Welcome to the National Rural Conference 2020:

Summary of the National Rural Conference 2020:

Almost 400 delegates attended sessions to listen, learn and debate rural issues!

Supporters and sponsors of the event were:

The 18 speakers at the event were:

- The Lord Best OBE DL
- Professor Sian M. Griffiths OBE, JP FFPH
- Professor Janet Dwyer (Professor of Rural Policy and Director of CCRI)
- Nigel Wilcock (Executive Director of Institute of Economic Development)
- Professor Sally Shortall (Duke of Northumberland Chair of Rural Economy Professor at the University of Newcastle)
- Alan Menzies (Director of Planning and Economic Regeneration at East Riding Council)
- Doug Stewart (Founder and CEO of Green Energy UK)
- Ben Colson MBE (Chair of Bus Users UK)
- Gareth Elliott (Head of Policy and Communications, Mobile UK)
- Cllr Sue Baxter (NALC Chairman) & Jonathan Owen (NALC Chief Executive)
- Ursula Bennion (Chair of National Rural Housing Alliance)
- Martin Collett (Chief Executive of English Rural)
- Tom Chance (Joint CEO of National Community Land Trust Network)
- Phil Brennan (Head of APSE ENERGY, Association for Public Service Excellence)
- David Cope (Countryside Climate Network Coordinator of UK100)
- Dr Debbie Freake (Director of Integration at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust)
- Michelle Howard (Assistant Director of Housing & Wellbeing, at East Lindsey District Council & Boston Borough Council)
- Ivan Annibal (Managing Director of Rose Regeneration and Director of Operations at the NCRHC)

Conference facts:

- 720 minutes of informed debate and learning at the National Rural Conference 2020

- 211 Rural Local Authority Officers and Members attended sessions

- Key Messages from Conference featured in Local Government First

It looked like this:

What did delegates think?

“It’s very important that there is somewhere where organisations with a commitment to rural can showcase their achievements and discuss the difficulties facing rural areas.”
- Sue Southwell, Somerset West and Taunton Council

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“The RSN Conference being held online meant I could attend without leaving the house, and I gained hugely from the experience to listen to several speakers on issues affecting rural communities. My Council would not have been able to afford for me to attend in person so keep these learning, networking and strategic setting opportunities more accessible.”
- Cllr Liz Withington, North Norfolk District Council