The Future Focus Liverpool City Region: Public Sector Development Spotlight is your chance to gain an exclusive look at the major public sector projects set to shape the region’s development landscape.

With a focus on upcoming schemes across residential development, the private sector and the public sector, this event will highlight key projects in the region’s pipeline and provide a platform for you to connect with the decision-makers behind them. Don’t miss out—book your ticket now or save 30% by becoming a member.

Our speakers

Mike Horne

Head of Development, Liverpool City Council

Mike Horne

Head of Development, Liverpool City Council

Mike Horne is Head of Development at Liverpool City Council. He coordinates some of the city’s most exciting developments, including Knowledge Quarter, Liverpool’s urban innovation district and Kings Dock, a waterfront site front and centre of Liverpool’s iconic and world-class skyline.

Wesley Rourke

Executive Director Environment & Regeneration, Halton Council

Wesley Rourke

Executive Director Environment & Regeneration, Halton Council

Wesley leads the Environment and Regeneration Directorate which oversees Halton’s housing, retail, cultural and leisure facilities, and employment opportunities. The aim is to ensure that these services are valued by and accessible to all, and that they are set within a quality of place that is clean, green, and biodiverse.

Sean Traynor

Director of Strategic Growth, St. Helens Council

Sean Traynor

Director of Strategic Growth, St. Helens Council

Over 32 years’ professional experience in the public sector with involvement in several large-scale, mixed-use regeneration projects and programmes, from inception through to post-planning consent, funding, construction, occupation and management. As Director of Strategic Growth at St Helens Borough Council, responsibilities include regeneration, planning, property and estates, and economy.

Tony Clark

Assistant Executive Director Development and Infrastructure, Knowsley Council

Tony Clark

Assistant Executive Director Development and Infrastructure, Knowsley Council

A track record of delivering major development and regeneration programmes. Manages Planning, Building Control, Highways, Transport, Major Development, Commercial Land and Asset Management services. Proud to be part of the Knowsley success story.

Claire Dixon

Deputy Chief Executive, Plus Dane

Claire Dixon

Deputy Chief Executive, Plus Dane

Claire is responsible for a number of departments including Development, Finance, Governance & Assurance, Performance, ICT, Programmes and Procurement. As Deputy Chief Executive, Claire has responsibility for Plus Dane's compliance with all aspects of regulation, including the Consumer Standards.

Claire is an experienced non-executive in the charities sector. She has worked in social housing for over 20 years, starting her career on reception at a local housing office. She has achieved Chartered status with the Chartered Institute of Housing, is a qualified company secretary and most recently completed her coaching qualification.

Mark Edwards

Development Director at Capital&Centric

Mark Edwards

Development Director at Capital&Centric

Mark Edwards is the Development Director at Capital&Centric.

Sarah Morton

Regional Director, Kier

Sarah Morton

Regional Director, Kier

Sarah Morton is the Regional Director at Kier Group.

Richard Mawdsley

Director of Development, Peel L&P's Wirral Waters

Richard Mawdsley

Director of Development, Peel L&P's Wirral Waters

Graduated from Reading University with a BSc in Land Management and the Cass Business School with an MSc in Property Development & Finance.

Joined Peel L&P in 2002 after 12 years working for several consultancies and developers in London - involved with a diverse range of development projects across all use sectors and scales: residential, industrial, commercial, leisure and retail.

As Director of Development for Peel L&P’s Wirral Waters responsible for the delivery of one of the UK’s largest and most sustainable regeneration projects of its kind.

Wayne Flannery

Managing Director (Construction West), Wates

Wayne Flannery

Managing Director (Construction West), Wates

Wayne brings a wealth of experience and insight, having spent the past eight years in various director-level positions at ISG, where he led projects across both the private and public sectors.

Wayne’s extensive background includes significant work on public sector frameworks. As part of his responsibilities, Wayne also sits on the Construction board, contributing his strategic expertise to help drive growth and innovation in the division.

Tom Sewell

Regional Director, Stepnell

Tom Sewell

Regional Director, Stepnell

Tom Sewell, Regional Director at Stepnell and Board Director, brings over 30 years of experience in regional construction businesses. With a commercial background across all sectors, including public sector and frameworks, Tom champions Stepnell’s collaborative, sustainable approach—leveraging local expertise, delivering lasting community value, and integrating renewable and decarbonisation solutions through in-house specialists Step Energy.

Simon Arnott

Managing Director, Morgan Sindall

Simon Arnott

Managing Director, Morgan Sindall

Simon joined the business in 2014 as head of procurement for Morgan Sindall Group plc, and later became the procurement & supply chain director for Construction, as well as leading the HR, learning and development and communications teams prior to taking on his current role as managing director.

