Who's Speaking?

David leads both The Institute’s Research and Information and Learning and Development divisions. He is responsible for thought-leadership, policy development and external affairs.

Alex Aiken joined Westminster City Council joined Westminster as Head of Communications in May 2000, and was promoted to Director of Communications in 2008. Between 2003-5 he was also Head of Communications at the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in the first-ever communications partnership agreement between two local authorities.

Ben Page is Chief Executive of Ipsos MORI and sits on the Global Ipsos Management Council. He joined MORI in 1987 after graduating from Oxford University in 1986, and was one of the leaders of its first management buyout in 2000.

Anne Brayley, Communications and Marketing Manager, has worked for Somerset County Council for ten years.  Anne hails from a private sector background starting in the advertising business in Canada and then market research in England.

He joined Leeds City Council in 1987 from the oil exploration industry in the Middle East. Retraining as a graphic designer and gaining entry to the Chartered Society of Designers in 1990, he advocated good design elements, promoted in a consistent way, would help the council to present its messages more appropriately.

Nicki initially joined Shropshire Council as Brand Manager to take forward the large re-branding and communications programme taking place as a result of the Council moving forwards to a unitary authority. Nicki now heads up the communications team at Shropshire Council.

Marcus is a former newspaper journalist with experience on local papers and as a freelance contributor to national papers, radio and television.