Exciting new year, sharp new format – and game-changing new ideas from LeadersPlus Cohort 6, as five graduating candidates presented their ‘most feasible’ Proposals for Greater Manchester to an audience that can help make them happen. The event was graciously hosted by JLL, whose Head of North West Jonny Weidemann kicked off proceedings.
As proof of the impact these cross-sector leaders have, GMCA Chief Executive Caroline Simpson cited two 2025 proposals being taken forward: one on child poverty alleviation, which will become part of GM’s role as the National Prevention Demonstrator, and another on innovative delivery for rain gardens across GM, with pilots getting underway in Manchester – you can see those below.
For this stellar cohort, we invited candidates to make individual presentations on the theme of Resilience – however they interpreted that – using a challenging timed format. All candidates had the opportunity to pitch to peers, mentors and Future Leaders candidates before Christmas, and those audiences voted on the top six to take forward. Sadly, the Jan 15th audience didn’t see the Good Development Charter proposed by GMCA Strategic Lead for Growtn & Delivery Kirsteen Armitage since she’d been whisked away, but please ask her about it! Here are the ones we saw on the day:
Aleksandra Bardon, Strategic Lead for Young People & Families, Manchester City Council – Children in Manchester face some of the poorest health outcomes in the UK and inequalities are widening, impacting the population for years to come. Children’s health is influenced by their environment: the quality of housing, access to green and blue spaces, air quality, and access to healthy and un-healthy food. I propose a formal assessment process to ensure that new developments of all kinds consider children’s right to health, leisure, play, safety and voice.
Liz Jones, Development Manager, Manchester Community Central – Service providers and policymakers know that hearing the perspectives of all is key to delivering services and policies that work, and if the perspectives they hear are only those of the empowered, engagement serves to further marginalise. The time is right to bring marginalised voices to the table. One way to increase access is by enabling people receiving benefits to be compensated for their time and insight without risking their income.
Sharon Weetman, Head of Youth Employment & Delivery, GMCA – My proposal reimagines the youth employment system: instead of simply engaging with young people, we empower them as decision-makers and commissioners. By embedding youth-led leadership and co-design, we set the stage for sustained success, succession, and economic resilience. This unlocks fresh perspectives, drives innovation, and ensures the system truly meets young people’s needs: a thriving ecosystem where youth shape their futures — and GM’s prosperity.
WINNER OF THE AUDIENCE VOTE!
Natalie Leung, Associate Planner, Arup – Picture a home once full of family life, now quieter as children have left. In GM, 780,000+ older adults live in these homes, but many find their homes don’t support healthy ageing, leading to isolation. Many want to move, yet only 3.4% a year downsize, hindered by market and procedural barriers. Facilitating downsizing could release tens of thousands of family homes. My proposal encourages “younger olds” to move while they’re able and prepared. The aim is to offer accessible and community-rooted choices to encourage active ageing and strengthen community resilience to demographic change.
Lauren Whitworth, Assistant Director, Acquisitions & Partnering, Homes England – Imagine a government programme with the speed, price certainty, and customer-first ethos of a household brand — only it’s land that’s changing hands. With a few clicks, forgotten plots and fragmented ownerships become opportunity. Communities benefit from faster regeneration, new homes, and reimagined spaces. The magic lies in the simplicity: trusted branding meets transformative potential. Funding? It’s there, quietly working behind the scenes. Delivery? Seamless. Partnerships? Formed not by force, but by shared ambition.
The Proposals event started and ended with time for candidates, mentors and guests to catch up over refreshments, and we’ll celebrate with just the cohort in February. See below for the full list of candidates and mentors – and get in touch for info on any of the proposals or on Leaders Plus itself.
2025 group proposals being adopted:
💧 “Rain Guarden” – Neighbourhood-level floodproofing, with a revolving fund powered by Biodiversity Net Gain development contributions (the audience winner). Team: Victoria Carr, Homes England; Melanie Cook, Manchester City Council; Andrew Leigh, Liverpool City Council; Grace Pagani, Arup.
🚶♂️➡️🚶♂️➡️🚶♂️➡️ Child Poverty Alleviation Hub – With *1 in 3* GM children living in poverty, the Hub would share evidence, collaborate better and apply a child-focused lens to all devolution pillars, for better outcomes and government leverage. Team: Anna Bevington, Arup; James Collier, Manchester City Council; Catherine Connors, Salford City Council; Lucy Lovatt, Homes England; Jo Moon, Barnardo’s.
Congratulations to all our graduates!
- Shanara Abdin – Public Health Service Lead, Wigan Council
- Kirsteen Armigate – Delivery Manager -> Strategic Lead Growth & Delivery, GMCA
- Aleksandra Bardon – Strategic Lead for Children, Young People & Families, Manchester City Council
- Richard Dowdall – Regional Director, Civic
- Emma Handby – Head of Resident Services, Stockport Council > Head of Customer Service, Liverpool City Region CA
- Liz Jones – GM Older People’s Network Development Manager, Manchester Community Central
- Vandhna Kohli – Assistant Director Finance Place Directorate, Manchester City Council
- Natalie Leung – Associate Town Planner, Arup
- Vicki Palmer – Senior Associate, Trowers & Hamlins
- Zabina Rahman – Assistant Director Strategy & Transformatin, NHS GM
- Gill Roberts – Senior Social Value Manager, Morgan Sindall
- Jo Smith – Strategic Construction Lead, Stockport Council
- Tamsin Traill – Regeneration Director, Kajima Partnership
- Alex Vogel – Senior Development Manager, Muse Places
- Sharon Weetman – Head of Youth Employment & Delivery, GMCA
- Lauren Whitworth – Assistant Director, Acquisitions & Partnering, Homes England
Thanks to our fantastic Round 6 mentors!
- Rukhsana Anwar – Partner, Trowers & Hamlins
- Caroline Baker – Partner, North West, Cushman & Wakefield
- Suzanne Benson – Partner & National Head of Real Estate, Trowers & Hamlins
- Matthew Bulmer – Project Director Sportstown & Northern Roots, Oldham Council
- Chris Cheap – Principal & Managing Director, Transactions, Avison Young
- Susie Cuthill – Head of Networks, Future of Greater Manchester
- Angela Harrington – Director, Inclusive Growth, Manchester City Council
- John Herring – Director of Organisational Development & Culture, NHS GM
- Nicola Kane – Director, Steer; Chair, Transport Planning Society
- Max King – Director, Project Management, Clarion Latimer
- Stephen O’Malley – Chief Executive, Civic
- Kathryn Perry – Assistant Director Housing Services, Wigan Council
- Paul Richards – Deputy Chief Executive, Stockport Council
- Graham Ritchie – Commercial Banking Director – Commercial Real Estate, MetroBank
- Neil Walmsley – UK/Europe Managing Director, Hatch Urban Solutions
- Ruth Welford – Assistant Director, Special Projects, Barnardo’s
For info on LeadersPlus 7 (a waitlist is open, or ask about 2027) or FutureLeaders (March intake has a few spaces left), please contact collette@futureofgreatermanchester.com.
Our thanks to excellent photographer Fiona Finchett: a great eye and a pleasure to work with!
Thanks to all who attended in January, to the generous and insightful mentors who support Future of GM rising talent; and to Leaders partners and champions Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Trowers & Hamlins, Arup and Coherent Cities.
