Party Conferences 2025
Join FGF at this year’s Labour and Liberal Democrat Party Conferences
Overview
This year, FGF will be heading to Labour and Liberal Democrat Party Conferences with a packed programme of events. With the support of our partners, we’ll be hosting a series of fringes exploring the biggest political and delivery challenges facing the government and the country. We'll also be joining forces with the Good Growth Foundation for a Monday night drinks reception at Labour Conference. Explore our full programme below.
To receive updates, subscribe to FGF's newsletter here. For enquiries, please email [email protected].
Labour Party Conference
Sunday 28th September
Rebuilding the Nation: Unlocking the power of pensions for British infrastructure, industry and individuals
Pension reform is a central plank of the government’s mission to grow the economy, with changes underway to unlock new investment in infrastructure and fast-growing firms while delivering strong returns for savers.
But do these reforms go far enough? And how can government work together with the sector to make them a success? Join us as we bring together political figures, experts, and industry leaders to help shape the next chapter of UK pension reform.
Speakers:
James Purnell, former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (confirmed)
Kitty Ussher, Economist and former Treasury and Work and Pensions minister (confirmed)
Callum Anderson MP, Member of the Pension Scheme Bill Committee (confirmed)
James Kirkup, Pensions expert and former Director of the Social Market Foundation (confirmed)
Nathan Yeowell, Executive Director, The Future Governance Forum and Chair of the Greater Gwent Pension Fund
Julia Goldsworthy, Head of Social Impact Investment, Legal and General and former MP for Falmouth & Camborne (Chair)
Partnering for Progress: Funding the next generation of UK infrastructure
The government’s Infrastructure Strategy set out a bold 10-year vision for rebuilding Britain's crumbling public realm after years of neglect, and getting our country fit for the future. Achieving that vision will require public and private sectors working in partnership.
Our panel will explore what this looks like in practice, and what we can learn from the models developed by other Labour administrations, such as those in Wales and Australia.
Speakers:
Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands (confirmed)
Zoe Watters, Infrastructure expert (confirmed)
Richard Osborne, Head of Europe, Plenary Group (confirmed)
Chair: Matt Bevington, Policy Associate, The Future Governance Forum
More speakers to be announced.
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This event is kindly supported by Plenary.
Labour, Populism, and the Future of Asylum
With record numbers crossing the Channel by small boat, hundreds of asylum hotels, and a groundbreaking new deal with France, fixing the UK’s asylum system remains a top priority for the government. But will Labour’s approach deliver the change needed, at a time of increasing public concern and growing populism?
Join us as we bring together political figures, experts and leading thinkers to discuss the challenging politics of migration and the opportunities for bold reform.
Speakers:
Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire (confirmed)
Christabel Cooper, Director of Research, Labour Together (confirmed)
Nick Lowles, founder and Chief Executive, Hope Not Hate (confirmed)
Enver Soloman, Chief Executive, Refugee Council (confirmed)
Beth Gardiner-Smith, Senior Policy Associate, The Future Governance Forum (confirmed)
Chair: Rachel Sylvester, Political Editor, The Observer (confirmed)
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Tea, coffee and light refreshments will be served.
Restoring Trust, Rebuilding Britain: The Future Governance Forum and Edelman drinks reception
The Future Governance Forum and Edelman, the UK’s leading public affairs agency, invite you to kick off Conference with drinks, conversation, and a shared focus on how we can restore trust together.
Public trust in the UK is at an all-time low, with fewer than one in three people expressing trust in government. Join us as we bring together leading figures from business, politics and civil society to explore how Labour in power can win that trust back – by improving lives and showing that government can be a force for lasting change.
Speakers:
James Murray MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury (confirmed)
Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (confirmed)
Kirsty McNeill MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland (confirmed)
Alice Macdonald MP, Member of Parliament for Norwich North (confirmed)
Adam Terry, Deputy Director, The Future Governance Forum
Wes Ball, Senior Vice President, Edelman
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Drinks will be served.
