We have been very busy at iNetwork closing delivery for the 2021-22 programme and launching the delivery for the coming year. This is an update on some of the people we have said goodbye to in the last year and some of the new individuals that have joined us.
iNetwork Team
In the last year, we have had some changes within the iNetwork team: we said goodbye to Louis Stockwell who has left to pursue his PhD at the University of Warwick. He was replaced by Hannah Gains as the Stakeholder Engagement Manager for the Connected Procurement & Commissioning (CPC) programme. If you have ideas for CPC event topics, or you would like support from the CPC programme, please do not hesitate to reach out to Hannah. Hannah can also be reached via Linkedin and Twitter.
“I am really excited to be joining iNetwork and looking forward to the new challenges and embracing this new experience. My background is in Adult Social Care, and I have worked within Greater Manchester for the past 10 years in this field. I am looking forward to meeting with you all and working with such passionate and talented people! In my spare time, I am an avid gym goer, cat and dog parent and food enthusiast. I am eager to begin this exciting new chapter and support you all in the incredible work you do.”
We also said a fond farewell to longstanding iNetwork team member Catherine O’Neill who had been with us for over 14 years. Cath was hired in the very early days of iNetwork, when the partnership was called North West e-Government Group(NWeGG). Catherine has now retired and we wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors. Tom Hindmarch in his new role as a Stakeholder Engagement Manager replaced Catherine O’Neill as the coordinator for the Transforming & Innovating Public Services (TIPS) programme. Do reach out to Tom if you have any ideas for TIPS event topics or you would like support from the TIPS programme. Tom can also be reached via LinkedIn and Twitter.
“I’m looking forward to getting started and engaging with the membership to further develop the excellent work of iNetwork. I hope to bring some of the expertise, skills and knowledge I have developed over the last few years to this role to explore the key priorities and themes within the TIPS programme. Outside of work I’m an avid endurance runner and cyclist and tend to be found somewhere in the Derbyshire hills. I’m currently training for the Manchester marathon in April of this year, which will be my third marathon. I look forward to meeting you all in the coming months.”
Finally, Project Support Administrator Karys Thompson left for maternity leave in January 2022 and welcomed a beautiful baby boy weeks later. Michael Crewe has replaced Karys in the interim and has been supporting all activities and events across iNetwork. If you would like to get in touch, Mike can be reached via Linkedin.
“I’m so pleased to be a part of the wonderful team at iNetwork and can’t wait to meet and work with the iNetwork members. This is a completely new role for me, having previously worked in primary schools, and before that in design studios, but I’m very much looking forward to learning as much as possible in this role. Outside of work I am a keen musician (specifically a drummer), a writer, tech enthusiast and I enjoy travelling to new places. I am excited to get to know as many of you as possible through my role and look forward to seeing you soon, albeit virtually!”
iNetwork Leadership Groups
As well as changes to our internal team, we have also had a number of changes to our Network Leadership Groups. Individuals that serve on an Network Leadership Group (NLG) or Executive Board support iNetwork in the delivery of the four programme areas across iNetwork, and our sister programme, iStandUK, by providing expertise and guidance to help us set out the yearly priorities.
In 2021-22 the following colleagues stepped down from iNetwork leadership roles. We would like to thank them for their contribution to the partnership:
– John Curtis, Bolton Council on both the Effective Information Sharing & Security (EISS) NLG and iStandUK Board.
– Kevin Draisey, North Yorkshire County Council on the Connected Procurement & Commissioning (CPC) NLG
– Simon Haworth, Wigan Council on the Transforming and Innovating Public Services (TIPS) NLG.
– Carol McDonnell, St Helens Council on the Effective Information Sharing & Security NLG
– Sarah Bullock, St Helens Council on the Transforming and Innovating Public Services (TIPS) NLG.
– Tara Scott, Sefton Council on the Transforming and Innovating Public Services (TIPS) NLG.
“Public Services are under increasing pressure to deliver services with less resources and to transform the way in which they work. I am really happy to have joined the iNetwork Transforming & Innovating Public Services (TIPS) Network Leadership Group (NLG) and which allowed me to look at innovative ways to transform and share real experiences with others”
We are excited to have welcomed the following individuals to our NLG’s and Boards in the last programme year: We look forward to working with them and hearing their ideas going forward:
– Sarah Bullock, Cheshire East Council, has joined iNetwork as a member of the iNetwork Executive Board.
