The National Rural Conference 2023

Conference Schedule:

Monday 18th September

10:00 - 11:00

Rural Fair Funding

• Derek Thomas MP, MP for St Ives and Chair of the APPG for Rural Services
  View Derek Thomas' biography here
  
  
• Kerry Booth, Chief Executive, Rural Services Network
  "Facts, Figures and Formulas - An easy solution to Rural Unfair Funding"
  View Kerry Booth's biography here
  
  
• Cllr Roger Phillips, Chair of the Rural Services Network, Rural Services Network / Herefordshire Council
  "Impact of unfair funding on Rural Councils"
  View Roger Phillips' biography here
  

13:30 - 15:30

Rural Economy, Levelling Up & Regeneration

• Cllr Roger Phillips, Chair of the Rural Services Network, Rural Services Network / Herefordshire Council
  View Roger Phillips' biography here
  
  
• Philip Clifford, Senior Advisor, LGA
  "The potential of the Rural Economy"
  View Philip Clifford's biography here
  
  
• Paul Wood, Head of Economic Development and Regeneration, East Suffolk Council
  "Delivering Rural Development in East Suffolk"
  View Paul Wood's biography here
  
  
• Professor Stephen Roper, Co Director, National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE)
  "Unlocking the power of rural business: Opportunities for positive policies"
  View Professor Stephen Roper's biography here

Tuesday 19th September

10:00 - 12:00

Rural Affordable Housing

• Kerry Booth, Chief Executive, Rural Services Network
  View Kerry Booth's biography here
  
  
• Kevin Garvey, Head of Member Relations, National Housing Federation
  "Understanding the challenges and opportunities for rural affordable housing delivery"
  View Kevin Garvey's biography here
  
  
• Helen Fielding, Director of Development and Investment, Broadacres Housing Association
  "Challenges facing rural housing associations"
  View Helen Fielding's biography here
  
  
• Alex Rehaag, Principle Affordable Housing Officer, South Hams District Council and West Devon Borough Council & Christine Phillipson, Chairman, Newton and Noss Community Land Trust
  "Delivering rural housing to suit all - A Different Approach"
  View Alex Rehaag's biography here
  View Christine Phillipson's biography here
  

Wednesday 20th September

10:00 - 12:00

Rural Net Zero

• Cllr Roger Phillips, Chair of the Rural Services Network, Rural Services Network / Herefordshire Council
  View Roger Phillips' biography here
  
  
• Ella Pinder, Vulnerability Policy Manager, Northern Powergrid
  "Decarbonising the rural grid: challenges and opportunities for network operators"
  View Ella Pinder's biography here
  
  
• Cecily Spelling, Membership Programme Manager, UK100
  "The Future of Rural Local Net Zero"
  View Cecily Spelling's biography here
  
  
• Will Taylor, Senior Low Carbon Consultant, Gemserv
  "Green Skills for the Rural Economy"
  View Will Taylor's biography here
  

13:30 - 15:30

Rural Connectivity

• Simon Fell MP, MP for Barrow and Furness and Rural Connectivity Champion
  View Simon Fell's biography here
  
  
• The Rt Hon Lord Benyon, Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
  View Lord Benyon's biography here
  
  
• Lucy Baker, All IP Director, BT
  "Digital switchover of telephone lines"
  View Lucy Baker's biography here

• Bryn Jones, Shared Rural Network Director, Digital Mobile Spectrum
  "Improving mobile connectivity in rural areas"
  View Bryn Jones' biography here
  
  
• Mike Jones, Chief Operating Officer, SWS Broadband
  "The importance of altnets in levelling up the UK"
  View Mike Jones's biography here
  

Thursday 21st September

10:00 - 12:00

Rural Health & Care

• Philip Dunne MP, MP for Ludlow and Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee
  View Philip Dunne's biography here
  
  
• Professor Stuart Maitland-Knibb, Professor, National Centre for Remote and Rural Medicine
  "Air Ambulance a rural lifeline"
  View Professor Stuart Maitland-Knibb's biography here
  
  
• Kira McDiarmid, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer, National Rural Mental Health Forum
  "Rural Mental Health: the Impact of the Cost-of-Living Crisis"
  View Kira McDiarmid's biography here
  
  
• Jan Sobieraj, Chair of the National Centre for Rural Health and Care
  "National Policy on NHS Workforce and Major Health Conditions"
  View Jan Sobieraj's biography here

13.30-15.30

Rural Transport

• Selaine Saxby MP, MP for North Devon, Rural Services APPG Transport Lead
  View Selaine Saxby's biography here
  
  
• John Birtwistle, Head of Policy, First Bus
  “The renaissance of the rural bus”
  View John Birtwistle's biography here
  
  
• Xavier Brice, Chief Executive, England, NI & Wales, Sustrans
  "Rural Transport: Ideas and examples for supporting rural active travel"
  View Xavier Brice's biography here
  
  
• Caroline Whitney, Director for England, Community Transport Association
  "Rural Community Transport: challenges and opportunities"
  View Caroline Whitney's biography here
  

Feedback from previous RSN conferences:

"The range of topics and speakers, and the interactivity of the sessions across the week at this conference, has been not only illuminating, but also friendly and inclusive. Thank you to everyone." 

Mrs Lois Dale – Shropshire Council

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"Thank you everyone for organising a thoughtful and engaging conference covering a broad range of themes and current issues."

Conrad Moore - Stroud District Council

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"It is a fantastic conference that takes a holistic approach by looking at the urban as well as the rural. They are two part of the same coin and can't been seen in isolation. A lot of thought has gone into the selection of Speakers and the messaging is on point. It seems that there is a great team driving this event that is really approachable in tone."

Kay Sentence - Thame Community Land Trust

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"It was a great opportunity to share experiences and ideas and what others are doing."

Stephen Brain - Worcestershire County Council

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"I very much liked that it was online as I wouldn't have been able to attend otherwise. Very interesting presentations and I would certainly attend again if circumstances allow. Thank you to everyone for organising this event."

Janice McColm - Tees Valley Rural Action