Programme content is under development. 
Programme content may change at short notice subject to speaker availability.
Seating at sessions is available on a first come, first served basis.

Hosted by Jeremy Vine, distinguished broadcaster and journalist

Panellists comprise:

Lord Victor Adebowale, Chief Executive, Turning Point
Andrew Cozens, Local Government Group Strategic Lead,
Adult Social Care and Health, Local Government Association
Professor Corinne May-Chahal, Interim Co-Chair, College of Social Work
Bronagh Miskelly, Group Editor, Community Care
Annetta Bennett, Safeguarding & Development Director, Transitional Plus Care
Emily Thornberry MP, Shadow Minister for Care Services

SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES:

LORD VICTOR ADEBOWALE has been Chief Executive of Turning Point since 2001 and has more than 25 years’ experience in the health, social care and housing sectors. Turning Point is a leading social care organisation, providing services for people with complex needs, including those affected by drug and alcohol misuse, mental health problems and those with a learning disability. He was awarded the CBE for services to the New Deal, the unemployed and homeless young people. He was appointed a cross bench peer in 2001.

ANDREW COZENS CBE is Strategic Adviser (Children, Adults and Health Services) for Local Government Improvement and Development (formerly I&DeA) and a member of its Executive Leadership Team. In this role he advises central and local government and partner agencies in relation to children’s services, adult social care, public health and local government’s relationship with the NHS. He also is the LG Group’s Strategic Lead for Adult Social Care, managing the whole Group’s activity in this area. He also oversees the Agency’s work on culture and sport, and its relationship with the Centre for Public Scrutiny. Before joining IDeA in 2006, he spent ten years as director of social services in Gloucestershire and Leicester City. He also was Deputy Chief Executive for Leicester City Council from 2001-5. He was President of the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) in 2003/4.

CORINNE MAY-CHAHAL is Interim Co-Chair of the College of Social Work and Professor of Applied Social Science at Lancaster University where she teaches on undergraduate and post graduate social work qualification programmes. She is a past member of the Family Justice Council and a current member of the Munro Review Reference Group with a background of research, education and practice in social work spanning over 30 years.

BRONAGH MISKELLY is the Group Editor of Community Care. She has previously edited GP newspaper, the weekly for family doctors, for several years as well as doctors’ monthly Medeconomics and Enterprise magazine for entrepreneurial businesses. Bronagh, who started her working life as a community relations youth worker in Belfast, has also worked on both sides of the camera in television production. Bronagh has a long-term interest in social issues through both her work and having an MSc in Politics. She is a fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) and a member of the advisory committee for the New Dynamics of Ageing research programme.

ANNETTA BENNETT has over twenty-five years experience in social care developing resources, implementing policies and national standards, promoting the rights and needs of children, young people and families impacted by a range of societal issues. She has held various roles protecting and safeguarding children from exploitation and abuse, encouraging culturally sensitive practice that gives equal concern to diverse and complex needs to achieve inclusive engagement, partnership working and positive outcomes for them.

EMILY THORNBERRY has been MP for Islington South & Finsbury since 2005. Before entering Parliament, Emily practised as a human rights barrister at the chambers of Mike Mansfield Q.C. In 2009 she was made a ministerial aide in the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC). After the 2010 election, Emily became a Shadow Minister in DECC before becoming a Shadow Health Minister.
 
JEREMY VINE established himself as a charming but tough-talking presenter on Newsnight. He now presents the daily lunchtime show on Radio 2 and fronts Panorama