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. 

Steve is the Group Chief Finance Officer at Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). 

Steve has worked in public sector finance for 25 years having started his career on the NHS Graduate Financial Management Training Scheme in 1996. 

He worked in a variety of roles across the NHS including Director of Finance and Deputy Chief Executive for Wirral Community NHS Trust and Director of Financial Control for NHS England nationally. 

Steve moved from the NHS to regional government in December 2019 taking up the role of Group CFO for GMCA. This role involves overseeing the finances of the combined authority including Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, the offices of the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the Deputy Mayor for Police, Crime and Fire. 

Steve combines his day job at GMCA with the role of Non-Executive Director, Deputy Chair and Chair of the Finance and Performance Committee at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust. 

Steve is a Trustee for St Ann’s Hospice and a Director of Southway Housing Trust. 

He lives in Manchester with his wife and two teenage children. He is an avid (and regularly disappointed) Derby County fan where he has recently been appointed to the Supporters Board.

Carol is currently the Executive Director, Finance at Birmingham City Council after completing a spell as a Commissioner at Woking Borough Council and her year as CIPFA President.

She was previously the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer at Manchester City Council . As well as being the S151 officer, she had responsibility for the Corporate Core and for driving a number of priorities such as the leading on the Council’s Zero Carbon Action Plan and as SRO for The Factory and Town Hall projects. Her previous experience in Manchester has included her role as Deputy City Treasurer responsible for Finance and Performance and ICT as well as being a member of the Health and Social Care Devolution Team, as Assistant Chief Executive overseeing Finance and Performance and as the Assistant Director of Finance and Commissioning for Social Services.

She is CIPFA qualified and has a diploma in management. Carol has a wealth of experience in financial management, governance and assurance and fulfilling trustee roles. 

Since his appointment in 2017 he has established the Northern Powerhouse Partnership as the business led organisation which convenes the North together. From having made the case consistently for both HS2 to the North alongside Northern Powerhouse Rail, to challenging for a better deal for the most disadvantaged from the education system, his team are focused on how government, business and partners can drive the North’s ambitions. Before joining the Partnership, he worked in senior research and policy roles in policing and financial services, and as a former senior local government figure in Newcastle upon Tyne remains a commentator on regional and wider industrial policy.

Since 2020 he has also served as a member of the Royal Society Science, Industry and Translation Committee, as well as this year being appointed to the Court of Newcastle University.

Guy is the Section 151 at North East Lincolnshire Council where he oversees delivery of a financial strategy aimed at supporting the growth of a strong and sustainable economy and the transformation of public services. More recently he has played a key role in the development of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority leading the financial workstream as interim CFO. Prior to joining the Council, he held managerial positions with KPMG and the Audit Commission providing assurance to a wide range of organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors. He holds a number of other roles including as Governor of TEC Partnership and member of East Riding Pension Fund Local Pension Board.

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.

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

Having graduated from King’s College London in 2013 with a BSc in Maths & Computer Science (joint honours), Sidhant worked in the consulting industry focussing on wealth and asset management clients for six years. Sidhant then joined CCLA in 2019 and specialised as a fund manager within Cash and Money Markets team.

Sidhant holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Investment Management Certificate (IMC) qualifications. Outside of work he is a Governor for Foster’s Primary School in Bexleyheath.

Biyi Adegbola is a seasoned Finance Professional with over two decades of experience in public sector finance, including 18 years in senior roles within Local Authorities.

Throughout his career, Biyi has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting financial stewardship, strategic planning, and service transformation in complex and politically sensitive environments.

In the past six years, Biyi has specialised in Treasury Management, leading investment strategies, debt portfolio oversight, and ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks. He brings strong experience in financial governance, budget management, and stakeholder engagement, which has supported sustainable service delivery and contributed to improved outcomes for local communities.

Pam is a very experienced senior public sector leader with over 35 years’ experience in strategic and operational leadership and management across varied disciplines and sectors. She is an experienced finance professional with a comprehensive technical accounting background who takes a holistic approach to the effective use of resources ensuring that they support and facilitate delivery of excellent services.

She is driven by a passion for making a difference and improving outcomes for people and communities and thrives on positive change.

She was the LGR finance lead for the Cumbria LGR programme supporting Cumbria County Council and the six district councils of Cumbria to create two new Unitary Councils and transfer the fire service to be governed by the Police and Fire commissioner. She also supported the transfer of the Cumbria Pension Fund to the new administering authority – Westmorland and Furness Council.

As the first Director of Resources (sct 151 officer) for Westmorland and Furness Council she was influential in establishing, stabilising and driving change within the new Unitary Council and led the council to becoming financially sustainable in the medium term.    In respect of work/ life balance she has recently taken time out to breathe and reset and is now supporting the sector through consultancy and advisory roles. She can often be found swimming in a cold lake to bring some calmness to balance life’s challenges!

