Tickets

Programme

Programme

  • Refreshment Breaks
  • All Delegates
  • Breakout Sessions

Venue

Room with a View

Registration and Refreshments

Venue

Banqueting Suite

SpeakerS

Councillor Roger Harmer
Leader,
Birmingham City Council

Cllr Julien Pritchard
Deputy Leader,
Birmingham City Council

Phil Upton
Broadcaster and
CFP26 Conference Host

Birmingham enters a new political era following the local election results in May 2026. With a new administration in place, led by Councillor Roger Harmer (Liberal Democrats) and Cllr Julien Pritchard (Green Party) as Deputy Leader, the city has an opportunity to shape a fresh vision for its future while continuing to address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

In this opening plenary, Phil Upton sits down with Birmingham’s new political leadership team for an engaging fireside conversation. Together they will reflect on the significance of the election outcome, the formation of an administration bringing together Liberal Democrat and Green Party leadership, and the priorities that will guide the council’s work in the years ahead.

The discussion will explore their ambitions for Birmingham’s economic growth, public services, sustainability agenda and relationships with partners across the city and wider region. Delegates will gain valuable insight into how the new administration intends to lead, collaborate and deliver for Birmingham at this pivotal moment in the city’s development.

 

Venue

Banqueting Suite

Speaker

Tony Smith
Policy Executive,
Birmingham City Council

Jonathan Skinner
Head of Economy and
Local Industrial Strategy,
West Midlands Combined Authority

Sarah Spink
Strategic Partnerships Lead,
Midlands Connect

Alex Favier
Global Campaign Director - Invest in UK University R&D Midlands,
Midlands Innovation

Matt Russell
Director of Strategy, Reform and Insight,
East Midlands Combined County Authority

Where the West Meets the East: Building a Midlands Response to the Northern Powerhouse

The Midlands is more than a collection of individual cities—it is a region with shared strengths, challenges, and ambitions. ‘Where the West Meets the East’ will explore how the West Midlands and East Midlands can work together to position the Midlands as a cohesive economic powerhouse, rather than simply reacting to northern or southern initiatives.

This session shifts the focus from competition to collaboration, asking: what do the two halves of the Midlands share, and how can those commonalities drive a united regional response to the Northern Powerhouse? 

Venue

Red Zone 1882

Speaker

Sareena Bains
Strategy & Transformation Leader,
Accenture

Rich Bishop
Director, withdigital & Chair of CNM's Digital Leadership Board

Ross Milhench
Enterprise Account Director,
Microsoft

David Gaughan
Director Employment and Skills (Interim),
West Midlands Combined Authority

AI vs Entry-Level Jobs: Preparing the West Midlands Workforce

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future prospect—it is already reshaping the labour market in real time. From automated customer service to AI-assisted administration, many of the roles that once served as the first rung on the career ladder are being fundamentally redefined.

For regions like the West Midlands, where entry-level jobs have long played a critical role in supporting social mobility and growth, this shift raises urgent questions. What happens when traditional pathways into work begin to disappear or evolve beyond recognition? And how can we ensure that technological progress does not come at the expense of opportunity?

This session brings together employers, educators, policymakers, and skills providers to explore how the region can respond proactively to the rise of AI. The session will explore some of the key themes and bring to life how businesses across the region are approaching the subject

Venue

Blue Zone 1882

Speaker

Joshua H. Meek
Chief Impact Officer
Unity Trust Bank

Si Chun Lam
Head of Research, Intelligence and Inclusive Growth, West Midlands Combined Authority

Oliver Pollard
Associate Director, Origination & Relationship Management, British Business Bank

The Rise of the PUFINS

Public Financial Institutions (PuFins) are stepping into a new era—moving from behind-the-scenes funders to powerful drivers of inclusive growth. With the National Wealth Fund, British Business Bank and others expanding their reach, government is no longer just setting the agenda, it’s actively investing in the future of communities. At the same time, the impact economy is hitting its stride, with growing investment and a proven ability to deliver real social and financial returns. But here’s the challenge: these two forces still aren’t fully connecting—and that’s where the real opportunity lies.

This session dives into how we close that gap. What happens when the scale and ambition of PuFins meets the deep, on-the-ground insight of impact organisations? How do we align missions across public institutions, investors like Unity Trust Bank, housing associations and civil society to ensure investment doesn’t just land—but lasts? And how can the Office for the Impact Economy unlock this collaboration, bringing more players into the fold and accelerating change where it’s needed most? If you’re interested in turning momentum into meaningful, lasting impact, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Venue

Chair's Lounge

Speaker

Mike Batheram
Market Director, Local Transport,
AtkinsRéalis

Denise Wetton
Managing Director,
WM Trains

Carl Beet
Director of Strategic Partnerships and Integration, Transport for West Midlands

Liz Garlinge
Director of Network Development,
National Highways

What’s coming down the track – the next decade of transport in the west midlands

Over the next ten years, the West Midlands is set to become one of the most dynamic transport innovation regions in Europe—not through one single project, but through the convergence of infrastructure, technology, and new mobility models.

