Conference Schedule:

Monday 13th September

10:00 - 12:00

Digital Connectivity Session

• Richard Wainer, Policy and Public Affairs Director, BT Group
  Meeting the rural connectivity challenge
  - View Richard Wainer's biography here
  
  
• Chris Taylor, Broadband Manager, Shropshire Council
  Geography: A Broadband Challenge
  - View Chris Taylor's biography here
  
  
• Selaine Saxby MP, Chair of the APPG for Broadband and Digital Communication
  Where Hubs Meet Hedgerows
  - View Selaine Saxby's biography here

13:30 - 14:30

An Audience with Rt Hon Lord Benyon

The Rt Hon Lord Benyon, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
(Minister for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity)
- View The Rt Hon Lord Benyon's biography here

Tuesday 14th September
Supported by NICRE

10:00 - 12:00

Rural Economy Session

• Professor Jeremy Phillipson, Director of NICRE
  - Contribution of rural enterprise to Levelling Up – building the evidence
  - View Jeremy Phillipson's biography here
  
  
• Roger Turner, Rural Economies Consultant at NICRE
  - Contribution of rural enterprise to Levelling Up – changing Government's commitments to economic development
  - View Roger Turner's biography here
  
  
• Professor Janet Dwyer, Co-Director of NICRE
  - Levelling Up: the Rural Perspective for Local Councils and Communities
  - View Janet Dwyer's biography here

Wednesday 15th September

10:00 - 12:00

Rural Health and Care Session

• Professor Sheena Asthana, Director of the Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research, Plymouth University
  New perspectives on coastal and rural health
  - View Sheena Asthana's biography here
  
  
• Cllr Martin Tett, CCN Spokesperson for Adult Social Care and Leader of Buckinghamshire Council
  Delivering Social Care In Rural Areas
  - View the CCN biography here
  
  
• Nora Corkery, Chief Executive, Devon Communities Together
  Tackling Rural Health Inequalities in Devon
  - View Nora Corkery's biography here
  

13:30 - 14:30

Challenges Facing Young People in Rural Areas

Panel Discussion:

• Josh Payne, Education Manager, National Farmers Union
  - View Josh Payne's biography here
  
  
• Nik Harwood, Chief Executive, Young Somerset
  - View Nik Harwood's biography here
  
  
• Councillor Freya Davies, Flore Parish Council, Speaker for the National Association for Local Councils (NALC)
  - View the Freya Davies' biography here
  

Thursday 16th September

10:00 - 12:00

Rural Affordable Housing Session

• Ursula Bennion, Chair, Rural Housing Alliance
  Rural Housing: Levelling Up and Revitalising
  - View Ursula Bennion's biography here
  
  
• Mark Pragnell, Director of Pragmatix Advisory
  The Economic Case for investing in rural affordable housing to drive post pandemic recovery
  - View Mark Pragnell's biography here
  
  
• Claire Spendley, Membership Manager, Plunkett Foundation
  Community-led housing: Empowering rural communities to create impactful places and spaces
  - View Claire Spendley's biography here

13:30 - 14:30

Systematic Neglect of Rural Communities

Graham Biggs MBE, Chief Executive & Kerry Booth, Assistant Chief Executive, Rural Services Network
- View Graham Biggs' biography here
- View Kerry Booth's biography here

Friday 17th September

10:00 - 12:00

Rural Transport and Decarbonisation Session

• Louise Clayton, Head of Transport Operations and Future Connectivity at Staffordshire County Council
  Staffordshire’s Rural Mobility Project: Moorlands Connect
  - View Louise Clayton's biography here
  
  
• Derek Crichton, Director at Dumfries and Galloway Council
  Transforming Infrastructure and Connecting Communities
  - View Derek Crichton's biography here
  
  
• Christopher Hammond, Membership Director at Countryside Climate Network
  - View Christopher Hammond's biography here

Feedback from last year's conference:

“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