Simon has spent his career working in increasingly senior procurement, supply chain and general management roles in tier one construction companies and large businesses such as Rolls-Royce plc and Royal Mail Group.

Mike Lane

Director, Willmott Dixon

Mike Lane

Director, Willmott Dixon

An experienced Director, currently responsible for several construction projects across the North of England. Mike has a broad range of skills which encompasses both the pre-construction and construction phases of projects, influencing areas from the design to commercial strategy, customer negotiation, planning and programming, management of health and safety, delivery of a quality product and more.

Steve Beechey

Group Public Sector Director, Wates Group

Steve Beechey

Group Public Sector Director, Wates Group

Steve is the Group Public Sector Director of the Wates Group, which is a privately owned construction and development business with a turnover of £2.4 bn and employing 6,000 people.

Steve sits on the Executive Committee of Wates, a position he has held since 2015. He is responsible for all the Group’s relationships at a strategic level across local and central government. He is also responsible for national frameworks, public affairs and customer experience.

With over 35 years’ experience, Steve has an excellent track record. He began his career as a site engineer in 1988 with The Tarmac Group before progressing into commercial, project management and business leadership roles.

Robbie Blackhurst

Chair of the Centre for Construction Best Practice (CCBP)

Robbie Blackhurst

Chair of the Centre for Construction Best Practice (CCBP)

Robbie Blackhurst is an accomplished entrepreneur, business leader, philanthropist, and author, with a strong track record in the built environment sector. As Founder and Director of Black Capital Group, which includes Compliance Chain, Procure Partnerships Framework, and Strategic Resourcing, Robbie’s journey began in 2017 when he left Principal Contracting to launch a procurement framework in the North West.

Following early success, he expanded the framework nationally and diversified into infrastructure, housing, and over 1,000 public sector projects. In the last 12 months, Robbie has doubled the group's headcount and driven £5 billion in construction projects over five years.

As Chair of the Centre for Construction Best Practice, Robbie continues to add value to the industry. His teams have delivered £720m in social value across England, transforming communities through innovative public sector project procurement.

Agenda

08:30 - 09:00 Arrival and Networking

09:00 - 09:30 Welcome Address

09:30 - 10:15 Panel 1 | Residential Development Spotlight

Key note speakers:

Claire Dixon, Deputy Chief Executive, Plus Dane

Richard Mawdsley, Director of Development, Peel L&P's Wirral Waters

Mark Edwards, Development Director at Capital&Centric

10:15 - 11:00 Panel 2 | Public Sector Spotlight

Key note speakers:

Mike Horne, Head of Development, Liverpool City Council

Wesley Rourke, Executive Director Environment & Regeneration, Halton Council

Sean Traynor, Director of Strategic Growth, St. Helens Council

Tony Clark, Assistant Executive Director Development and Infrastructure, Knowsley Council

Chaired By Steve Beechey, Group Public Sector Director, Wates Group

11:00 - 11:15 Comfort break

11:15 - 12:00 Panel 3 | Private Sector Spotlight

Key note speakers:

Tom Sewell, Regional Director, Stepnell

Mike Lane, Director, Willmott Dixon

Sarah Morton, Regional Director, Kier

Simon Arnott, Managing Director, Morgan Sindall

Wayne Flannery, Managing Director (Construction West), Wates

Chaired By Robbie Blackhurst, Chair of CCBP

12:00 - 12:30 Event Close and Networking

Future Focus Liverpool City Region: Public Sector Development Spotlight

Book your ticket to discover key insights into the region's growth prospects and opportunities to get involved in the next wave of public sector development.

Event details

Date: 3 July 2025

Time: 08:30 - 12:30

Location: The Spine, 2 Paddington Village, Liverpool L7 3FA

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Future Focus Liverpool City Region: Public Sector Development Spotlight

Book your ticket to discover key insights into the region's growth prospects and opportunities to get involved in the next wave of public sector development.

£95.00

117 available

Future Focus Liverpool City Region Update: Public Sector Development Spotlight

The Future Focus Liverpool City Region: Public Sector Development Spotlight is your chance to gain an exclusive look at the major public sector projects set to shape the region’s development landscape.

Our speakers

Mike Horne

Mike Horne

Wesley Rourke

Wesley Rourke

Sean Traynor

Sean Traynor

Tony Clark

Tony Clark

Claire Dixon

Claire Dixon

Mark Edwards

Mark Edwards

Agenda

Future Focus Liverpool City Region: Public Sector Development Spotlight

Event details