Socitm 09

Sara Coburn began her career as a researcher for Radio 4's The World at One and The World this Weekend, and then moved over to Channel 4's Business Daily. When Business Breakfastbegan, Sara was engaged as producer and then took to presenting. She also acted as editor with full responsibility for the content. Currently presenting BBC Breakfast and News 24 business output, Sara's tasks range from studio presentation to interviews and live outside broadcasts. She also co-hosted the personal finance programme Its Your Moneywith Declan Curry and Tanya Beckett.

Geoff Mulgan had various roles in the UK government between 1997 and 2004, including Director of the Government's Strategy Unit and Head of Policy in the Prime Minister's Office. He was closely involved in the design and implementation of programmes in social policy, welfare, health, education and technology. Currently he is Director of the Young Foundation, renowned for its work in social innovation. The organisation researches unmet needs in health, education, housing and cities and develops practical initiatives and institutions to address them. Geoff was the founder and director of the think-tank Demos and has also been chief adviser to the then Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown; a consultant and lecturer in telecommunications; an investment executive, and a journalist. He began his career in local government in London.

Adrian Joseph is Managing Director of Google Enterprise, EMEA. He joined Google over three years ago with 15 years blue chip sales, marketing and supply chain experience gained within industry and management consultancy. Prior to Google, he spent six years at Ford Motor Company, was a Principal Consultant at A.T Kearney, and was the main Board Director for Trafficmaster Plc where he was responsible for group Sales and Marketing. Adrian is passionate about leveraging technology to deliver great customer value through efficiency improvements and the introduction of new working practices via online collaboration tools.

Elma Murray became Chief Executive designate of North Ayrshire Council in June, and takes up the full role from 1 September 2009. She has already embarked on an ambitious change programme with a whole Council review of service provision. Previous roles have included Deputy Director of Financial Services and then Head of Organisational Change and HR at Glasgow City Council; Computer Services Manager at Strathclyde Police; and Head of IT Services at North Ayrshire Council. Her recent work in Glasgow included the creation of a Joint Venture for ICT and Property Services and Limited Liability Partnerships for Building Services and Catering, Cleaning and Home Care.

Jason Lowther is Director of Policy and Delivery, Birmingham City Council where he is responsible for strategic policy, performance management, customer insight, the local strategic partnership, leadership and council development, and service improvement activities. He joined Birmingham in 2004 after a decade at the Audit Commission in a wide variety of roles, including managing all "value for money" work on local public sector organisations in the Midlands. Jason has a degree in statistics and economics, an MSc and an MBA. His working life started in the Metropolitan Police, he then worked in the banking sector on customer behavioural modelling, before joining the Audit Commission.

Robina Chatham is author of Corporate Politics for IT Managers: How to get Streetwise. As the title suggests, the book examines problems that undermine IT Managers' power and influence in their organizations and prevent them from obtaining a seat on the board. The book draws on her own career in IT during which she rose to become European IT Director for a leading merchant bank. In 1996 Robina joined Cranfield School of Management as a Lecturer in Management Information Systems where she created the life changing programme Organisational Politics and IT Management. Robina now runs her own training company and is also a Visiting Fellow at Cranfield School of Management.

Su Sayer is Chief Executive at United Response, an organisation she co-founded in 1973. It is now in the top 100 charities, with over 2000 staff providing a range of services for people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and physical disabilities across England and Wales. Working with around 1.500 individuals at any one time, its activities range from supporting people in their own homes to enabling access to training and work opportunities. Su has wide experience in the voluntary sector: she was Chair of ACEVO for three years and has served on the Boards of several Government bodies and a range of charities including Save the Children and NCVO.  She has been piloting virtual visiting with people with learning disabilities or mental health needs over the last 18 months.

Neill Hocking is Director Infrastructure & Technology at the City of Whittlesea - a progressive, growth municipality 20 km north of the Melbourne CBD, in Australia. He leads a Directorate responsible for the delivery of a number of major building and civic infrastructure projects. He has guided the organisation through a number of Business Improvement Projects, project managed the implementation of Council's IT Software Solutions, overseen innovative GPS/Mobile Computing pilot projects and introduced a Business Process Mapping and Review program. Neill is a qualified Engineer and Company Director with over 20 years working at a senior management level.Neill is the Chair of the Victorian Local Government ICT Committee that represents the 79 Victorian Councils.