools so people can use them productively without compromising security.

• Cyber security: ransomware
  Play The Ransomware Game
  You’re invited to navigate a realistic ransomware crisis through an immersive game with Crayon/WithSecure
  Make critical decisions throughout the process to see how a real-world scenario might play out.

• Data
  Driving efficiency: data and cost optimisation strategies for councils
  Join colleagues from AvePoint so you can better:
  1. Understand the value of treating Cloud / M365 data as a strategic asset
  2. Identify practical steps for improving data quality and governance
  3. Explore cost optimisation through automation and smarter data  lifecycle practices
  4. Enable better decision-making and service delivery through actionable insights

• Printing
  Diversify your revenue streams through print
  Print in City is a simple, secure public printing solution available exclusively on Canon devices. It allows public end-users to print, copy, and scan on demand at convenient locations with easy account setup.
  It can generate revenue for Canon’s customers through public print/copy/scan use by multiple payment options.