Emma Foy is the Industry Lead for Local Government at TechnologyOne, where she champions digital transformation across councils and public sector organisations. She brings deep expertise in modernising services and helping local authorities unlock the power of connected, cloud‑based technology. With a background of over ten years of being Section 151 in various local authorities, she now works closely with leaders to streamline operations and drive meaningful community outcomes. Emma is known for her collaborative approach, her commitment to innovation, and her passion for helping local government build more resilient, efficient, and future‑ready services. 

Mark joined West Midlands Combined Authority as Lead Treasury Accountant in 2020 and is responsible for all aspects of the Authority’s treasury management activities including an investment portfolio in excess of £400m. He has over 25 years Local Authority finance experience and, in addition to treasury work, has a background in capital accounting and the Housing Revenue Account. Mark is a member of CIPFA’s TIS Online Treasury Management Editorial Board, reviewing and writing articles for the website and has contributed blogs to Room 151. He has also participated in panel discussions at several treasury and housing finance events.

Lee joined CCLA in 2022 after 28 years’ experience within the financial services industry, with the last 11 years being spent in the Charity & Local Authority sectors and the wider Social Economy, providing debt finance to support organisations to buy or build residential & commercial property to meet social demands, creating impact within communities & nationally. Lee is responsible for managing relationships with CCLA clients.

Over the last 23 years, Lee has held a number of senior management roles both regionally & nationally and has a widespread knowledge of the Commercial/Corporate/Local Government sectors and the social economy.

Lee is the former President of a Chamber & Trade & Commerce, one which became one of only a handful in the country to convert to CIC status.

Outside of work Lee is a trustee & volunteers at various charities.

Lindsey Keech is the Head of Finance for capital and treasury management at Greater Manchester Combined Authority.  Lindsey began her local authority finance career at Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority in 2006 before transferring to Greater Manchester Combined Authority in 2018 with the reorganisation of waste disposal functions within Greater Manchester.

At GMCA she manages the investments, debt portfolios and treasury function and is responsible for the capital programme.  She is also responsible for the business partnering of the transport, waste disposal, place, environment, digital and core investment teams and coordinates various elements of the final accounts process.

Jamie joined CCLA in 2001 and has a wealth of experience in client facing roles

Jamie is responsible for managing relationships with our clients.

Jamie holds a diploma in Private Client Investment Advice and Management.

Sarah Whittaker – worked in Local Government since 2002, CIPFA qualified, Head of Finance (Deputy S151 officer) which includes Financial Services, Revenues and Benefits, having started at Rushcliffe in 2005 as Cipfa Trainee. 2 teenage children and likes running and DIY in spare time.

David joined Arlingclose 2010 and holds the Association of Corporate Treasurers Diploma in Treasury Management. David is a director of Arlingclose and responsible for client advisory services, he also heads up the debt management team, with an emphasis on the formulation and implementation of funding strategies. Current projects include managing iDealTrade.net, renegotiating long-term loans and developing alternative funding products with a variety of financial institutions. David also regularly delivers training for finance teams and Elected Members, covering debt and investment risk management and the local government finance regulatory framework. David has been providing treasury management consultancy services to public sector clients since 1997. He was Assistant Director at Butlers Treasury Consultancy, a division of ICAP plc, where he managed several client accounts and was a regular speaker at training events and seminars on treasury management issues.

Tim Seagrave is group finance lead for capital & treasury management at Manchester City Council. An economics graduate, Tim began his local authority finance career at Newcastle City Council, and moved back to his birthplace to join Manchester City Council in 2009. He has experience in directorate finance as well as corporate, including working on the city council’s response to local authority funding settlements and leading on the early stages of business rates reform for the city. Tim moved onto treasury management in 2010, and during his time with the treasury team he has managed the Council’s debt and investment portfolios and overseen the HRA debt settlement, including repayment of LOBOs. Since 2014 Tim has also led the team responsible for the financial management of the Council’s capital programme, from project inception through to accounting for schemes, and has led on the development of a new capital approval process. A CIPFA member, Tim attends CIPFA’s Better Governance Forum.

Advisor for the CIPFA Treasury Management and Pensions Networks since December 2021.

14 years of experience as a Treasury practitioner at Principal officer level, 5 years’ experience overseeing Pension Fund Investments.

Mark joined West Midlands Combined Authority as Lead Treasury Accountant in 2020 and is responsible for all aspects of the Authority’s treasury management activities including an investment portfolio in excess of £400m. He has over 25 years Local Authority finance experience and, in addition to treasury work, has a background in capital accounting and the Housing Revenue Account. Mark is a member of CIPFA’s TIS Online Treasury Management Editorial Board, reviewing and writing articles for the website and has contributed blogs to Room 151. He has also participated in panel discussions at several treasury and housing finance events.

Currently chief accountant for the council, it’s subsidiary and pension fund. Leading the county council’s technical and financial services. Previously undertaking financial management roles within Adult Social Care, Public Health, district council and housing services.

