Our keynote speaker in 2020 was Rob Whiteman, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). He discussed “Who is responsible for what? Exploring the blurred lines between government, governance, the third sector and the public sector.”
Prior to his role with CIPFA, Whiteman was a senior civil servant who worked as the chief executive of the UK Border Agency and had previously led the Improvement and Development Agency. Between 2005 and 2010 Whiteman was CEO of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. Prior to this role, he was director of resources at the London Borough of Lewisham.
Whiteman is a well-known commentator and writer on public service reform and modernisation on a wide range of areas such as leadership, partnership working across local and central government, and building community cohesion. In 2007 and 2009 he carried out the capability reviews of the Department of Health for the Cabinet Office.
Graduating with a BA (Hons) in Economics and Government from the University of Essex, Whiteman started his management career at WH Smith plc, before moving into the public sector. An accountant by profession, he qualified with CIPFA early in his career whilst working at the London Borough of Camden. He has since held several local government finance advisory roles for the Local Government Association and CIPFA, and for many years served as secretary to the Society of London Treasurers.