This is not simply transport investment. It is a system-wide transformation of how people, goods, and data move.

This session will provide delegates with further insight from the people making these initiatives happen.

Venue

The 1882 Suite

Break

Refreshments

Venue

Banqueting Suite

Speaker

Joe Reeves
Deputy Chief Executive
Midland Heart

Rebecca Bennett Casserly
Corporate Director of Development and Regeneration,
whg

Nigel Wilson
Chief Executive
Trident Group

Richard Williams
Managing Director,
Keon Homes

Affordable Housing – a Regional Success story?

Housing is at the heart of regional prosperity—and the Midlands still faces a critical shortage of affordable homes. This session puts the spotlight on what’s being delivered across the region, what’s working, and what still needs to happen.

Delegates will hear from experts, local authorities, and developers about innovative approaches, practical solutions, and partnership strategies that are driving housing forward. Through discussion and insight, we will explore the barriers that remain—land availability, planning, funding, and skills—and identify the next steps needed to ensure everyone in the Midlands can access a quality, affordable home.

Venue

Red Zone 1882

Speaker

Rebecca Langton
Board Director
PLMR

Phil McDermott
City Energy Transformation Lead
E.ON

Catherine Hadfield
Strategic Lead
Birmingham Knowledge Quarter

Ann Cousins
Associate Director
Arup

Paul Woods
Director - Infrastructure Planning
WSP

Delivering a Sustainable, Affordable Energy Future for the Region – Clear Path or Growing Complexity?

This session brings together senior voices from across the region’s major development and infrastructure programmes for a frank, audience-led conversation.

With the Birmingham East Mayoral Development Corporation now live – covering Smithfields, the Sports Quarter, Knowledge Quarter, Digbeth and Curzon Street – the question of how we power and connect these schemes sustainably and affordably has never been more urgent. Energy infrastructure decisions are being made right now, and the choices made in the next 12–18 months will shape these developments for decades.

We’ll be exploring:

  • Where the real gaps are between policy ambition and delivery on the ground
  • How developers, councils and energy providers can work together more effectively
  • What the shift from ‘net zero’ targets to practical sustainability and affordability means for major schemes

This is a working session, not a lecture – audience participation is built into the format and your perspective matters.

Venue

Blue Zone 1882

Speaker

Thea Raisbeck
Research Associate,
Centre for the New Midlands CIC

Chloe Deakin
Funding and Project
Development Specialist,
FareShare Midlands

Tamzin Reynolds-Rosser
Youth Voice Project Manager,
St Basils

Sudais
Chair of Youth Advisory Board
St Basils

Tackling the West Midlands’ persistently high youth unemployment levels: How could integrated systems help those who need it most?

Youth unemployment in the UK is at its highest level in over a decade and rising faster than in any other G7 country. Nearly half of 24-year-olds in the NEET category have never had a job. The cumulative cost to the economy is estimated at £125 billion, while the social, economic and personal impacts on young people can last a lifetime.

Despite years of policy focus, investment and reform, the West Midlands continues to experience persistently high levels of youth unemployment, with some areas among the worst affected in the country. The region’s challenges appear deeply rooted and resistant to change.

While national attention has increased through new government-backed employment programmes and independent reviews, the relationship between family support, affordable housing and youth unemployment remains underacknowledged. The barriers facing young people trying to enter and stay in work are often greatest for those without the safety net of family support.

So, what does this mean for young people in the West Midlands? Is the current system of policy and support equipped to tackle this growing challenge? And how can we develop a whole-system approach that reflects the experiences of all young people, not just those who fit the mould?

This session brings together researchers, practitioners, youth charities and people with lived experience to explore the complex links between youth unemployment, family disadvantage and housing instability in the West Midlands.

Rather than revisiting familiar diagnoses, the discussion will focus on what is not working and why. Are interventions too fragmented? Are incentives misaligned? Is the system too reactive rather than preventative? And are we measuring success in the right way?

Venue

Chair's Lounge

Speaker

Carl Woods
Creative Director & Founder
Made By Brum CIC

Pradeep Kaur
Creative Strategist & Photographer
Pradeep Kaur Photography

How to Build Brand West midlands

Even as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, and home to cultural innovations, the West Midlands has been hit by negative perceptions for decades – impacting our culture, economy, and sense of pride & identity. Added to its geographical and political mix, this has made efforts at building a unified identity or brand, increasingly difficult. 

Having seen the benefits of a uniform voice with Greater Manchester, and London, is now the time to build ‘Brand WM’? 

What would this look like? How could it be built authentically? And how do we retain local identity while working under a regional message?

This interactive session will give audiences the tools needed to answer these questions, while also helping to reframe how we see our own region. Mixing behavioural psychology with place-based marketing, we will examine how to build an authentic “Brand WM” that drives economic investment and cultural confidence, without erasing local identity.

Join us to reframe how the world sees us – and how we see ourselves.

