Local by Social: free online conference 3-9 November

I’m taking part in an online conference on the LGID Communities of Practice platform (registration required) that’s running between 3 and 9 November.

My bit will be on the 8th, between 1.30 and 3.30pm, and I will be talking about the movement of GovCamps across the UK, where practitioners, suppliers and interested others get together to chew the fat about improving public services.

Here’s the skinny from the Local by Social blog:

Local by Social online conference, 3 – 9 November FREE

Citizens and councils are getting online and discovering the power of the Internet to make it easier to access services, feed back for improvement, provide accountability and help people organise themselves for civic action.

The Local by Social online conference will bring together a range of practitioners, thought leaders and social entrepreneurs to look at three areas where the Internet is changing the way localities are governed and services are delivered.

Social media: citizens and councils
Social media: creating and sharing knowledge between practitioners
Open data for accountability and improvement.
This free conference will be hosted on Local Government Improvement and Development’s Communities of Practice platform.

What’s an online conference?

An online conference is just like a conference in the ‘real world’ except there are no long train journeys, no soggy sandwiches and no shame in getting up and walking out if the topic just isn’t your thing.

LG Improvement and Development has hosted many successful online conferences. You’ll hear from invited ‘speakers’ who will share materials through video, presentations or writing about their topic who will then be available to answer questions in the discussion forum. But this is also an opportunity to set your own agenda, start topics or carry on discussions.

How do I sign up?

This free online conference is already open to join. If you’re not already a member, register at www.communities.idea.gov.uk (it’s free). If you are, simply follow this link to sign up. We’ll alert you as activity kicks off and round up the hot topics, so you never miss a thing.

Confirmed speakers

• Carrie Bishop and Dominic Campbell, FutureGov
• Dave Briggs, Learning Pool
• Emer Coleman, GLA/ London DataStore
• Gary Colet, KIN
• Hugh Flouch, Network Neighbourhoods
• Steve Dale, Knowledge Hub
• Paul Davidson, CIO Sedgemoor, LeGSB
• Brendan Harris, Local Government Improvement and Development
• Stuart Harrison, Lichfield District Council
• Alison Hook, Coventry Council
• Dan Slee, Walsall Council
• Hollie Snelson, Kent
• Julian Tait, Open Data Manchester/ Future Everything
• Mike Thacker, Porism/ esd-toolkit
• Richard Wallis, Talis
• David Wilcox