In the third episode of Placecast, Dr Abigail Taylor explores with Chris Naylor and Jamie Ounan how effective place leadership—rooted in collaboration, local knowledge, ambition, and institutional reform—can drive inclusive and sustainable growth in communities.
PlaceCast is a Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Hub production based at City-REDI, University of Birmingham. Our new podcast is essential listening for those keen to explore the ins and outs of knowledge mobilisation for influence in central and local government, based on the view that it's only through animating the power of place-based leadership that the wicked problems of 2025 can become more manageable.
Chris Naylor is a Managing Director at Inner Circle Consulting. He was previously the Chief Executive of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. In 2020, Chris was named Municipal Journal's Chief Executive of the year. He was also seconded to Birmingham City Council as the CEO, supporting, among other things, their response to the COVID-19 pandemic and preparations for the Commonwealth Games.
Jamie Ounan is the Executive Chair and founder of Inner Circle, which helps leaders across the UK to reform public services. Jamie has been a public sector reformer and transformer for over 20 years, supporting senior leaders within the public sector to prepare for change within complex systems and then enabling them to deliver the mission-critical elements of this. Jamie is also part of the LPIP hub leadership team.
Abigail Taylor is a Research Fellow at City-REDI, University of Birmingham, leading the place leadership theme for the Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Hub.
Find out more about the LPIP Hub.