Conferences 2025

John is a highly experienced business manager and management consultant with over 30 years experience in both the private and public sectors, now leading CIPFA’s advisory practice. Recently John has helped shape and drive a major cost reduction UK wide programme for police sector, Achieving Finance Excellence in Policing. He has acted as the commercial adviser to numerous forces including the Met Police on their successful outsourcing of their back office functions and also was a key part of the team responsible for the development of their commercial strategy to 2020. John has also worked for large civil service departments and every type of local authority in the UK.

Simon leads on CIPFA’s advisory support on financial management and financial resilience across public services. Currently leading on the Advisory Support for Local Government Reorganisation and on our work with MHCLG on exceptional financial support influencing and informing on the best ways to help councils in financial distress. Former Joint Director of Finance and Business Services (S151 Officer) for Derbyshire Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Service. Simon has over 30 years experience in working with and in a wide range of public sector organisations in challenging financial, governance, reorganisation and performance improvement roles.

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 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.