ADEPT Spring Conference & Annual Awards Dinner
ADEPT Spring Conference 2026: Leading local places through change
Wednesday 13th May 2026, Great George Street, Westminster, SW1P 3AA
The ADEPT Spring Conference is a fantastic opportunity for ADEPT members to come together, celebrate achievements, and focus on leading local places through change. Our priorities for 2025/26 have been on making the case for people and place. The conference will discuss the ongoing evolution of the local government landscape, innovation in highways and transport, and delivering the government’s planning agenda. We are delighted to announce Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood MP as our keynote speaker.
09:45 Welcome address: Angela Jones
10:00 Session 1: The local government landscape redefined
- Reflections on the transition to becoming a Combined Authority - Mark Rogers, interim CEO, Sussex & Brighton CCA
- The opportunities and challenges of LGR - Tony McArdle, Sector Advisor, LGR advisory group, MHCLG
- What does LGR mean for local communities: Anna Randle, CEO, New Local
11:00 Ministerial address: The Rt Hon Simon Lightwood MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Transport
11:30 Tea & Coffee
12:00 Session 2: Innovation in highways & transport - the outcomes of the Live Labs 2 programme
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Presidential Lecture: the language of climate
Rachel Orr, CEO of Climate Outreach
14:30 Session 3: Delivering the government’s planning agenda
- Joanna Averley, Chief Planner, MHCLG
- Vivienne Clements, Executive Director, Henry Boot Developments
- John Wilkinson, Director of Homes & Regeneration, WECA
- Oliver Harmar, Chief Strategy Officer, Natural England
15:30 – Closing remarks
The ADEPT Annual General Meeting will take place immediately following the conference. The day concludes with the Annual Dinner and President’s Awards, celebrating innovation and welcoming ADEPT’s new President.
Dinner Venue: One Whitehall Place, Royal Horseguards Hotel, London, SW1A 2HE
Guest speaker - David Porter, ICE President