This is the second in a Municipal-focused Webinar series. As the global pandemic begins to abate in a sustained way, and the reorientation of communities begins in earnest (in a phased manner), important decisions need to be made as to how municipal business will be carried out on a go-forward basis. Municipalities are facing the emergence of new business policies and practices and may now need new approaches to support business transformation.

Overlap is bringing together an expert panel from both Canada and the UK to share insights, learnings, and ideas about transformation among local authority workforces adapting to rapid change. Panelists will provide examples for how a human-centred design approach has helped them in their work.   

Panelists include:

Eve Roodhouse, Chief Officer Economic Development Leeds City Council

Eve leads on Economic Development at Leeds City Council where she is responsible for bringing forwards the delivery framework for the city’s Inclusive Growth Strategy. Eve also leads on economic policy, business growth support, inward investment and visitor economy. Eve is a member of the Leadership Group of the Chamber of Commerce and a Director of North Invest.

Prior to joining Leeds City Council Eve worked for NHS Digital where she established a nationwide implementation team to support the delivery of major national IT programmes across health and care. She remains passionate about all things digital and the potential that the digital revolution brings for people and businesses.  

When she is not at work Eve enjoys running with her local running club, Harrogate Harriers, and spending time with her family.

Julia Merritt, CEO Stratford Public Library

Julia Merritt has been working in libraries for nearly 20 years, starting as a Page. She has worked in settings ranging from small rural towns to the Greater Toronto Area, and has been with Stratford as CEO since 2013. She is currently a Board member with the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries, Perth Community Futures Development Corporation, and Ontario Equestrian, the provincial sport association. She has a BAH in Anthropology and English from the University of Guelph and an MLIS from Western University. She lives in Stratford with her husband and a menagerie.

Since 2012 she has been working as a CEO in public libraries, where she has been responsible for the development and implementation of strategic plans, non-profit administration, advocacy, and fundraising. Particularly, she has been responsible for successfully encouraging grassroots and community-wide engagement with a disrupted and evolving sector. 

In addition to the organizational responsibilities, she is currently the Chair of the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries Board, a provincial advocacy and lobbying organization that works with the Ministry of Heritage, Tourism, Sport and Culture Industries. She is also the Treasurer of the Perth Community Futures Development Corporation Board, a not-for-profit lending entity that supports local entrepreneurs.  

Prior to her professional experience, Julia received her Undergraduate degree (BAH) in English & Anthropology from the University of Guelph, and a Masters of Library and Information Science from the University of Western Ontario. 

Matthew Chandy, Manager, Office of Regional Economic Development

Matthew Chandy manages the Office of Regional Economic Development at the Region of Waterloo and led the development of the Smart Waterloo Region proposal to the Government of Canada’s Smart Cities Challenge focusing on healthy children and youth. Matthew and the Smart Waterloo Region team developed a full proposal with over 35 technology and data-enabled solutions and over $105 million in partner contributions. Prior to the Region, Matthew worked at the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario managing funding programs for Regional Diversification, Rural Economic Development, and Advanced Manufacturing.