Join Panoramic Associates for two insightful online talks exploring neurodiversity, wellbeing and professional practice. The event forms part of a wider series led by the EP Equity, Diversity and Intersectionality Network Group, led by Nazim Bhuiyan, bringing together expert voices to explore important topics and experiences across education and professional practice.

Teresa Clark will present The Neuroscience of Shame: From Survival to Transformation, exploring the impact of shame and the journey towards positive change. Kalpa Ghelani and Jamie Whelan will present My Teaching Was Never the Problem: Professional Teaching Practice Through the Experiences of Neurodivergent Trainee Teachers, examining professional teaching practice through the lived experiences of neurodivergent trainee teachers.

The Details

Date: Wednesday 14th October
Time: 10am – 11.30am
Location: Microsoft Teams (link shared after registering)
Who: Education professionals
Registration: Sign up to secure your free spot

The Talks

Together, these two online talks explore the impact of our environments and experiences on wellbeing, identity, belonging and professional practice, offering insight into how greater understanding can create more inclusive and supportive spaces.

The Neuroscience of Shame: From Survival to Transformation

Led by Teresa Clark, this talk explores how shame can influence the brain, nervous system, behaviour and performance. Blending psychology and neuroscience, Teresa examines how patterns such as perfectionism, people-pleasing, burnout and self-criticism can develop as protective survival responses.

The session will explore:

• The science of shame: Understand how shame and the need to belong can influence our thoughts, emotions and behaviours.
• Survival patterns: Recognise responses including fight, flight, freeze and fawn, and how repeated patterns can become automatic.
• Stress, perfectionism and burnout: Explore some of the hidden protective patterns that can drive pressure, self-criticism and disconnection.
• Neuroplasticity and change: Discover how learned patterns are not fixed and how awareness can help create new responses.
• Moving from protection to choice: Learn practical, evidence-based approaches to pause, regulate and respond with greater awareness.

My Teaching Was Never the Problem: Professional Teaching Practice Through the Experiences of Neurodivergent Trainee Teachers

Led by Kalpa Ghelani and Jamie Whelan, this talk explores the experiences of neurodivergent trainee teachers during professional teaching practice, considering how the environments surrounding trainees can influence their experiences of inclusion, belonging and professional legitimacy.

The session will explore:

• Neurodivergent trainee experiences: Understand professional teaching practice through the experiences of neurodivergent trainee teachers.
• Mentoring and support: Consider the role mentoring can play in shaping trainees’ professional experiences.
• Institutional practices: Explore how organisational structures and expectations can affect inclusion and belonging.
• Expectations of professionalism: Examine how ideas around what it means to be a ‘professional’ can shape experiences of professional legitimacy.
• Moving beyond deficit thinking: Consider how professional learning environments can move away from viewing neurodivergence as an individual deficit and instead recognise and support cognitive diversity.

Public Health Spotlight: Resilience, Neurodiversity, and Partnership in Suffolk

In this episode of Public Health Spotlight, produced in partnership with Panoramic Associates and the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH UK), we welcome Stuart Keeble, Director of Public Health and Communities for Suffolk.

Stuart shares his unconventional journey into public health, the lessons he’s learned from overcoming adversity, and how resilience, neurodiverse thinking and system-wide partnerships are helping transform health and wellbeing across Suffolk.

A Winding Path: Embracing Difference and Finding Public Health

Stuart reflects on his varied career-moving in and out of university, discovering new passions, and confronting mental health challenges before later being diagnosed with dyslexia. He explains how embracing uncertainty and recognising his differences not only shaped his own career but also gave him a unique perspective for tackling complex public health challenges.

From Analyst to Director: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

From working in a supermarket to becoming an analyst and ultimately Director of Public Health, Stuart speaks candidly about overcoming imposter syndrome. He shares how backing himself, seeking support from mentors and embracing uncomfortable opportunities helped build the confidence and resilience that continue to shape his leadership today.

Neurodivergent Leadership: Building Teams That Challenge and Collaborate

As a neurodivergent leader, Stuart describes seeing the world as a network of connections. He discusses his deliberate approach to building diverse leadership teams that welcome challenge, encourage different perspectives and create an environment where innovation and collaboration can thrive.