Tim Seagrave is group finance lead for capital & treasury management at Manchester City Council. An economics graduate, Tim began his local authority finance career at Newcastle City Council, and moved back to his birthplace to join Manchester City Council in 2009. He has experience in directorate finance as well as corporate, including working on the city council’s response to local authority funding settlements and leading on the early stages of business rates reform for the city. Tim moved onto treasury management in 2010, and during his time with the treasury team he has managed the Council’s debt and investment portfolios and overseen the HRA debt settlement, including repayment of LOBOs. Since 2014 Tim has also led the team responsible for the financial management of the Council’s capital programme, from project inception through to accounting for schemes, and has led on the development of a new capital approval process. A CIPFA member, Tim attends CIPFA’s Better Governance Forum.

Innes is Principal Treasury and Banking Manager for the City of Edinburgh Council. Prior to his appointment as Treasury Manager, he was head of the back office for Lothian Pension Fund. He has also been seconded to Lothian Pension Fund as Portfolio Manager responsible for Bonds and other Credit opportunities. From 2007 to 2017, he was Chair of CIPFA’s Scottish Treasury Management Forum, and a member of CIPFA’s Capital and Treasury Management Panel. He has also been a Trustee of a private sector Pension Fund. Innes’ qualifications include an honours degree in IT from St. Andrews University, the PMI qualification in Pension Trusteeship, and the CIPFA / ACT Certificate in International Treasury Management – Public Finance.  He won the LGC Investment Officer of the Year for the UK Award in 2010.

Mark joined West Midlands Combined Authority as Lead Treasury Accountant in 2020 and is responsible for all aspects of the Authority’s treasury management activities including an investment portfolio in excess of £400m. He has over 25 years Local Authority finance experience and, in addition to treasury work, has a background in capital accounting and the Housing Revenue Account. Mark is a member of CIPFA’s TIS Online Treasury Management Editorial Board, reviewing and writing articles for the website and has contributed blogs to Room 151. He has also participated in panel discussions at several treasury and housing finance events.

Lee joined CCLA in 2022 after 28 years’ experience within the financial services industry, with the last 11 years being spent in the Charity & Local Authority sectors and the wider Social Economy, providing debt finance to support organisations to buy or build residential & commercial property to meet social demands, creating impact within communities & nationally. Lee is responsible for managing relationships with CCLA clients.

Over the last 23 years, Lee has held a number of senior management roles both regionally & nationally and has a widespread knowledge of the Commercial/Corporate/Local Government sectors and the social economy.

Lee is the former President of a Chamber & Trade & Commerce, one which became one of only a handful in the country to convert to CIC status.

Outside of work Lee is a trustee & volunteers at various charities.

Lindsey Keech is the Head of Finance for capital and treasury management at Greater Manchester Combined Authority.  Lindsey began her local authority finance career at Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority in 2006 before transferring to Greater Manchester Combined Authority in 2018 with the reorganisation of waste disposal functions within Greater Manchester.

At GMCA she manages the investments, debt portfolios and treasury function and is responsible for the capital programme.  She is also responsible for the business partnering of the transport, waste disposal, place, environment, digital and core investment teams and coordinates various elements of the final accounts process.

Jamie joined CCLA in 2001 and has a wealth of experience in client facing roles

Jamie is responsible for managing relationships with our clients.

Jamie holds a diploma in Private Client Investment Advice and Management.

Sarah Whittaker – worked in Local Government since 2002, CIPFA qualified, Head of Finance (Deputy S151 officer) which includes Financial Services, Revenues and Benefits, having started at Rushcliffe in 2005 as Cipfa Trainee. 2 teenage children and likes running and DIY in spare time.

From entrepreneur to e-government advisor and local government reform, Jens Gemmel von Döllinger brings his ideas and innovation to drive systemic change through innovative public service delivery models and the application of AI and data analytics.

Working in Public Service Reform for over two decades as a Systems Thinking Practitioner and author of two books, “Living Council: A Manifesto for Practice” and “The Anatomy of the Local State: Systems thinking for the AI-native, prevention-first council”, Jens has led on some of the most impactful public sector transformations in the UK and helped reshape the priorities of over a dozen local authorities, cities and their partners. Jens was Highly Commended for two IoD National Director of the Year Awards 2023, in the categories “Public & Third Sector” and for “Sustainability”, and awarded Finalist twice by the IoD in 2025, for “Innovation” and “Turnaround”, recognising his groundbreaking work on public sector reform and prevention-first models for local government.

Innes Hall is a senior banking leader with over two decades of experience across Lloyds Banking Group, having originally joined Bank of Scotland in 2003. Throughout his 23-year career, he has built a reputation as a client centric, commercially astute specialist spanning SME through to FTSE 100 organisations.

A core part of Innes’ work in recent years has centred on supporting UK Local Authorities. He has championed the creation of dedicated resource for the sector and works closely with product partners to better understand its financial, operational, and regulatory challenges — helping institutions navigate an increasingly complex payments landscape.

With a career spanning 25 years in Business & Commercial Banking, Kat has been deeply embedded in the Local Authority sector since 2016.   Kat currently serves as Head of   MC Direct and Local Authority Sector Lead at Lloyds Banking Group, leading a Sector Specialist team of Relationship Managers across the UK, known for their passion and expertise in supporting the Public Sector & Charities.