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Join key figures from Essex councils and politics for a morning looking at the plans and practicalities of council planning, procurement and execution.
Louise McKinlay, 2028 Mayoral candidate for Greater Essex will be joined by Phoebe Barnes, Director of Assets and Investments and Lauren Stretch, Director of Housing for Brentwood and Rochford Councils.
Hosted at Chelmsford Theatre, come to a panel discussion in which the team will examine some key projects taking place across the county, how things work at a local and regional level and aspirations for infrastructure and construction in the region in 2027 and beyond.
Speakers:
Louise McKinlay, 2028 Mayoral Candidate for the Conservative Party
Louise has a long history of serving and working in local government across Essex. Having started her career in the City, she’s the former leader of Brentwood council and deputy leader of Essex County Council, and now sits as the CEO of Invest Essex. Her candidacy for the mayoral campaign in Essex was announced in 2025.
Phoebe Barnes, Director of Assets & Investments, Brentwood & Rochford
Phoebe’s strategic role focuses on council corporate assets, regeneration pipeline of creating and enabling the right developments for the community that live in the areas. She manages the leisure contracts, council owned car parks and oversees the wholly owned companies and seeking opportunities to deliver the aspirations of both councils in a difficult financial backdrop for local government.
Lauren Stretch, Director of Housing, Brentwood & Rochford
Lauren’s role sees her taking responsibility for housing performance, strategic housing delivery programs, and housing estates management across both boroughs, sitting on relevant committees, and taking responsibility for a number of developments and plans for housing across substantial sections of the Essex landscape.
