Room151’s LATIF North 2025

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.

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.

Amy is the first permanent Chief Executive of the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), leading one of the largest and most ambitious regions in the country. Home to more than two million people and a £65 billion economy, the East Midlands is entering a new era of collaboration and growth – powered by £2 billion in transport investment and a network of Growth Zones driving innovation, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing.

Working alongside Mayor Claire Ward, Amy is building stronger collaboration between the region’s key industries – which include world-leading employers such as Rolls-Royce, Toyota and Boots – and Government, investors, councils and the voluntary and community sector.  

Bringing a wealth of experience in regional development and delivery, before joining EMCCA, she held senior investment and regeneration roles at Durham County Council, SouthYorkshire Combined Authority, Transport for Greater Manchester and Sandwell Council.

She currently sits as a Commissioner on the Solace Commission on Professional Standards and Ethics,  supporting the UK’s local government leaders on the challenges of modern public service. 

Mark is currently the Chief Finance Officer at Newcastle City Council and has been working in senior finance roles within the local government sector for nearly 20 years.  Prior to that he worked as a senior manager within PricewaterhouseCoopers’ public sector audit and advisory team in the North East. Whilst working for Newcastle City Council, Mark has been responsible for advising senior officers and elected members on financial planning matters including budget setting, medium term financial planning and local government funding changes. In his current role Mark and his team are also responsible for budget monitoring, project finance, supporting budget and project managers, maintaining the council’s financial systems, collecting council tax and business rates, administering housing benefits, managing the council’s external loans and investments portfolio, producing the annual statutory accounts, managing the council’s property portfolio and procuring all corporate contracts.  Mark has also led a range of projects including the in-sourcing of the council’s arms-length housing management organisation and an options appraisal of the management of the city’s parks and allotments.  Not a native Geordie (his football team is based further south), Mark is passionate about finance teams working collaboratively with services to deliver better outcomes for residents, and ensuring that financial systems and processes are as efficient and effective as they can be and support services to deliver improved value for money for residents.

Victoria is the Section 151 Officer at Leeds City Council, she joined the Authority in 2019 previously working at a number of Local Authorities both in Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire. Victoria started her early career working in the private sector within the Investments Department of an Insurance Company before joining the Public sector 24 years ago taking a role in Internal Audit.

As a Certified (ACCA) and CIPFA qualified accountant Victoria has experience and knowledge of working across both sectors, although she especially enjoys the challenges and extremely varied role of being the Section 151 Officer at Leeds City Council.

Victoria’s ambition is to enable the Council to be financially resilient and sustainable for the future ensuring the services provided achieve value for money and Public Money, while delivering the City Ambition. The Council’s gross Budget is £2bn with income around £1.5bn. Victoria is leading on a number of transformation projects including the Core Business Transformation Programme for the Council and the Financial Challenge for the Council.  

Victoria keeps active and enjoys walks around Chester with her family and two miniature schnauzers and a Wired Haired German Pointer and is also a season ticket holder for Manchester City.

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. 

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.

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.

Mitch joined in February 2010 as Head of Research on the Credit team before becoming Co-Head of Credit from 2012 to 2019. In 2019, in addition to his role of Head of Research, he became Head of Sustainable Fixed Income and co-manager of the Federated Hermes SDG Engagement High Yield Credit Fund. In May 2024, Mitch became Group Head of Fixed Income – London, with responsibility for all credit portfolios managed by the London office. Prior to this he was Co-Head of Credit Research for the global credit team at Fortis Investments. Other roles at Fortis include portfolio manager of European high yield funds, based in London, and senior credit analyst, based in Paris. Before this he worked as an associate analyst in the leveraged finance group at Moody’s Investors Service in New York. 

Mitch is currently working toward a Master’s degree in Sustainability Leadership at Cambridge University.  He previously earned a Master’s degree in International Affairs at Columbia University in New York City and a Bachelor’s degree in History at Pitzer College, one of the Claremont Colleges in California. He is a CFA charterholder and the founder and Co-Chair of the Federated Hermes Sustainability Investment Centre.  Among his current and former advocacy roles are: founding board member of the European Leveraged Finance Association (ELFA); Co-Chair of the Credit Risk and Ratings Advisory Committee at the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI); workstream member CFO Coalition for the SDGs of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC); (former) member the Target Setting workstream at the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change; (former) member and co-chair of the Capital Markets Advisory Committee of the IFRS Foundation; (former) member of the Sovereign Working Group (PRI); (former) workstream member of the UK-China Green Finance Task Force; and (former) Green Finance Advisory of the City of London.

Chris is Head of Homelessness Property Funds at Resonance. He is responsible for investment raising, relationships with housing partners and the ongoing management of the homelessness funds.

Chris joined Resonance as he believes that social impact investing has the potential to make a material difference to people’s lives. He cares deeply about equality and uses his finance skills to help create better life chances for everyone. In his early career, he spent 13 years as a financial markets’ trader, running currency option trading teams at JP Morgan and Barclays Capital. Chris is a CFA charterholder and he is interested in measuring social impact risk to drive better investment decision making.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Johnathan joined TechnologyOne in 2016 to extend the SaaS Platform team into the United Kingdom and support our customers in the region.

Having worked in the Technology space for in excess of 20 years his main focus has been on building high performing engineering teams who delight customers and are constantly curious of new and emerging technologies.

In previous roles, Johnathan has worked closely with some of the United Kingdoms best known brands including Skyscanner, The Royal Horticultural Society and WeBuyAnyCar – helping to design, support and maintain their infrastructure needs along the way.

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.

Danny is Director of Finance at Warrington Borough Council responsible for all aspects of the Council’s corporate finance function and climate change.

Danny is an expert in treasury management, capital accounting, programme management, transformation, regeneration, governance, climate change and the commercialisation agenda.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Conrad Hall has over twenty years’ senior financial management experience in London local authorities, more than ten of which have been in chief finance officer roles.

He trained with the Audit Commission, qualified as a CIPFA accountant in 1998 and is a former winner of the Accountancy Age UK Accountant of the Year award for his work in transforming Lambeth Council.  He is currently the Corporate Director of Resources for Croydon Council, having previously held similar roles at Newham and Brent Councils.  He chairs the CIPFA/LASAAC board, which sets the financial reporting and accounting standards for UK local government

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. 

Mike leads the NAO’s Local Audit Code and Guidance Team. This maintains the Code of Audit Practice and generates guidance to support local auditors in their work. He has been leading the NAO’s work in supporting the local audit system leadership of DLUHC and the FRC.

He is also an audit practitioner and is the Director responsible for the financial audit of MHCLG and its component bodies having previously covered the Home Office, DHSC and Defra. He has also been a local auditor having trained in the District Audit Service and was a District Auditor in the Audit Commission covering public bodies in East Yorkshire, Hull and North Lincolnshire. He has also worked in local government finance and been a Board Member in the housing sector.

He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and a member of its Council.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.