Informal power: the opportunities and risks in using the personal touch to bring about city change

Personal relationships and social networks are an inevitable feature of city leadership. ‘Informal governance’ describes the connectivity that goes on in cities that is undocumented but can have an important role in shaping the city’s future and developing new ideas. This session introduces the findings of a collaboration between the University of Bristol and Bristol Pound into the use of informality and how informal approaches at a city level can extend influence, support innovation and ultimately inform policy. Speakers will reflect on how these informal methods function and their impact on effectiveness, inclusion and democracy in city leadership: how it might be used to good effect and the potential pitfalls of using informal relationships to exert influence; before inviting audience questions and discussion.

Our panel, chaired by Robin Hambleton, includes Sarah Ayres* (University of Bristol), Ciaran Mundy (Bristol Pound), David Relph (Bristol Health Partners) and Sharon Woma (entrepreneur and business mentor).

*Last minute change due to snow: Caroline Bird will replace Sarah Ayres on the panel

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Biographies

Robin Hambleton is Emeritus Professor of City Leadership at the University of the West of England, Bristol and Director of Urban Answers. He has worked in local government, has held professorial positions at three universities and was Dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He founded Urban Answers in 2007 and his latest book is Leading the Inclusive City (Policy Press).

Sarah Ayres is Reader in Public Policy and Governance at the University of Bristol. Her research is concerned with English devolution and decentralisation, with a particular emphasis on exploring informal relationships and processes. Sarah is co-editor of the journal Policy & Politics and is Treasurer and Board Member of the Regional Studies Association.

Ciaran Mundy is a founder and Chief Executive of the Bristol Pound. He trained as a research scientist in soil ecology and was a founding director of One World Wildlife, running projects in the UK and overseas. Ciaran was the Finance Director at Transition Bristol for 10 years, supporting many community and city level initiatives addressing sustainability issues. He wants all his work to support the development of a fair, diverse, sustainable economy through broader community involvement and local business ownership.

David Relph is the Director of Bristol Health Partners, promoting collaboration between Bristol's NHS organisations, universities and council. He has worked and lived in Bristol for much of the last 20 years and was an early campaigner for elected mayors in Bristol and other UK cities, helping to deliver a change to the governance of the city. His work is about connecting people and ideas, particularly at the city level, focusing on the power of informal networks to share ideas, build consensus, and mobilise change.

Sharon Woma has a breadth of experience drawn from over 30 years working in the health sector, civil service, banking and private enterprise in a variety of roles and through self-employment and directorship. She currently works for the NHS, sits on the hospital BME forum, runs a business, is a business mentor and has run business networking; as well as championing the social economy and Bristol Pound’s role in it.

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We will be filming this event. Please let us know if you do not wish to be filmed or photographed.