Venue

Room with a View

Lunch

Venue

Banqueting Suite

Speaker

Sir Andy Street
Founder and Co-Chair of Prosper UK & First Mayor of the West Midlands (2017 to 2024)

Phil Upton
Broadcaster
BBC

IN CONVERSATION WITH SIR ANDY STREET

In this session, Andy will be interviewed by seasoned broadcaster Phil Upton (BBC). Together, they will explore the challenges and achievements that defined Andy’s time in public office—from driving regional investment and regeneration to navigating political and economic uncertainty.

Looking ahead, the conversation will turn to Andy’s ambitions for Prosper UK, and how his experience in regional leadership is shaping a broader mission to unlock economic growth and opportunity across the country. Expect candid reflections, practical insights, and a forward-looking perspective on leadership, place-based growth, and the evolving role of public-private collaboration in the UK.

Venue

Banqueting Suite

Speaker

Leo Pollak
Head of Policy and Planning
West Midlands Combined Authority

Lisa Fairmaner
Associate Director, National Lead
for Strategic Planning,
Arup

From Plan to Place: Delivering the West Midlands Spatial Development Strategy

The West Midlands is on the cusp of a major shift in how it plans, grows and delivers place. The emerging Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to align housing, transport, infrastructure and economic growth across the region.

But where is the SDS now—and what will it actually change?

This session will unpack the current status of the Strategy, what it is seeking to achieve, and the timeline to adoption. More importantly, it will explore the scale of its potential impact: will it genuinely unlock delivery, accelerate regeneration, and provide the clarity investors and local authorities need—or will it face the same barriers that have slowed strategic planning in the past?

With perspectives from regional leadership, planning experts and delivery partners, this discussion will cut through the policy detail to focus on what the SDS means in practice: for places, for communities, and for the West Midlands economy.

Venue

Red Zone 1882

Speaker

Dr Halima Sacranie
Director of Housing Research
Centre for the New Midlands CIC

Dr Simeon Shtebunaev
Senior Researcher
Social Life

Waheed Saleem
Head of Programmes and Partnerships,
Witton Lodge Community Association

Restoring Pride in Place through a Decent Neighbourhood Standard

Across the UK, there is growing recognition that where people live profoundly shapes their life chances, wellbeing, and sense of belonging. The Government’s Pride in Place agenda signals an important shift—towards restoring local identity, strengthening communities, and improving the everyday environments people experience.

But what does “pride” actually look like on the ground? And how do we move from ambition to measurable, lasting change?

This session explores how the emerging Decent Neighbourhood Standard, being developed by the Centre for the New Midlands, Social Life and Witton Lodge Community Association, can provide a practical and scalable answer. Building on the legacy of the Decent Homes Standard, this new framework expands the focus beyond housing quality to the wider neighbourhood conditions that underpin thriving places—green spaces, safety, connectivity, local services, and community infrastructure.

Venue

Blue Zone 1882

Speaker

Gilbert Pomell
Chair, Board of Trustees,
Bethel Church of Jesus Christ

Byron Batten
Director
Byron Batten Consultancy

Ethical Leadership in Action: From Protest to Partnership: Rebuilding Trust Between Communities, Institutions and Government

This session will examine the role of ethical leadership in shaping resilient communities, fostering social cohesion, and influencing positive civic outcomes.

Venue

Chair's Lounge

Speaker

Luke Ellis
Delivery Director-Combined
Authorities & City Regions,
AtkinsRéalis

Grace Kneafsey
Capital Investment Lead,
West Midlands Growth Company

Richard Bayley
Senior Advisor,
AtkinsRéalis

Alex Housden
Development Director, (Smithfield Birmingham),
Lendlease

Funding the Regional Government

The West Midlands is entering a new era of regional ambition—driving growth, innovation, and opportunity. But ambition needs resources. This session, Funding the Regional Government, will explore the levers that can equip the region with the fiscal power to shape its own future.

At the heart of the discussion lies a question of sovereignty and strategy: how can the West Midlands secure the funding it needs to deliver infrastructure, public services, and economic growth—while remaining competitive and attractive to investors? Participants will examine the interplay between taxation policy and fiscal devolution

Venue

The 1882 Suite

AFTERNOON BREAK

Venue

Banqueting Suite

Speaker

Doug King
Owner
Coventry City Football Club

Phil Upton
Broadcaster, BBC
and CFP26 Conference Host

We are delighted to welcome Doug King, owner of Coventry City Football Club, as the closing plenary speaker for Connections for Prosperity 2026. Following an extraordinary period for the club, culminating in Coventry City’s return to the Premier League, Doug will join BBC broadcaster Phil Upton for an engaging fireside chat exploring leadership, investment, ambition and the power of long-term vision.

Drawing on his experience of transforming one of the region’s most iconic institutions, Doug will share insights into building success, inspiring communities and creating lasting prosperity—providing a fitting and memorable conclusion to this year’s conference.

Venue

Room with a View

RAFFLE AND DRINKS RECEPTION

 

Please note that the programme, including speakers, topics, and timings, is subject to change without prior notice. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we work to provide the best possible experience.