– Toby Hayward Butcher, Ministry of Justice, has joined the iStandUK Executive Board.
– Cath Baguley, Blackpool Council, has joined the Connected Procurement and Commissioning (CPC) NLG.
– Shona Nichols, Scottish Government, has joined the iStandUK Executive Board.
“My role covers data standards, open data and data innovation, within the Digital Directorate, Scottish Government. My work focuses on improving the use of data standards and increasing data maturity in the Scottish public sector, I’m also an advocate for the transformational role that data can play in increasing transparency, empowering communities, transforming products and services, fueling innovation, and improving outcomes”
– Cath Baguley, Blackpool Council, has joined the Connected Procurement and Commissioning (CPC) NLG.
– Lauren Rastall, Sefton Council has joined the Transforming & Innovating Public Services (TIPS) NLG.
– Simon Roberts, Improvement Service, has joined the iStandUK Executive Board.
“My role is all about encouraging those responsible for data in Scottish local gov to make it more accessible and useful and I’m hopeful that we can begin to share learnings and experience with iStandUK to help with those endeavours”
– Cheryl Boland, St Helens Council, has joined the Effective Information Sharing & Security (EISS) NLG.
– Karen Kennedy, Yorkshire & Humber Public Services Network (YHPSN) has joined the Connected Procurement & Commissioning (CPC) NLG.
“Thank you for welcoming me to iNetwork and the CPC Leadership Group. I am from a procurement and contract management background and have worked in both the public and private sectors for 20 years. I work as Partner Relationship and Contract Manager for the Yorkshire and Humber Public Services Network (YHPSN), a collaboration of 62 public sector partners. My work involves finding ways to work collectively for the Yorkshire and Humber Region as well as managing a Framework Contract on behalf of the partnership. We joined iNetwork as a group in 2021 and I have been warmly welcomed into the CPC NLG. I am very much looking forward to two regions supporting each other on our shared challenges and priorities throughout 2022 and seeing that relationship grow further.”
– Phil Christian, Cheshire East Council has joined the Transforming & Innovating Public Services (TIPS) NLG.
– Deborah Gaunt, Calderdale Council, has joined the Connected Procurement and Commissioning (CPC) NLG.
“We’ve always found iNetwork such a useful connection, with a strong engagement in sharing knowledge. I’m not sure where we’d be on our social value journey without iNetwork– that’s moving on at a rate of knots now!”
– Linda Russo, Wigan Council has joined the Transforming & Innovating Public Services (TIPS) NLG.
– Delphine Fitouri, Bradford District Care NHS FT, has joined both the iNetwork Executive Board and the Transforming & Innovating Public Services (TIPS) NLG.
“I am currently working for Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust as the Head of Informatics, basically covering IT, Clinical systems, Information Governance and anything falling under the digital banner. I am also currently the Vice Chair for the Yorkshire and Humber Public Service Network (YH PSN in short), a partnership of just over 60 organisations that includes NHS, Local Authorities as well as other public services such as Police across the region. Joining iNetwork is a way to further expand my network into the North of England, share best practice, knowledge and experience and to try to effectively tackle common issues from one perspective: our population (or however people may define them: citizen, patient, service user, end user, staff, etc).”
– Jon Learoyd, Yorkshire and Humber Public Services Network (YHPSN) has joined the iNetwork Executive Board.
– Yunus Mayat, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, has joined the Effective Information Sharing and Security (EISS) NLG.
– Stephen Curtis, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, has joined the Transforming & Innovating Public Services (TIPS) NLG.
“It is a real privilege to be joining the EISS NLG, I see information sharing and security as a major tool in our IT arsenal especially as we rely more and more on IT for services we provided to our citizens and it is key that we keep the data and information of our customers secure and have the necessary security wrapper around when the unthinkable happens, I am really looking forward and working with likeminded people and taking the EISS NLG from strength to strength.”
“I have been working with iNetwork for many years in various capacities. iNetwork does an amazing job of building professional networks and helping us to collaborate, innovate and influence in order to drive better public services. As Digital Lead for East Riding of Yorkshire Council, I’m delighted to be joining the TIPS Network Leadership Group and helping to further develop the role that iNetwork plays in the digital transformation world.”
We value all the senior staff managers that take the time to support iNetwork via the Network Leadership Groups. You can view all the members of all programmes on our leaders page. If you would like to get involved and find out further information on how to join a NLG please get in touch.