Strategic Influence Across the Council

Public health extends far beyond healthcare. Stuart explains how his team works across the council to influence areas including libraries, arts and culture, community safety and wider local services, demonstrating how strong relationships and shared goals can improve both organisational outcomes and community wellbeing.

Responding to Crisis: Leading Through the COVID-19 Pandemic

Just six months into his role, Stuart found himself leading through the COVID-19 pandemic. He reflects on how the experience strengthened his resilience, developed his communication skills and reinforced the importance of authentic leadership while bringing partners across Suffolk together to respond to an unprecedented public health challenge.

Championing Young People

Stuart discusses his latest Annual Public Health Report, which challenges negative stereotypes about young people and highlights inspiring examples of youth social action across Suffolk. From redesigning school menus to community-led initiatives, he explains why giving young people a voice is itself a powerful public health intervention.

Innovating Beyond Commissioned Services

With responsibility for a workforce of almost 400 people, Stuart shares why “you can’t commission your way out of issues.” He explores innovative partnership models such as Feel Good Suffolk, demonstrating how collaboration, local empowerment and community partnerships can create more sustainable improvements in health and wellbeing.

Advice for Aspiring Public Health Leaders

Stuart concludes by encouraging aspiring leaders to believe in themselves, embrace challenges and recognise that there is no single route into public health leadership. He reflects on the importance of building the right team, being open to learning and trusting that diverse experiences can become your greatest strength.

Listen Now

Discover how resilience, neurodiverse leadership, strategic influence and cross-sector collaboration are helping shape the future of public health in Suffolk-and why embracing different perspecives is key to creating healthier, stronger communities.

Unmasking Success : Neurodiversity, Leadership & Authenticity

We’re delighted to share the latest episode of our Lessons in Leadership interview series, featuring a thought-provoking conversation with Tom Natt, Director at Third Way Digital, technologist, coach, and passionate advocate for neurodiversity in the workplace.

In this episode, Tom shares his personal journey following a later-life ADHD and autism diagnosis, reflecting on what it means to discover, and finally understand your own neurodivergence midway through a successful career in technology.

Throughout the conversation, Tom discusses his early days as a software developer, his transition into technical leadership during the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the importance of community, mentorship and creating opportunities for others. He also explores the realities of masking, perfectionism and imposter syndrome, and how the very traits that can feel challenging in the workplace often become strengths in leadership, problem-solving and innovation.

Together, we explore:

• Tom’s journey to receiving a later-life ADHD and autism diagnosis, and how it reshaped his understanding of himself, his career and his leadership style.
• The impact of masking and perfectionism, and why authenticity is essential for both personal wellbeing and effective leadership.
• How neurodivergent strengths such as hyper-focus, pattern recognition and different ways of thinking can become powerful leadership advantages.
• Practical advice for creating psychologically safe, inclusive workplaces where people can thrive as their authentic selves.
• Why great leaders don’t just climb the ladder, they build opportunities and pathways for the people who come next.

This conversation is an insightful watch for leaders, hiring managers and anyone passionate about creating more inclusive workplaces. It challenges assumptions about what successful leadership looks like while highlighting the value that diverse perspectives bring to teams, organisations and the wider technology community.

Watch the full interview above to hear Tom’s inspiring story and discover his view point into authentic leadership, neurodiversity and building environments where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Panoramic Associates was established in 2009 as a specialist recruiter for senior public sector professionals. Over 17 years, we’ve built an extensive network and a track record of placing high-calibre leaders across local government, housing, and the broader public sector.

For the past five years, our focus has sharpened around transformation – the people who lead organisational change, digital programmes, and service redesign. We know this community well. We place into it, we recruit from it, and we talk to the people in it every day.

How we get there

When the English Devolution and Local Government White Paper was published, the scale of what was coming became clear very quickly. This isn’t a restructure. It’s the most significant reorganisation of local government in a generation – affecting every county, district, and borough with a two-tier structure.

