John Fagan

CEO of Scribe and Civic.ly

John is a visionary technologist with over 25 years of experience in implementing digital solutions for local problems across the UK, Namibia, and Australia.

An inspiring speaker, he brings unique insights into how digital transformation can enrich community engagement and administration.

John will be presenting...

Help! My Asset Register Ate My Desk: A Digital Rescue Story

Mark Tomkins

Founder of Aubergine

Mark is a leading expert in parish and town council websites and specialises in building and managing accessible, compliant websites for the public sector, with particular expertise in .gov.uk domains.  With over 15 years' experience as a parish councillor and ILCA training, Mark brings both technical know-how and real-world council experience.

Aubergine currently supports more than 500 parish and town councils with their websites and online training.

Mark is an experienced and engaging trainer and delivers practical sessions filled with actionable advice and tips to help you improve your council’s website and understanding of best practice.

Joe Lacey-Holland

Service Director for Policy, Insight, Change and Communications – with a lead for Local Government Reorganisation at Cambridgeshire County Council

Tom Kelly

Service Director for Finance and Procurement, Cambridgeshire County Council

Tom's role has a significant partnership element working with shared services and joint ventures, as well as being the finance lead on the Council’s work to implement Local Government Re-organisation across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

He first joined the Council in 2009 as a graduate trainee and his career journey has seen him leading variously on schools funding, adult social care finance, property and assets.

Jonathan Owen

CEO NALC

 Bio to follow

Jane Moore

Senior Solicitor, NALC

 Bio to follow

David Mears FSLCC

Chief Executive, Bridgwater Town Council, Somerset

David leads an organisation with a £5m annual revenue budget, more than £7m in capital projects, 60 staff and over 120 volunteers. A Fellow of the Society of Local Council Clerks, he holds a First-Class Honours degree in Community Governance and is completing a Master’s in Public Leadership.

Since 2024, David has also been part of the academic teaching team for the Community Governance programme, bringing practical leadership experience into higher education. At Bridgwater, he has overseen a significant expansion of services—including new community facilities, major events, and innovative partnerships—transforming the council to operate at a scale comparable to a district authority.

His leadership has strengthened service delivery, broadened community participation, and secured multi-million-pound investments. David also played a key role in developing Somerset Council’s devolution agenda, ensuring local priorities are embedded at the heart of strategic policy and delivery.

Paul Bristow - Keynote speaker

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Paul was elected Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough in May 2025.  A proud local, Paul moved to Peterborough at the age of five when his parents began working in the NHS.  He grew up in Whittlesey, attended Sir Harry Smith Community College and went on to study at Lancaster University.

Paul has spent much of his career in public service. He was first elected as a councillor in 2006 and later represented Peterborough in Parliament from 2019 to 2024.   

As Mayor, he is passionate about championing the people of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, with a clear focus on ensuring that every community and every part of the region has the opportunity to thrive.

Away from public life, Paul enjoys cricket, football and spending time with his family in Wansford, just outside Peterborough.