The National Rural Conference 2026 has now concluded.
Thank you to everyone who joined us across the four days, and to all our speakers and conference supporters for sharing their time, experience and insight.
We’re leaving the programme available for a little longer so you can look back at this year’s sessions and speaker line-up.
The Rural Services Network's flagship annual conference brings together rural leaders, policymakers and practitioners for four days of online discussion, practical insights and fresh ideas to help shape the future of rural communities.
Explore The Conference Themes
Discover the key topics shaping this year's conference.
The 2026 Conference Programme
Attend one session, several sessions or the full conference programme.
Expand each day to discover the sessions, confirmed speakers and choose the discussions that matter most to you.
MONDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2026 - SESSIONS COMPLETE ✓
10:00 - 11:30
Rural Fair Funding
Hear the latest on rural fair funding, funding reform and the future of local government finance.
Cllr Roger Phillips OBE
Chair
Rural Services Network
Opening the conference and setting the scene for the future of Rural Fair Funding and the challenges facing rural local authorities.
Kerry Booth
Chief Executive
Rural Services Network
Introducing the key themes, discussions and objectives for the session.
Jonathan Meek
Associate Director
Consulting
Discover how RSN-commissioned research is measuring the true cost of remoteness and strengthening the case for fairer rural funding.
Nicola Mousley
Senior Manager
Presenting alongside Jonathan Meek and
Rishi Mandavia
Rishi Mandavia
Economic Consultant Manager
Presenting alongside Jonathan Meek and
Nicola Mousley
13:30 - 15:30
Rural Economy And Regeneration
Exploring the latest funding landscape for rural local authorities and communities.
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter MP
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Presentation announcement coming soon!
Professor Tanya Ovenden-Hope
Dean and Professor of Education
Plymouth Marjon University | Cornwall
Presentation: “Pretty Poverty – Challenging Perceptions of Rural Deprivation”
Matthew Gorton
Deputy Director
National Innovation Centre For Rural Enterprise (NICRE)
Presentation: “Catalysing Rural Innovation and Growth”
Harriet Stainton
Growth Hub Delivery Manager
York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority
Presentation: “Meeting Businesses Where They Are: A Joined-Up Approach to Rural Outreach”
TUESDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 - SESSIONS COMPLETE ✓
10:00 - 12:00
Rural Affordable Housing And Planning
Exploring rural housing solutions, planning policy and practical approaches to delivering affordable homes.
Martin Collett
Chief Executive
Presentation: “No More Excuses: Affordable Rural Housing Works”
(Joint presentation alongside David Barrowcliff)
David Barrowcliff
Head of Communications & Technology
Presentation: “No More Excuses: Affordable Rural Housing Works”
(Joint presentation alongside Martin Collett)
Cllr Rick Deller
Executive Board Member for Housing, Regulatory and Customer Services
Presentation: “From homelessness to Hope: Proactive homelessness prevention in a rural district”
Viv Griffiths
National Practice Development Manager
Presentation: “Rural rough sleeping and homelessness: a hidden crisis and what we can do about it”
Rachel Fisher
Chief Executive
Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)
Presentation: “Planning for Town and Country: The New NPPF, Spatial Development Strategies and Rural Growth”
Nadine Trout
Assistant Chief Executive
Rural Services Network
Facilitating the session discussion and audience Q&A
13:30 - 15:30
Rural Connectivity
Discover how better digital connectivity can support rural communities, businesses and public services.
Sodhi Dhillon
Stakeholder Engagement Manager
Presentation: “BT Digital Home Phone Switch Over 2026 – The Final Year”
Cllr Ed Tyldesley
County Coucillor
Presentation: “Digital Infrastructure – Challenges and solutions in Devon”
(Joint presentation alongside Matt Barrow)
Matt Barrow
Stakeholder Engagement Officer
Presentation: “Digital Infrastructure – Challenges and solutions in Devon”
(Joint presentation alongside Cllr Tyldesley)
Grant Black
CEO and Creative Director
Presentation: “Digital Inclusion: The Rural Reality”
Alison Peaden
Library Services Manager
Presentation: “Libraries advancing Digital Inclusion”
WEDNESDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 - SESSIONS COMPLETE ✓
10:00 - 12:00
Rural Net Zero
Discover practical solutions to help rural communities achieve net zero while supporting economic growth.
Patrick Allcorn
Head of Local Net Zero
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
Presentation: “Net Zero in Rural Context”
Kate Watson
Technical Lead
Presentation: “Acknowledging barriers to smooth, rural retrofit delivery”
Karl Rourke
Service Manager Street Lighting, Traffic Signals and CCTV
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Presentation: “Live Labs 2, Reframing Rural Lighting”
13:30 - 15:30
Rural Making A Difference
See how data, research and local experience can turn rural challenges into compelling evidence for change.
Aran Prince-Tappe
Rural Policy Team Lead
Strategic Briefing and Contracts
Presentation: “What English devolution means for rural communities”
Suzanne Wigmore
CEO Citizens Advice Wiltshire and
Rural Issues Group Member
Presentation: “You can’t eat the view – rural exclusion and the need for advice”
Kerry Booth
Chief Executive
Rural Services Network
Presentation: “Defra Taskforce and Future of Rural England Report”
THURSDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2026 - SESSIONS COMPLETE ✓
10:00 - 12:00
Rural Access To Health And Care Services
Discuss the challenges and opportunities in delivering accessible rural health and care services.
Gill O’Neill
Executive Director of Public Health
Presentation: “Rural Realities – Northumberland Director of Public Health Report”
Professor Sheena Asthana
Director
Co-Director
Centre for Coastal Communities
Presentation: “Adult social care in rural and coastal communities”
(Presenting alongside Dr Clark)
Dr Michael Clark
Presentation: “Adult social care in rural and coastal communities”
(Presenting alongside Professor Asthana)
Abigail Reeve
Director
Presentation: “Culture, Wellbeing and Economics: A Rural Touring Story”
(Joint Presentation alongside Dr Roy)
Dr Vishalakshi Roy
Associate Professor in Creative Industries
Presentation: “Culture, Wellbeing and Economics: A Rural Touring Story”
(Joint presentation alongside Abigail Reeve)
13:30 - 15:30
Rural Transport
Find out how innovative transport solutions are improving connectivity for rural communities.
Cllr Christine Wise
Leader
Presentation: “Connecting People and Places”
(Joint presentation alongside Victoria Nicholls)
Victoria Nicholls
Transport Service Manager
Presentation: “Connecting People and Places”
(Joint presentation alongside Cllr Wise)
Kit Allwinter,
Senior Inspector
Presentation: “Rural Design Guide – high quality interventions to support rural walking, wheeling and cycling”
Thomas Ableman
Founder
Presentation: “Mini Switzerland: what the Swiss get right about rural transport and how we can learn from them”
David Peinturier
Consultant
Presentation: “Integrating Transport Solutions in a Local Authority: what we learned so far from the Better Connected Strategy and the Department for Transport”
Who's Speaking?
Meet the speakers and discover the experience, knowledge and perspectives they'll bring to the discussion.
Why Attend The National Rural Conference?
Whether you're a councillor, officer or partner organisation, the National Rural Conference offers practical insights and
valuable discussion on the issues affecting rural communities.
The National Rural Conference explores the issues affecting rural communities through evidence, research and real-world experience.
With Special Thanks to Our Supporters
We are grateful to the organisations supporting this year's National Rural Conference. Their expertise, collaboration and commitment help make this event possible.
