LATIF Online October 2026

Dan Bates is a finance specialist at LG Improve. He leads LG Improve’s Financial Resilience function, enabling councils to adapt to a leaner, more outcomes focused way of working.   Working with all types of authorities on financing and funding to modernise financial management, outcomes-based budgeting and well-being and social value. 

Robert is responsible for managing CCLA’s three deposit and money market funds.

He graduated from the University of East Anglia in 2006 with a BA in economics and joined CCLA from RBS in 2009. Robert joined the operations department at CCLA where he completed his accounting qualifications with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) before joining the Cash Management team in 2011.

Since joining the team, Robert has published a number of articles on monetary policy. He has also become a qualified member of the Association of Corporate Treasures (ACT), completed the Investment Management Certificate (IMC) along with the CFA Institute Sustainable Investing Certificate.

John is an experienced finance professional with experience across a range of corporate transactions through a number of corporate banking roles with Bank of Scotland Corporate Bank, Kaupthing Investment Bank and Barclays Corporate Bank. His recent ventures also include entrepreneurial experience in property development.

John joined Resonance in 2012 and has been responsible for the successful design, fund raising and deployment of Resonance’s existing impact investment funds, including the series of award winning impact investment property funds.

In his spare time John enjoys spending time with friends and family and keeps active playing golf, walking and cycling.

A highly regarded and well-known expert in the sector, Jonathan has worked in local government for more than 20 years, including seven years as strategic director at London Borough of Barking & Dagenham and the creator of B&D Reside, the council’s affordable housing company. Jonathan continues to support councils on the development and delivery of affordable housing and regeneration schemes. He has been a board member of Barnsbury Housing Association since 2017.

Joanne has worked across the UK for central, regional, and local government, for housing associations and a national social justice charity, driving transformation and the delivery of better outcomes for people, places and the planet. At LB Enfield as well as the housing agenda she leads a large-scale, housing-led growth and regeneration project, and the levelling up of the three wards of Edmonton. LB Enfield is also co-lead Borough for the London Council’s pan-London Climate Change programme for warmer and greener homes through housing retrofit. And Joanne is also co-chair of the London Housing Directors Network.

Tom Wilkinson has been a qualified Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) accountant since 2000, following a traineeship with the City of York Council. He relocated to Dorset in 2008 where he initially worked as Treasurer to Wiltshire Probation Trust, before moving back into Local Government in 2011 working for Councils in Dorset where he supported Housing, Economy and Regeneration departments as well as Children’s Services and Pensions and Investments roles. He managed the £3bn Dorset County Pension Fund before relocating to Greater Manchester in 2017.

Tom has since held the position of Deputy S.151 Officer at Tameside Council, working with the joint health finance team. He then joined Manchester City Council in 2021 taking up the role of Deputy City Treasurer helping to lead and develop the finance offer at the Council. In April 2024 he became City Treasurer.