We didn’t wait for the first decisions to land. We spent months speaking to programme directors, chief executives, and transformation leads across confirmed and emerging LGR regions. We spoke to independent consultants who delivered the last round of unitarisation. We studied the programme structures being stood up, the commissioning sequences councils were following, and the common failure points from previous reorganisations.

What we heard was consistent:

• The market for experienced LGR and transformation professionals is already tightening, with 20+ regions competing for the same small pool of people who’ve done this before or have the right expertise.

• Councils that move early on programme architecture and governance are making faster progress than those waiting for certainty
• The major consultancies are being found expensive and too off-the-shelf for what’s needed – every programme is different, and the structure has to be built around it
• Most critically: too many councils are interpreting “safe and legal” as a holding pattern, when it could be a springboard for the transformation that follows

What we’ve built

• Strategic advisory and critical friend support during programme mobilisation
• Cross-council PMO design and governance architecture
• Assurance, risk identification, and dependency mapping
• Programme directors and workstream leads for delivery phases
• Organisational design, workforce planning, and service transformation specialists

Why we think beyond vesting day

What’s next

Public Health Spotlight: Leadership, Relationships, and Opportunity in Devon

In this episode of Public Health Spotlight, produced in partnership with the Association of Directors of Public Health and Panoramic Associates, host River Simmons is joined by Steve Brown, Director of Public Health and Communities for Devon. Together, they explore Steve’s journey into public health, the value of relationship-led leadership, and how collaboration, adaptability, and community-focused decision-making are shaping the future of public health across Devon.

A Sliding Doors Moment: Finding a Career in Public Health

Steve reflects on the pivotal decision that changed the course of his career, leaving a secure role to pursue an opportunity in public health. He discusses the importance of embracing uncertainty, recognising opportunities when they arise, and how taking calculated risks can lead to a rewarding career focused on improving population health.

Building Trust Through Long-Term Leadership

Having spent nearly three decades working in Devon, Steve shares how long-standing relationships have strengthened collaboration across local government, healthcare, and community organisations. He explains how trust, continuity, and a shared sense of purpose create stronger partnerships that deliver better outcomes for local communities.

The Specialist Generalist: Enabling Others to Succeed

Steve describes his leadership philosophy as being a “specialist generalist” creating the conditions for experts to thrive rather than trying to be the expert in every discipline. He explores the importance of empowering teams, encouraging shared ownership, and fostering psychological safety so people can perform at their best.

Creating Spaces for Better Conversations

The discussion highlights how physical environments can influence collaboration and decision-making. Steve explains why creating informal, welcoming spaces encourages open conversations, strengthens relationships, and leads to more effective problem-solving across public health teams.

Embracing Change as an Opportunity

Having experienced multiple NHS and local government reorganisations throughout his career, Steve shares why adaptability has been central to his leadership. Rather than fearing change, he encourages leaders to view it as an opportunity for growth, innovation, and new ways of working.

Turning Data into Stories That Inspire Action

Public health is built on evidence, but Steve explains that data alone rarely drives change. The conversation explores how translating complex information into relatable stories helps engage local leaders, communities, and decision-makers, making public health challenges easier to understand and act upon.

Devon’s Public Health Challenges and Opportunities

Steve discusses the unique characteristics of Devon, from its ageing population and rural communities to seasonal employment and health inequalities. He explains how these challenges require innovative thinking, strong partnerships, and targeted interventions to improve outcomes across the county.

Leading Through Partnership and Strategic Influence

The conversation explores how public health leaders can influence wider council priorities by working closely with colleagues across housing, education, adult social care, and economic development. Steve reflects on the role of strategic collaboration in creating healthier communities and delivering long-term change.

Supporting Communities Through Complex Challenges

Steve shares how partnership working has been central to tackling some of Devon’s most complex public health issues, including substance misuse and homelessness. He discusses the importance of bringing organisations together, building trust, and remaining focused on improving outcomes for the people who need support most.

Advice for the Next Generation of Public Health Leaders

The episode concludes with Steve’s advice for aspiring public health leaders. He encourages people to embrace opportunities before they feel completely ready, seek support from mentors and colleagues, and lead with authenticity, curiosity, and confidence.

