Future Leaders 3 brought together ambitious mid-to-senior leaders, partners and place-shapers from across Greater Manchester on 26th February to tackle one of the most pressing questions facing the region: how do we build genuine crisis resilience? Kindly hosted by Rider Levett Bucknall, the event marked the final assignment for this impressive cohort and the proposals pitched left attendees feeling energised!
Proposals for GM is the culmination of the six-month Future Leaders programme, designed to push candidates out of their professional comfort zone and make a persuasive, cross-sector case for change. This cohort’s theme Crisis Resilience drew on everything from housing and energy to planning and community infrastructure, and the breadth of ideas reflected just how wide that challenge really is. Four teams presented, and the audience voted on which proposal they’d most like to see taken forward.
Care Leavers Hub: Catherine Flynn (TfGM), Paula Green (Oldham Council), Jordan Guy (Arup), Gaynor Shuker (Guinness Partnership)
Addressing a critical gap in the UK housing crisis, this proposal sets out a tailored pathway for young people leaving care who are at risk of homelessness. Purpose-built homes within the community would support a gradual transition from communal to fully independent living, backed by wraparound support for skills, services and long-term stability.
Atom Valley Resilience Framework: Georgina Bottomley (Rochdale Development Agency), Sarah Richards (Hill Break), Megan Lawless (Manchester City Council), Christopher Milward (Wigan Council), Nicola Ward (GMCA)
An ambitious innovation region is emerging across Bury, Oldham and Rochdale and this team argued that resilience must be baked into its foundations, not bolted on afterwards. Their Crisis Resilience Framework for Atom Valley offers a comprehensive approach to placemaking that supports communities to not just cope with crises, but thrive.
Vacant to Vibrant:Russell Croker (Trafford Council), Sara Duckett (Manchester City Council), Aimée Harrison (Identity Consult), Amanda Youlden (Oldham Council)
Across GM, empty homes sit unused while families face rising costs, cold housing, and climate uncertainty. This framework brings together councils, housing associations, local builders, universities and communities to transform vacant properties into warm, affordable, net-zero homes creating skilled local jobs and cutting energy bills for good. Piloted at borough level and designed to scale, it makes the case that Greater Manchester can lead the UK in building a fair, low-carbon future from the homes we already have.
WINNER OF THE AUDIENCE VOTE: Spark Change ⚡
Natasha Bernard (Groundwork Greater Manchester), Aisling McCourt (GMCA), Martin Smith (Wigan Council), Mason Smith (Rider Levett Bucknall)
Spark Change is a community-owned neighbourhood microgrid designed to boost local energy resilience, lower household costs and support decarbonisation. Using shared battery infrastructure to absorb grid stress and keep power flowing during outages, it protects vulnerable households from tipping into crisis when energy systems fail. Built to be scalable and replicable, it offers a practical, people-first model for communities everywhere to gain greater control over their energy security.
Congratulations to all our graduates!
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Natasha Bernard – Employment Manager, Groundwork Greater Manchester
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Georgina Bottomley – Programme Manager (Regeneration), Rochdale Development Agency
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Russell Croker – Major Planning Projects Officer, Trafford Council
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Sara Duckett – Strategic Community Safety Lead, Manchester City Council
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Catherine Flynn – Senior Bus Governance and Corporate Planning Manager, Transport for Greater Manchester
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Jordan Guy – Senior Town Planner, Arup
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Aimée Harrison – Senior Consultant, Identity Consult
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Megan Lawless – Senior Digital Strategy Officer, Manchester City Council
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Aisling McCourt – Head of Housing Growth and Net Zero, GMCA
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Christopher Milward – Service Manager, Wigan Council
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Sarah Richards – Senior Consultant, Hill Break
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Gaynor Shuker – Senior Development Manager, Guinness Partnership
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Martin Smith – Environmental Officer, Wigan Council
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Mason Smith – Senior Associate, Rider Levett Bucknall
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Nicola Ward – Principal Policy & Strategy for Live Well, GMCA
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Amanda Youlden – Post 16 Lead, Oldham Council
Thanks to our fantastic Round 3 mentors!
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Jemma Billing – Associate Director of Nursing, Quality & Safeguarding, NHS GM ICB
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Mike Cunliffe – Work & Skills Lead, Manchester City Council
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Simon Donohue – Associate Director, SEC Newgate
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Katie Day – Deputy Chief Executive, Transport for the North
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Luke Green – Head of Capital, Design & Technical, Stockport Council
- Aly Heald – Partnerships Director, L&Q
- Ernst Ter Horst – Director, MCAU Architects
- Najwa Jawahar – Associate Director – Design Management, WSP
- Chithra Marsh – Director, Buttress Architects
- Kate Martyn – Director – Heritage Consultant, Donald Insall Associates
- Bethan McCaw – Assistant Director – Place, GMCA
- Deborah Murray – Executive Director, Groundwork GM
- Sarah Renshaw – Director, MCAU Architects
- Tony Shepherd – Assistant Director for Education & Early Years, Oldham Council
- Helen Spencer – Executive Director of Growth, Great Places
- Caroline Todd – Director of People, Civic
- Fiona Tuck – Director, Metro Dynamics
Huge thanks to everyone who attended, to the candidates for their creativity and commitment, and to our Leaders Programme sponsors: GMCA, Trowers & Hamlins, Arup and Coherent Cities — and to event host Rider Levett Bucknall.
Interested in joining the next round of Future Leaders? Contact collette@futureofgreatermanchester.com.
