Thursday 24 September 2009

Tough times - delivering customer value in a challenging world
Lord Digby Jones

Digby Jones is a world class conference speaker who will provide his own provocative slant on the quality of public services. As a former Chief Executive of the CBI and former Minister of State for Trade & Investment, he built a reputation for pulling no punches once claiming that Whitehall could be run with ‘half as many civil servants’!

A1 - Back to basics for banking
Charlie Ferguson

Charlie Ferguson started professional life as a copper on the beat in Scotland. Over the last 25 years, he has built a reputation as a leading writer, lecturer and financial services expert specialising in community banking. With strong views on the causes of the banking crisis, Charlie will provide a‘no holes-barred’ appraisal of the banking sector, outline the potential for community banking to restore public confidence and provide tips to public bodies to avoid investment failures.

A2 - Future developments in IFRS
Una McGuinness / Alan Bermingham

Una and Alan are CIPFA's leading experts in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) having developed and delivered numerous courses throughout the UK to both Central and Local Government. Recently, the International Accounting Standards Board has adopted an annual process to deal with non-urgent, but necessary, minor amendments to IFRSs. During their presentation, Una and Alan will give an update on the key issues arising from this year's improvement process.

A3 - Discover your true potential
Sean Connolly

Sean Connolly is a former boxer, kinesiologist, medical hypnotherapy consultant and expert in developing human potential. With extensive experience in martial arts and therapies, Sean provides an array of tools and techniques that can help build confidence to achieve personal ambitions and corporate goals – come to his presentation only if you want to discover more about your true self!

Can we ever meet public expectations?
Ben Page

Ben Page was recently named by the Guardian newspaper as one of the ‘100 most influential people in the public sector’. He is the newly appointed Chief Executive of Ipsos MORI and, since 1992, has worked closely with both Conservative and Labour ministers and senior policy makers across Government leading on work for Downing Street, the Cabinet Office, the Home Office and a wide range of local authorities, NHS Trusts and other public bodies. Using evidence gathered by Ipsos MORI, Ben will address how public bodies might ever meet public expectations in this turbulent environment.

B1 - Good governance in practice
Sir Alistair Graham

Sir Alistair Graham is well known in Northern Ireland as the first Chairman of the Parades Commission and as the former Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. In his presentation, he will identify good governance practice by elected politicians, Board members and senior civil servants that meets the public’s increasing expectations.

B2 - Transforming services through partnership
Michael Kitts

Michael Kitts is passionate about improving public services and achieving better citizen outcomes. He worked for 18 years in Local Government, latterly as a Director of Finance, prior to joining PwC in 2000 where he became a Partner in 2007. In his presentation, Michael will share his experience of working with local authority clients in developing partnerships to improve public services.

C1 - Following a strategic path
Jean Pousson

Jean Pousson is a strategic adviser to a number of international clients such as Esso and ICL as well as large public organisations including the Ministry of Defence. He is the leading Institute of Directors’ speaker on strategy and strategic finance, regularly achieving the top evaluation in the UK. Whilst public bodies focus on the current crisis and short-term policies, Jean will outline the need to implement a longer-term strategic view that will bring greater benefits to public services.

C2 - Raising public service standards
Glenn Houston

Glenn Houston joined the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority as Chief Executive in March 2009. He has 28 years experience working in health and social care services in Northern Ireland and was Chief Executive of the former Craigavon & Banbridge Community Trust. Glenn will explore some of the complex challenges associated with delivering effective regulation, working with service providers to improve services and responding appropriately to public expectations.

Disney's approach to quality service - delivering the magic!
Tom Madden

Friday 25 September 2009

9.15 am

Registration
Registration in Foyer - Tea/Coffee in Chandelier Suite

9.45 am

The economic storm – cause and impact
Dr Vince Cable MP

Vince Cable is Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats and their Treasury spokesman. He is a former chief economist at Shell and, as the 'sage of the credit crunch', has been correct in his predictions of the present dark economic days and still believes the future looks very bleak. In his keynote address, the nation’s most popular expert on the recession will explain the causes of the economic crisis, its impact on public finances and how we in the public sector should respond.

10.30 am

D1 - Responding to customer needs
Eleanor Gill

Eleanor Gill is an independent consultant who has worked in both the private and public sectors. As Visiting Professor in Consumer Affairs in the University of Ulster and the former Chief Executive of
the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, where she championed the cause of consumers in Northern Ireland, Eleanor is well placed to highlight how public bodies can respond to changing customer needs.

D2 - Strategies of the Serengeti
Stephen Berry

Stephen Berry’s learning from the strategy experts of Africa has been heard in dozens of countries on three continents. Formerly a PLC Finance Director, Stephen unpacks for us some learning from the global experts in organisational strategy – not the authors or academics – but the elephant, giraffe, lion, zebra and others. Each of these animals have something to teach us in our human workplace environments. For example, coping with drought (resource shortage), bringing up the young (talent development) and dealing with threats to the way we lead our pride, herd or clan.

11.15 am - Tea/Coffee

11.45 am

Coping when the chips are down
Monty Halls

Monty Halls is an ocean adventurer, trained marine biologist, expedition leader, author, motivational speaker and star of the BBC's 'Monty Halls' Great Escape'. Monty will explore the unchartered territories of the human animal under stress using tall tales and images to illustrate how we all behave when the chips are down.

1.00 pm - Conference Close and Lunch