This event is by invitation only.
Monday 29th September
Powering Places: How the industrial strategy can deliver nationwide renewal
The government’s new industrial strategy promises to deliver growth in every part of the country, but how can that ambition become reality?
With insights from policymakers, metro mayors and business leaders, join FGF, the Growth and Reform Network and Equinix as we discuss how to move from strategy to delivery. We’ll look at where action is most needed to unlock prosperity, ensure security and rebuild trust and hope in every region of the UK.
Speakers:
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England (confirmed)
Antonia Bance MP, Member of Parliament for Tipton and Wednesbury and member of the Business and Trade Select Committee (confirmed)
Alex Bevan, former Chief of Staff to the Welsh First Minister, Research Fellow, The Future Governance Forum (confirmed)
James Tyler, UK Managing Director, Equinix (confirmed)
Chair: Annabel Smith, Director, Growth and Reform Network (confirmed)
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Tea, coffee and Danish pastries will be served.
Strength and Security for All: How the defence industrial strategy can generate jobs and growth across the country
With the world increasingly unstable, the government has committed to increase defence spending and “revitalise our industrial base”. This recognises that the Defence Industrial Strategy is an opportunity to create decent, well-paid and unionised jobs in areas of the country left behind by the unmanaged deindustrialisation of the 1980s. But this won’t happen automatically; it requires targeted, strategic intervention by the state. Our expert panel will consider how we combine national security with economic prosperity.
Speakers:
Kevin Bonavia MP, Member of Parliament for Stevenage (confirmed)
Paul Mason, Aneurin Bevan Associate Fellow in Defence and Resilience, Council on Geostrategy (confirmed)
Adam Forgiel-Jenkins, Managing Director, Government Relations, BAE Systems (confirmed)
Nathan Yeowell, Executive Director, The Future Governance Forum
Chair: Esther Webber, Senior Foreign and Defence Correspondent, POLITICO Europe (confirmed)
More speakers to be announced.
Test, Learn and Grow: What do the Trailblazers tell us about public service reform?
Government launched its Test, Learn and Grow programme in January 2025 working with ‘Trailblazer’ areas in Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool and Essex. Join FGF and Newton to consider what we have learnt so far, bringing insight from Sheffield City Council, who are leading a mission-driven approach, together with a city-wide coalition, and are determined to pivot public services towards prevention. We will consider how we scale this to support wider public service reform and how national government, local government and communities can collaborate on more personalised and preventative services.
Speakers:
Georgia Gould MP, Minister of State, Department for Education (confirmed)
Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire (confirmed)
Cllr Tom Hunt, Leader of Sheffield City Council (confirmed)
Sarah Gillinson, Chief Executive, Innovation Unit (confirmed)
Haf Ramzan, Programme Manager, Changing Futures (confirmed)
Chair: Darra Singh OBE, Strategy Partner, Newton Europe, former Chief Executive of Job Centre Plus and Ealing and Luton Councils (confirmed)
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Tea and coffee will be served.
The Future Governance Forum and Good Growth Foundation Reception
Dubbed the ‘upstart’ think tanks by Politico’s Playbook, The Future Governance Forum and Good Growth Foundation represent the future of dynamic think tanks working at the heart of progressive British politics. Our joint reception – kindly supported by TikTok – will bring together the worlds of politics, policy and philanthropy to celebrate a year of Labour in office and explore how we renew the country through a stronger, fairer economy and a revitalised state.
Speakers:
Liz Kendall MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (confirmed)
Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (confirmed)
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire (confirmed)
Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire (confirmed)
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council (confirmed)
Praful Nargund, Director, Good Growth Foundation
Nathan Yeowell, Executive Director, The Future Governance Forum
Ali Law, Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs, TikTok
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Drinks and canapés will be served.
This event is by invitation only.
