Panel

Sarah Bullock, Deputy Chief Executive, South Ribble Borough Council and Chorley Council
Sarah has been a public sector policy and transformation professional for 25 years, working across central and local government and the NHS. She is the Deputy Chair of iNetwork, a north west based innovation and change membership organisation and a member of Solace. She is a collaborative leader, and passionate about citizen led change, key projects include working on the innovative St Helens Cares system and developing the first People’s Panel in Cheshire East. Outside of work, Sarah is a mum of three and a keen ultra runner!

Monica Fogarty, Chief Executive, Warwickshire County Council
With over thirty years’ experience in local government, Monica has held a number of senior roles. Prior to her current post, Monica was Strategic Director for Communities leading the ‘place’ agenda for Warwickshire and prior to that she was Assistant Chief Executive for Warwickshire.Winner of the MJ Chief Executive of the Year 2022, Monica has also held a range of local government Director posts including Policy; Performance, and Change Management. Particular areas of expertise are Economics, Strategic Infrastructure, Partnerships and Organisational Change. 

Graeme McDonald, Managing Director, Solace 
Graeme is responsible for the overall strategic direction and management of the organisation. Prior to joining Solace, he had spent over 15 years working in local government. He has worked for London borough, metropolitan and district councils; his final role was as the Director of Policy and Performance at the London Borough of Ealing. He also has experience in roles within social care, housing and environmental services, as well as a range of corporate and change management roles. Graeme focuses on leadership development; influencing policy across central government and ensuring the very best of the sector is shared and built upon. He is particularly keen to develop the sector's long term leadership capabilities and has developed a number of programmes aimed at firmly embedding high quality professional leadership in local public services.

Emily Douglin, Director for Local Government, Civica
After university I started in local government (in waste management) and this journey took me through various councils, gradually leading me into a role focused on the organisation and nurturing of recycling schemes. I moved into the private sector as a consultant and I kept a strong link to local government, working mainly on the design and procurement of waste management services and this eventually led me to joining Civica. I’m especially proud of being part of the neurodivergent community here and the increasing role I play in influencing the strategic direction of our company. My time prior to joining Civica has profoundly shaped my perspective and approach. Unless you’ve worked in local government, or very close to it, it might not always be clear how broad the spectrum of disciplines is that they must master, and against an ever-changing backdrop of pressures and limitations. Organisations in the private sector just don’t experience anything like that level of complexity – private sector get to opt out, public sector don’t. I’m passionate that people understand what local government can bring to their career. It needs the best talent and support from the private sector to keep the world turning for citizens, businesses and local communities.

Helen Olsen Bedford, Publisher, UKAuthority 
UKAuthority founder, Helen, has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist and thought leader on the use of digital, data and technology in the health and public sector. From September 2013 to March 2016, as part of a contract won by UKAuthority in open tender, she acted as Head of Communications for the then Department of Communities and Local Government’s Local Digital Programme, managing the communications and engagement campaign to promote digital transformation across local services. She is passionate about the use of DDaT for the public good – the ethos of UKAuthority.