Listen Now

Discover how nearly three decades of leadership, relationship-building, and strategic thinking continue to shape public health in Devon, from tackling complex health inequalities to creating stronger partnerships and empowering communities.

Public Health Spotlight: Stories of Art, Science, and Community in Practice

On this episode of Public Health Spotlight, produced in partnership with the Association of Directors of Public Health, Our host River Simmons sits down with Peter Roderick, Director of Public Health at York, to explore a unique and unexpected career journey from music and academia to frontline public health leadership.

Hosted by River Simmons, the conversation explores how creativity, community roots, and a drive for justice continue to shape public health leadership in practice today.

Finding Meaning at the Intersection of Art and Science

Peter reflects on a professional journey that began in the arts, where a passion for music and mathematics gradually evolved into a deeper interest in understanding how societies shape health and how storytelling helps make sense of complex data. He shares how this background allows him to combine analytical thinking with narrative insight, helping make public health messaging both accessible and impactful.

Personal Drivers: Faith, Community, and Justice

Grounded in the city of York and guided by his Christian faith, Peter speaks candidly about the values that underpin his approach to public service. From the importance of place and community to a commitment to equity and hope, the episode explores how personal conviction continues to shape his work on behalf of York’s communities.

Influences and Ideas: Literature that Shaped a Leader

The discussion highlights influential works including the Marmot Review, Fair Society, Healthy Lives, alongside the writings of Julian Tudor Hart and Geoffrey Rose. Peter explains how these ideas continue to reinforce the importance of addressing not only individual behaviours, but also the wider social and commercial determinants of health.

Delivering Impact: From Tobacco Control to Inclusive Practice

The episode also explores defining moments throughout Peter’s career from leading high-performing tobacco cessation initiatives and influencing national legislation, to working directly alongside York’s diverse communities. He reflects on how engaging with frontline teams and marginalised groups continues to shape his perspective on effective public health leadership.

Driving Change Through Collaboration and Advocacy

As Co-Chair of the Addictions Policy Advisory Group with ADPH, Peter shares insights into the importance of collaboration, advocacy, and system-wide thinking in driving meaningful public health change. The conversation highlights the role of partnership working in tackling some of society’s most complex health challenges.

Listen now to hear Peter’s unique journey from the arts to public health leadership, and discover how creativity, community, and collaboration continue to shape healthier places and stronger outcomes for local communities.

Webinar Overview

Attendees joined this one-hour interactive webinar to explore how Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) presented a rare opportunity to rethink payments and income management.

Local Government Reorganisation brought with it significant change, but also significant opportunity. New structures, new contracts, and new decisions about systems would shape newly formed councils for years to come.

While income management was not always at the forefront of those discussions, it influenced a wide range of operational and financial outcomes, from how quickly income was reconciled and how much remained in suspense, to the amount of officer time spent resolving manual processes and the confidence finance teams had in their reporting.

Delivered by Panoramic Associates in partnership with Tailwind Digital, this session explored these challenges before short-term fixes and duplicated contracts became embedded within new organisations. While technology played an important role, the session ultimately focused on timing, long-term strategy, and informed decision-making.

What was covered

• What Local Government Reorganisation meant for finance systems and payment infrastructure.
• How enterprise open-source platforms reduced supplier lock-in and created a more resilient, future-ready approach to income management.
• Practical ways to improve reconciliation, reporting, and the citizen payment experience.
• How secure API integration with modern payment platforms, such as GOV.UK Pay, supported more efficient payment processes.
• An introduction to Local Gov IMS: an enterprise open-source, modular income management platform built specifically for UK local government, now being adopted by Burnley Council.

“Our customers increasingly expect the same smooth, fast and intuitive payment experience they receive from major online retailers – Local Gov IMS will help us deliver that.”

Rob Dobson, Chief Operating Officer, Burnley Council

Our Speakers

Tom Styles, Chief Technology Officer, Tailwind Digital — formerly led digital transformation at Nottinghamshire County Council.

