16 -17 September 2026 | Park Regis Birmingham
Sarah Longlands
Chief Executive
Centre for Local Economies
Sarah Longlands is Chief Executive of CLES, leading the organisation to champion community wealth building, inclusive local economies and place-based policy that enables people to live good lives in the places they call home. A leading authority in regional and local economic development, Sarah is a regular media commentator with appearances on BBC Breakfast and a column with the Municipal Journal. She also serves as a non-executive director on the board of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Prior to joining CLES, Sarah was director of the think tank IPPR North. She has also worked in local government and holds a PhD in Urban Studies from the University of Glasgow.