Pre-lunch plenary
The next economy: wellbeing, devolution and the power of place
11.30am – 1pm
Lecture theatre one
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Our pre-lunch plenary will be a keynote discussion between Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, Derek Walker, moderated by Carnegie UK’s Chief Executive, Sarah Davidson. Together they will explore how devolution offers a unique opportunity to embed the wellbeing of future generations at the heart of economic decision-making. This conversation will challenge conventional thinking on local, regional and national economic strategy and inspire bold leadership. Following the keynote, a panel of place leaders from across the UK will respond, exploring how these ideas can be translated into action through community wealth building and a renewed vision for resilient, people-centred local economies.
Speakers
Sarah Longlands has been the Chief Executive of CLES since 2021, having previously been the organisations’ Director of Policy from 2007-2011. She is an expert in regional and local economic development and argues for economic and social justice and the creation of places which enable people to live good lives. Prior to (re!) joining CLES, Sarah was Director of IPPR North, the dedicated think tank for the North of England and began her career in local government, working in County Durham and North Yorkshire. She has a PhD in Urban Studies from the University of Glasgow.
Sarah Davidson is Chief Executive at Carnegie UK. From 1995 to 2019 Sarah was a civil servant working for the UK and Scottish Governments in policy and operational roles. Her last post in government was director general for organisational development and operations. Sarah is an honorary professor at the Glasgow University Centre for Public Policy; chairs the charity WEvolution which supports women in Scotland facing economic and social stress; and is a director of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Andy Burnham, has served as Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017. He was MP for Leigh from 2001 to 2017, holding cabinet roles including Health Secretary and Culture Secretary under Gordon Brown. As Mayor, Andy has championed regional devolution, public transport reform, and social equality, notably launching the Bee Network to integrate Greater Manchester’s transport system. Dubbed the “King of the North” during the Covid-19 pandemic for advocating northern interests, he co-authored Head North in 2024, calling for a more balanced Britain.
Derek Walker is the second ever Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, having started the role in 2023, when he called for “urgent and transformational change” in Wales, later launching his seven-year strategy, Cymru Can. He spent 12 years as chief executive of Cwmpas, the UK’s largest co-operative development agency, working to support people and communities to create jobs and strengthen communities. He began his career as policy officer for London Councils, has worked as Head of External Affairs at the Big Lottery Fund (Wales), at the Wales TUC and was the first employee of Stonewall Cymru.
Carolyn Wilkins (Chair) is the Chair of CLES’s board of Trustees. She has over 30 years of experience in the public sector, working at local, city-region and national level. She is currently a professor at the Birmingham Leadership Institute, University of Birmingham focused on leadership required to make progress on the most pressing contemporary challenges. Her academic interests include leading across boundaries and the relationship between trust and control in organisations and systems. She is a Trustee of the Kings Fund, a member of the NHS Assembly and the Chair of Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Gavin White is Executive Member for Housing and Development at Manchester City Council. He studied Architecture at the University of Manchester and was elected as a Labour councillor for Old Moat in 2018 and continues to be actively involved in the Old Moat community with many local residents groups. He sits on the Southway Housing People and Places committee as well as the Neighbourhood and Environment Committee, and the Planning and Highways Committee at the City Council.
Lisa Brown is the Deputy Leader of Cumberland Council and an Executive Member for Governance and Thriving Communities. Formerly Chair of Economic Growth Scrutiny on Carlisle City Council and a Board Member of Cumbria LEP, she brings valuable expertise in local government. Lisa’s pivotal role in making the Right to Food a strategic priority for the council showcases her innovative thinking. She also plays a crucial part in implementing new area committee arrangements, such as community panels and network panels, driving community engagement. Lisa’s dedication and leadership significantly contribute to the progress and well-being of the local community.
Matthew Brown is Leader of Preston City Council and Senior Fellow for the Promotion of Community Wealth Building (UK) at The Democracy Collaborative. He has been widely credited as the driving force behind the Preston Model, an economic strategy at the city and county level that presents a comprehensive, interlinked approach to community wealth building as a practical and transformative alternative to austerity and disinvestment. First elected to represent the Tulketh ward in 2002, Councillor Matthew Brown subsequently took on portfolios that included community engagement and inclusion, social justice and policy initiatives, leading to his election in 2018 as Council Leader.
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