Seb Dadbin, Chief Delivery Officer, Tailwind Digital — leads public sector delivery, with a focus on open technology and reducing legacy reliance.

Colin Ashworth, Product Director, Tailwind Digital — 20+ years in public sector payments and income management.

John Rabin, Sales Lead, Tailwind Digital — payments, fintech and financial services background, working with public sector teams on income and compliance.

Worcestershire Public Health: Local Power, Prevention, and Purpose

On this episode of Public Health Spotlight, produced in partnership with the Association of Directors of Public Health, we sit down with Prof Lisa McNally at Worcestershire County Council to explore what it really takes to drive meaningful change in public health. The conversation moves from leadership and system-wide collaboration to the realities of prevention on the frontline, all grounded in a simple but powerful idea: lasting impact starts within communities themselves.

Building Change from the Community Up

Prof Lisa McNally reflects on a career that began almost by accident, rooted in psychology, and evolved into a deep belief that real progress happens when people are trusted to lead. Drawing on experiences from the pandemic and beyond, she shares how faith groups, local champions, and neighbourhood networks became central to delivering change where it matters most.

The Power of Local Autonomy: Neighbourhood Stories

Initiatives like the Priority Neighbourhood Development Programme show what’s possible when autonomy is placed in the hands of residents, combining data, lived experience, and trust to create measurable improvements in wellbeing and reduced demand on services. The approach reinforces that sustainable impact is built with communities, not for them, and that stories are just as important as the data behind them.

Prevention vs Care: Beyond the Side Salad

The episode also explores the ongoing tension between prevention and care, challenging the idea that prevention is a long-term luxury. Instead, Prof Lisa McNally highlights how many preventative programmes are already delivering real-time impact, from supporting healthier lifestyles to reducing harm and building resilience across communities.

Collaboration: Council and NHS as One

A strong theme throughout is partnership. From working closely with the NHS to using data to shape fairer outcomes, the conversation highlights how joined-up approaches are critical to tackling complex challenges such as inequality and social isolation across Worcestershire.

Leadership with Purpose

There is also a focus on leadership, team culture, and purpose. Prof Lisa McNally speaks openly about the lessons learned from both positive and challenging experiences, and how building confidence, recognising impact, and investing in people underpins high-performing teams.

Listen now to hear how local power, prevention, and purpose are coming together to create real change.

Former Interim DPH: Bradford’s Radical Spirit, Leadership, and Public Health Horizons

In this episode of Public Health Spotlight, produced in partnership with ADPH, hosts River Simmons is joined by Andrew Taylor, Bradford Council’s former Interim Director of Public Health, to explore the city’s history, resilience, and the evolving future of public health.

Bradford Roots: Radical Heritage Meets Modern Multiculturalism

Raised among the mill chimneys and smog of 1950s Bradford, Andrew Taylor reflects on a city shaped by industrial resilience, immigration, and a long tradition of dissent and radical thinking.

From inclusive childhood friendships spanning communities from Ireland to Ukraine and Pakistan, to the legacy of the Luddites fighting for autonomy, his story reflects a lifelong commitment to social equity and cultural understanding.

Leadership Shaped by Experience and Return

Following industrial decline, further education, and a career across both business and public service, Andrew Taylor shares how a breadth of experience in Hull, London, and Waltham Forest ultimately brought him back to Bradford.

He explores what it means to lead as Interim Director of Public Health in the very city that shaped him bringing Bradford’s characteristic work ethic, warmth, and openness to his approach in tackling challenges and energising the public health workforce.

Cities in Conversation: Bradford and Waltham Forest

While acknowledging their differences, Andrew Taylor highlights notable similarities between Bradford and Waltham Forest both vibrant, multicultural areas characterised by strong community ties, optimism, and a history of welcoming newcomers.

He reflects on the strengths of each, and how Bradford’s distinctive spirit continues to endure despite long-standing industrial and structural challenges.

Interim Leadership: Making an Impact

Navigating the demands of interim leadership, Andrew Taylor discusses the responsibility of being a “safe pair of hands”, supporting a talented and diverse public health team, and ensuring Bradford remains outward-looking and innovative.

