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.
In the third episode of Placecast, Abigail Taylor, Chris Naylor, and Jamie Ounan explore how effective place leadership—rooted in collaboration, local knowledge, ambition, and institutional reform—can drive inclusive and sustainable growth in communities.
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.
Dr 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.
The LPIP podcast series is led by Dr Nicola Headlam. If you would like to participate or have an idea for this podcast, please get in touch.
Key points from the podcast
Definition and Essence of Place Leadership
Place leadership is about understanding what needs to happen in a specific locality to enable people to live their best lives. It involves collaboration, vision, and deep local knowledge, not just formal authority or job titles. It’s inherently political, involving trade-offs, values, and long-term commitments to communities.
Qualities of Effective Place Leaders
A deep connection to place: Leaders are generally passionate about, and immersed in the local area they serve, although they are not necessarily from the place
Optimism and ambition: Successful leaders are hopeful and set bold, long-term goals.
Collaboration and humility: They recognise leadership exists at all levels and work across silos.
Detail-oriented and visionary: They must balance strategic vision with meticulous attention to operational details.
Resilience and adaptability: They learn from failure and persist through challenges.
Institutional Reform and System Design
Current public service institutions are, in many respects, outdated, having often been designed for 20th-century rather than 21st-century challenges. There is a need to reform institutions to better support prevention, growth, and trust-building between citizens and between citizens and the state. It is important that place leaders navigate and reshape systems to better serve modern, complex needs.
Use of Evidence and Data
Effectively using evidence is a crucial component of place leadership—not just academic data, but also emotional and contextual intelligence. Examples include using predictive data to prevent children from entering care or understanding housing market dynamics to accelerate development. Leaders must co-create evidence with communities and researchers to inform decisions through jointly developing and validating a theory of change and using data to monitor progress against the theory of change.
Bridging Academia and Practice
There’s a growing need to connect academic research with local government practice. A key priority is enabling universities and local authorities to form long-term partnerships, not just one-off projects. Such collaboration can enhance decision-making and policy outcomes, especially in resource-constrained environments.
Leadership in Practice
Case studies such as how Barking and Dagenham Council redesigned public services to focus on prevention and tackling the root causes of presenting social needs illustrate how visionary leadership (e.g., Darren Rodwell and Chris Naylor) can drive transformation. Success comes from using evidence to set ambitious goals (e.g., Barking and Dagenham’s ambitious house-building goals, as well as Darren Rodwell’s idea to create the largest film studio inside the M25), collaborating with partners and trusting and empowering teams to deliver.
Show notes and links:
The following person is referred to in the pod:
Darren Rodwell – Former Leader of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Find out more about the Local Policy Innovation Partnership Hub.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this analysis post are those of the author and not necessarily those of City-REDI or the University of Birmingham.