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Sustainable and Innovative Places

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Overview

Communities in action: Shaping places, driving progress through innovation.

Sustainable and innovative communities that aim to achieve better social, economic, and environmental outcomes, while fostering creativity, diversity, and resilience for our residents. Communities that use resources efficiently, reduce waste and pollution, and enhance the well-being and quality of life of their neighbourhoods. They are also places that promote innovation, collaboration, and learning among different sectors, disciplines, and communities.

Agenda

  1. 09:30 Registration

    You will be warmly welcomed by Socitm at the 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.

  2. 10:00 Opening remarks

    Kurt and Yogita set the stage with opening remarks to ignite our collective passion for creating vibrant, eco-friendly communities. They will emphasise the role of how people make places, in this context shaping a sustainable future. Let’s embark on this journey of innovation and collaboration.

    Kurt Frary, Head of IT & CTO, Norfolk County Council
    Yogita Popat, Programme Director, Culture and Sustainability Barnet Council

  3. 10:10 Follow the Data: Using Maps to Understand Climate Risk Across London

    The panel will discuss the creation and development of London’s Climate Risk Maps. The maps uniquely overlay social vulnerability with environmental risk to better understand how climate risks are distributed across London, affecting people and communities differently. The GLA and boroughs are using the maps to inform policy, programming, and capital projects that mitigate climate change.

    Lauren Racusin, Sustainability, Economic Development, and Urban Planning, Bloomberg Associates
    Andrea Partenio, Philanthropic Civic Consultant, Bloomberg Associates
    Clifford Fleming, Principal Community Resilience Officer, Greater London Authority

  4. 10:40 Prioritising the Priorities

    As prioritising the priorities becomes even harder; Kurt and Yogita will discuss how weighing up benefits of delivering needs to be about more than just measuring a financial return on investment, but include the benefits to health, environment and social. They will discuss what they think about the use of innovation, technology and AI being a solution to some of the big challenges local government is currently facing.

    Kurt Frary, Head of IT & CTO, Norfolk County Council
    Yogita Popat, Programme Director, Culture and Sustainability Barnet Council

  5. 10:55 Be inspired by our Empowering Women

    Celebrate the achievements of our incredible women delegates as they present the outcomes of their collaborative efforts. This session showcases their journey of development, highlighting the skills they’ve learned and the impact they’ve made on key issues. Join us as we hear their inspiring stories, witness their growth, and applaud the collective power of women leading the way to positive change.

    Empowering Women London Cohort

  6. 11:15 Networking break

    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.

  7. 11:45 Partner Panel

    Join our dynamic partner panel as thought leaders and innovators come together to explore how Innovation and AI can support the creation of sustainable, people-centric places. This discussion will uncover the power of AI in products, highlighting case studies and fresh ideas that can inspire action and spark change.

  8. 12:25 Creating future ready spaces: Sustainability meets innovation

    Barnet is the second largest borough in London, home to nearly 400,000 residents, is one of the fastest growing areas in the city and home to a net zero neighbourhood, Brent Cross Town. Heat the fascinating journey the borough has been on to become one of London’s most sustainable boroughs, while positioning people, its places and the planet, at the heart of delivery. Learn how even during the cost of delivery crisis that sustainable and innovative places are the key to flourishing neighbourhoods.

    Cath Shaw, Interim Chief Executive, Barnet Council

  9. 12:45 Networking lunch

    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 seeen for some time and reflect on the morning’s programme over lunch. Keep the conversation going and enjoy further food for thought.

  10. 13:45 No Wrong Door Open Innovation Challenge

    Earlier this year, a new Open Innovation Challenge to support the No Wrong Door Initiative, which was set up in 2022 as a key part the London Recovery Board’s mission to help Londoners into good work, in response to the disparities felt by Londoners which were magnified by the pandemic.

    Focused on enhancing collaboration across job and skills training sectors, this programme specifically supports diverse groups including disabled individuals, women, refugees, and residents of all ages.

    The Challenge will bring together policymakers, businesses, and communities to develop and scale impactful solutions. With the goal of introducing new innovations to the market, it nurtures the growth of organisations behind these ideas, driving broader systemic change in London.

    Join Dave Sanderson and Sandy Tung as they discuss their diverse solutions with the innovators, ranging from green skills training to AI-driven job platforms and much more that are set to make a real impact on London’s employment sector.

    Sandy Tung, Principal Policy Officer, Innovation and Technology, GLA
    Dave Sanderson, Director of Member Services, Socitm
  11. 15:00 Historical Archives – Can AI help?

    Archives across the UK hold billions of documents that connect us to our history, families, and communities. However, finding what you’re looking for can be time-consuming due to limited metadata. Discover how The Norfolk Record Office is tackling this challenge by exploring how AI can enhance search capabilities. A recent proof of concept focused on WWII records of the American Army Airforce in East Anglia, showing how AI can help you uncover your own ‘Master of the Air’ more efficiently.

    Gary Tuson, County Archivist, Norfolk County Council

  12. 15:20 Application of Digital Twin technology for a sustainable and innovative campus: promoting collaboration between industry and academia in achieving UNSDGs

    This session presents our collaborative work with IESVE towards achieving a sustainable and energy-efficient future for one of Middlesex University Campus Buildings. It explores strategic retrofitting options that promise not only to reduce the building’s carbon emissions but also significantly cut down on energy consumption. Focusing on the importance of data it, encapsulates the efforts of our team in leveraging advanced digital twin technology to enhance the building’s energy efficiency and sustainability.

    Key highlights of the project include an in-depth analysis of the building’s current energy performance, the evaluation of three major energy conservation strategies (Heating System Improvements, Air Source Heat Pump integration, and Ground Source Heat Pump implementation), and recommendations for driving the Ritterman Building towards a decarbonization. Our findings underscore the potential for substantial energy savings and carbon emission reductions, aligning with global sustainability goals and reinforcing Middlesex University’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

    Dr Homeira Shayesteh, Senior Lecturer in Architecture and BIM, Middlesex University

  13. 15:45 Closing remarks

    Kurt Frary, Head of IT & CTO, Norfolk County Council
    Yogita Popat, Programme Director, Culture and Sustainability Barnet Council

  14. 16:00 Close

Speakers

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