From advocating for infrastructure improvements, such as the long-awaited southern gateway rail connection, to harnessing the city’s cultural capital, he emphasises the importance of collaboration in driving future growth.

Priorities for Bradford: Children, Cohesion and Cost-Effective Care

Early Years and Education

Investing in early language development, school readiness, and support for families new to Bradford, ensuring every child feels settled and able to thrive.

Building Social Capital

Championing initiatives that encourage trust, unity, and economic prosperity, rooted in Bradford’s long-standing culture of community and inclusion.

Immunisation and Statutory Duties

Addressing misinformation, increasing vaccine uptake, and maintaining vigilance against communicable diseases through direct engagement and evidence-based approaches.

Collaborative Systems Leadership

Working across sectors from GPs and hospitals to employers and emergency services to deliver joined-up solutions for wellbeing and health equity, inspired by the Marmot Review.

Lessons from a Career in Public Service

Andrew Taylor offers honest reflections on public health as a vocation.

For those entering the field, his advice is to invest in relationships, remain open to unexpected opportunities, and recognise the value of gradual progress. Like water turning to steam, incremental change can ultimately lead to meaningful transformation.

Listen to this next episode for a thoughtful and engaging conversation exploring Bradford’s unique strengths, the realities of public health leadership, and the enduring power of community.

Modern digital work is placing increasing pressure on local government teams. High demand, structural constraints and constant digital noise make it harder than ever to stay focused, productive and in control of workloads.

In this recent Panoramic Associates webinar, productivity and workload-management specialist Peter Varey from Taming the Tiger Academy explored the realities of today’s digital working environment and shared practical, actionable techniques to help professionals regain clarity, reduce overwhelm and improve focus.

During the session, attendees discovered how to:

• Tackle digital noise and distractions
• Streamline workload management
• Implement practical tools to improve focus and efficiency

The discussion also covered strategies to help local government leaders and teams:

• Navigate the pressures of modern digital work
• Improve productivity while reducing the risk of burnout
• Regain control of workloads and create space for more meaningful work

The session concluded with clear, practical steps that attendees can begin applying immediately, helping individuals and teams work with greater clarity, efficiency and confidence in an increasingly demanding digital environment.

The Talk

As local government continues to face increasing pressures in today’s digital environment, the need to rethink how work is managed has never been more urgent. During this session, Peter explored the key challenges facing local government teams, including high demand, structural constraints and constant digital noise, and introduced practical techniques from Taming the Tiger Academy to help attendees regain clarity, reduce overwhelm and improve focus in their everyday work.

Key themes included:

• Understanding the key pressures shaping today’s digital working environment
• Why traditional workload management methods often fall short in the current landscape
• Practical tools for reducing digital noise and improving focus
• Techniques to streamline workload management and regain clarity
• Actionable strategies for enhancing productivity and reducing burnout

Beyond the practical tools and techniques, the session focused on empowering attendees to take greater control of their working environment and adopt a more proactive, strategic approach to managing digital challenges. While local government teams face a unique set of pressures, Peter demonstrated how the right methods can create a more focused, productive and sustainable way of working.

Attendees left with practical insights and actionable techniques they can begin applying immediately to better manage digital workloads, helping both individuals and teams work with greater clarity, efficiency and confidence.

Our Speaker

Peter Varey – Productivity and Workload-Management Specialist, Taming the Tiger Academy

Peter is a seasoned productivity and workload-management expert with over 25 years of experience across both the public and private sectors, including 15 years in local government. Having witnessed the overwhelming digital demands of high email volumes, back-to-back meetings, and constant distractions, Peter developed practical systems and habits to regain control of his work, improve focus, and reduce cognitive overload. His success in transforming his own work processes led him to partner with his council’s Organisational Development team to run training sessions for colleagues.

Now, as the founder of Taming the Tiger Academy, Peter’s mission is to help public-sector leaders and department directors regain control of their delivery in environments designed to distract and overwhelm. His long-term goal is to create a world where local government teams operate in digital work environments that align with the natural functioning of human attention – fostering clearer, more focused workflows and enabling staff to concentrate on what truly matters.