What next for Birmingham?

Discuss the future of our city with this special panel from the Political Studies Association Annual Conference (PSA).

Both the West Midlands Combined Authority and Birmingham City Council have bold visions for the future of our region and city. WMCA’s West Midlands Futures aims to “transform what it’s like to live, work, and study in the West Midlands,” while BCC’s Our Future City sets out a roadmap for a greener, safer, better-connected, and more inclusive Birmingham. 

Join a panel of experts to explore these ambitious plans—and share your ideas as we reimagine what a truly liveable city could be. 

Panel Chair

Jane Haynes

Jane is BirminghamLive's award winning Politics and People Editor. Jane seeks to show how political decisions translate into real lives. Her focus is on exposing social injustice, with specialism in health, housing and homelessness and the impact of poverty and inequality. 

Panellists

Councellor John Cotton 

John is Leader of Birmingham City Council, the largest local authority in Europe, serving the youngest and most diverse city in the UK, the city into which he was born and is proud to call home. John has over two decades of experience in politics and policy development at local, national and European level, taking on some of the toughest challenges and biggest political leadership roles in local government. He is passionate about social justice, extending economic opportunity for all, breaking down barriers that hold people back and tackling the root causes of poverty and disadvantage.

Jeremy Dale

Jeremy is Interim CEO and a lifelong Birmingham City FC fan. He has also been leading the Club’s efforts to help improve the lives of, and opportunities for, the local community through the work of the Birmingham City Foundation. Jeremy has a career predominantly in consumer technology products with global brands such as Microsoft, Motorola, Orange, and Nintendo. He was responsible for Microsoft’s $12B global retail channel business. He has launched iconic products globally including Xbox One and the Motorola RAZR phone, and in the UK - Orange Wednesdays and the phenomenon that was Pokémon.

Imandeep Kaur

Immy is the Co-Founder and Director of CIVIC SQUARE, where she focuses on pioneering neighbourhood-scale civic infrastructure. She previously founded Impact Hub Birmingham and co-led TEDxBrum. Her work has been recognised with a NESTA New Radical award, an Ashoka Fellowship, and an Honorary Doctorate from Aston University. She is passionate about bringing bold, regenerative ideas to life through collaboration.

Mat Macdonald

Mat is the UK's first road safety commissioner, focused on reducing the number of people being killed and seriously injured in collisions on our road network. He is also an NHS doctor with experience supporting victims of road collisions and was chair of the Better Streets for Birmingham group – set up in the wake of a series of fatal road collisions in the city. 

Presented by University of Birmingham, Aston University and the Political Studies Association.