Tuesday 30th September
The Government’s Safer Streets Mission: From ambition to action
Tackling society’s toughest challenges requires bold, cross-sector collaboration. In partnership with Mitie, this session will explore how innovative public-private partnerships can transform Labour’s safer streets mission from ambition to action. Our expert panel will explore topics such as protecting shop workers, reducing retail crime, and improving safety for employees and the public. Discover how aligning the strengths of government, business, and civil society can reduce harm and boost local economies, helping to deliver safer communities.
Speakers:
Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester and lead on Safer and Stronger Communities (confirmed)
Lib Peck, Director of the Mayor of London's Violence Reduction Unit (confirmed)
Clare Moody, Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset (confirmed)
Barrie Millett, Director of Assurance and Corporate Security, Mitie (confirmed)
Chair: Dr Sara Hyde, Chair of the Fabian Society, Labour Councillor and criminal justice expert
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Tea, coffee and Danish pastries will be served.
Connected Britain: Building a transport system that powers regional growth
As the government brings rail back into public ownership, devolves more power over buses to local leaders and drafts a new Integrated National Transport Strategy, we explore how to create a transport system that drives regional growth, reduces emissions and expands opportunity.
Panellists will examine how to design infrastructure that is integrated, responsive and built to last, delivering not just mobility but real economic renewal across the UK.
Speakers:
Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Welsh Government (confirmed)
Ben Plowden, Chief Executive, Campaign for Better Transport (confirmed)
Angie Doll, CEO, Govia-Thameslink (confirmed)
Chair: Dan Corry, Chief Economist, The Future Governance Forum
More speakers to be announced.
How to Deliver Change that Works: Turning policy into delivery
As Keir Starmer reaffirms Labour’s priorities and sets out his ambitions for the year ahead, join The Future Governance Forum and Public Digital to explore how his government can translate those ambitions into action – and why the state itself must adapt to make it happen.
In the wake of the Leader’s speech, we will explore what it really takes to deliver radical policy change in an age of mass technological and social disruption. An expert panel of political leaders, former senior civil servants, and digital transformation specialists will share lessons from working on some of the biggest public policy challenges facing the government and the country.
Speakers:
Josh Simons MP, Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office (confirmed)
Helen MacNamara, Chair, The Future Governance Forum and former Deputy Cabinet Secretary (confirmed)
Cllr Tom Hunt, Leader of Sheffield City Council (confirmed)
Lara Sampson, Partner at Public Digital (confirmed)
Chair: Ben Terett, CEO and Founder, Public Digital (confirmed)
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Drinks will be served.
Prosperity through Partnership Drinks Reception
As Conference draws to a close, The Future Governance Forum and Vanguard bring together business and politics around a shared mission to strengthen Britain’s economy.
Speakers:
Lucy Rigby MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury (City Minister) (confirmed)
Nathan Yeowell, Executive Director, The Future Governance Forum
Ben Summers, Head of Personal Investment in Europe, Vanguard
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Drinks will be served.
Liberal Democrat Party Conference
Sunday 21st – Monday 22nd September
A Precarious Progressive Moment: Constructive opposition in the age of populism
Speakers:
Sir Vince Cable, former Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Business Secretary
Josh Babarinde MP, Member of Parliament for Eastbourne
Nathan Yeowell, Executive Director, The Future Governance Forum
Chair: Cllr Lucy Nethsingha, Chair of the LGA Liberal Democrat Group
Partnering for Jobs and Growth: How Whitehall and town hall can work better together
Speakers:
Vikki Slade MP, Liberal Democrat Local Government Spokesperson
Cllr Gareth Roberts, Leader of the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames and London Assembly member for South West London
Hamida Ali, Head of Learning and Practice, The Future Governance Forum
Chair: Cllr Heather Kidd, Leader of Shropshire Council
More speakers to be announced.
For enquiries, please email us at [email protected].
To receive updates on our Conference programme and hear about upcoming FGF work, join our mailing list. Or follow us on Bluesky @futuregovforum.bsky.social, X @futuregovforum or LinkedIn at The Future Governance Forum (FGF).
Our Conference programme would not be possible without the generous support of the following organisations:
