Speakers Driving Progress Across the North and Beyond The 2025 Northern forum brings a line-up of experienced leaders and fresh thinkers, bringing practical insights and strategic foresight to the forum.

• Michelle Sacks Chief Executive Huntingdonshire District Council
• Tom Riordan Non-Executive Director, National Wealth Fund Envoy for the cross-government Northern Growth Corridor
• Tom Stannard Chief Executive Manchester City Council
• Pam Smith Chief Executive Newcastle City Council
• Robin Tuddenham Chief Executive, Calderdale Council
• Kath O’Dwyer Chair Solace
• Lord Liam Booth-Smith former chief of staff to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak
• Matthew Taylor Chief Executive NHS Confederation
• Will Flint Co-Founder and CEO Pairly
• Jonathan Carr-West Chief Executive LGIU and local government expert