Connected Britain 2026: agenda and talks
143 sessions across 12 theatres. Times and access details as published by the organiser — always check the official programme on the day.
Getting in
Every published ticket type, including the criteria-based free pass, includes conference stage access. There is no exhibition-only ticket.
Checked 2026-08-04 · organiser programme
Wednesday 9 September 2026
- 10:55Connected authorities: Did we deliver the digital dream and who benefits today?Theatre 8Included
Ian Inglis, Programme Manager - Digital Infrastructure and Inclusion, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority · Carol Thomas, Director Digital & ICT, Southend Borough Council · Nicola Egan, Director, NSC Digital · Patrick Hannon, Digital Connectivity Relationship Manager, Pembrokeshire County Council · Theresa Searle, Telecoms Unit Manager, Glasgow City Council · Jennie Bayliss, CEO, J Bayliss Consulting Ltd
- 11:40Putting policy into practice: how front-footed Local Authorities can lead on national digital infrastructureTheatre 8Included
Jo Furber, Digital Infrastructure Relationship Manager, West Sussex County Council
- 14:00Case study presentationTheatre 8Included
Geoff Connell, Director of Digital & Transformation, Norfolk County Council
- 14:20AI trailblazers: Practical applications of AI for local authoritiesTheatre 8Included
Balázs Csuvár, Director of Innovation and Net Zero, DG Cities · Kieran Smith, Deputy Director Digital and Transformation, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
- 14:50From pilots to systems: how cities use systems approaches to scale digital inclusion and device reuseTheatre 8Included
Laura Waller, Digital Services and Inclusion Lead, Coventry City Council · Dana Haidan, Chief Sustainability Officer, Virgin Media O2 · Gary Walpole, Co-Director of the Regional Innovation and Regeneration Centre, Cardiff Metropolitan University · Ed Houghton, Director of Research and Insights, DG Cities
- 15:25Norfolk’s Digital Inclusion Journey: Connecting People, Breaking Barriers, Tackling Social IsolationTheatre 8Included
Gail Harvey, Digital Inclusion Programme Manager, Norfolk County Council · Karen Robson, Community Tech Coach, Norfolk County Council · Danielle Prostrollo-Hill, Digital Inclusion Project Officer, Norfolk County Council
- 15:45Devolution, reform and digital readiness: Is connectivity keeping pace with change?Theatre 8Included
Tom Jenkins, Economic Development Manager, Ashford Borough Council · Lorna Rogers, Director of Digital & Transformation & Board Director for LCR Connect, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority · Freyja Lockwood, Digital Transformation Programme Manager, West of England Combined Authority · Liz Harrison, Head of Broadband Delivery, Kent County Council · Lisa Trickey, Lead Advisor Digital Change LG Horizons, Local Government Association · Ceren Clulow, Managing Consultant, Spirit Public Sector Ltd
- 16:25Accelerating Small Cell Growth Through Local ActionTheatre 8Included
Matt Smith, Programme Manager River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region, Shropshire Council
- 16:50Place leadership in a digital Britain: Are local authorities ready for what’s next?Theatre 8Included
John Duncan, Connected Places Lead, Greater Manchester Combined Authority · Isobel Thomas, Head of Community Partnerships, Good Things Foundation · Heather Clark, Head of City Economy, City of Wolverhampton Council · Anna Malone, Operations Manager Transport Franchising, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority · Gareth Williams, Senior Consultant, Intelligens Consulting
Thursday 10 September 2026
- 11:40Connecting the hard to reach: Rural counties, shared infrastructure and what still isn’t workingTheatre 8Included
Richard Walters, Digital Connectivity Relationship Manager, Carmarthenshire County Council · Jonathan Harris, Programme Director, Connecting Cumbria · Ben Allwright, Owner & CEO, Allwright Advisory
- 12:40Roundtable workshop: From strategy to reality: Building credible use cases for local authoritiesTheatre 8Included
Naomi Hutchinson, Chief Innovation and Growth Officer, Sunderland City Council · Chris Founds, Director & Founding Partner, Founds Group
- 13:35From funding to delivery: Unlocking digital value through partnershipsTheatre 8Included
Melissa Middleton, Economic Policy Advisor, Gateshead Council · Shelley Bowyer, Business Applications Manager for Adults and Children, Buckinghamshire Council · Jessica Ellis, Advisor, Digital Places · Donal Denvir, Vice President, IDA Ireland