The presentation looks at how Barnsley Council took the opportunity to expand the services currently offered at the Crematorium by introducing a pet crematorium and a stone masonry business. The aim being, to create new income streams whilst also responding to a growing need within the community for pet bereavement and memorial services. As a nation of pet lovers, the aim of the pet crematorium is to provide local pet owners with a respectful and compassionate service during the difficult time of losing a beloved companion. The facility offers individual cremations, a range of memorial products, and support to help owners cope with their loss. With pet ownership continuing to rise, the demand for dignified and professional pet aftercare services has increased significantly. The stone masonry business aim was to design, manufacture and maintain memorials, headstones, plaques and commemorative features for both human and pet memorialisation. Together the developments strengthen the crematorium’s role as a bereavement service provider, improve financial resilience and address clear public needs within the local community.

Christina began her journey into public health funerals at Rother and Wealden Council in 2017. What began as a job quickly became a mission. Christina developed her council’s internal processes, testing them in real world cases, soon becoming the lead officer in this emotionally and legally complex area. She soon became a media commentator on funeral poverty and council funeral policy, and author of the bestselling book Ashes to Admin under the pen name, Evie King. Followed by death planning guide Get Ahead of Being Dead in 2026. Christina now brings her lived experience and specialist knowledge into ICCM’s training sessions, helping others handle sensitive, often unseen cases with professionalism and care.

Kate White and Leighann Heron job-share the role of Project Director at the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust, where they jointly lead Unlocking Highgate Cemetery, the Trust’s 25-year conservation masterplan. Kate joined the Trust in 2021 and Leighann in 2022, bringing architectural backgrounds and client-side project leadership to a complex heritage, landscape and public engagement programme. They have led the project through key stages of development, including concept design, consultant coordination, planning, stakeholder engagement, procurement and the National Lottery Heritage Fund application process. The first phase of Unlocking Highgate Cemetery is a £19.5m programme, supported by a £6.7m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, focused on landscape recovery, conservation of nationally significant structures, improved access and public engagement.

The journey began in 2019 with the publication of a conservation plan. From this, the Trust developed Unlocking Highgate Cemetery, a 25-year conservation masterplan bringing together heritage conservation, landscape recovery, climate resilience, improved access and public engagement. Its first phase is a £19.5m programme supported by a £6.7m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Kate White and Leighann Heron will share the Trust’s journey from an ambitious long-term vision to a clearly defined and fundable first phase. They will explore how the project case was developed through research, consultation, design, planning and partnership working, and how the capital works, activity programme and organisational plans were brought together into one application. The presentation will provide a brief overview of the Trust’s funding journey, including some of the main decisions and challenges along the way, which may be useful to other cemetery organisations considering a Heritage Fund application.

Fiona has worked in Local Authority for 30 years. She initially started in Business & Administration including Cemeteries and was given the opportunity to gain her ICCM Diploma which stood her in good stead when the post of Bereavement & Burials Officer came up. Fiona has been in this post for the past 15 years, managing both strategy and operations for 45 cemeteries and churchyards with a team of 20 staff. During this time she has built up a wealth of experience and is passionate in providing a caring and sensitive bereavement service for the residents of North Ayrshire. Fiona has been an ICCM member for 20 years, sat on the Scottish Government burial regulations working group to assist reform in Scottish burial legislation, and is also a member of the Scottish Bereavement Benchmarking Group.

During COVID Authorities were challenged to create additional storage facilities to care for the anticipated deceased. This is how the three sister Authorities of North , East and South Ayrshire created a professional bespoke facility in 12 weeks. A facility that has been recognised by our Regional Resilience Team as having the potential to act as Scotland’s national facility in the event of a Mass Fatality

Justin Smith is an agronomist and environmental consultant with nearly 40 years of experience in soil, water and land management. As founder of Green Pigeon Consulting, he helps the public sector deliver sustainable open space solutions and support carbon neutrality goals. Justin has founded and grown several innovative businesses, including the UK's leading cemetery and crematorium consultancy, which he sold in a multimillion-pound deal. He is recognised for pioneering work in precision farming, environmental planning and sustainable infrastructure, and is a regular speaker on sustainability, innovation and land management.

After graduating from Durham University with a degree in Chemistry, I began my career in the pharmaceutical industry, focusing primarily on diabetes. Eight years later, I felt the pull of the family business and joined two of our companies specialising in the chemical treatment of fabrics to meet British Flame retardancy standards. In 2008, I relocated from Kent to East Yorkshire to join Odlings, following the retirement of Gerald Priestman, who had served as Managing Director for 50 years. Yorkshire is now firmly home for my wife, our two children, and me. Over the years, I have developed a strong connection to the masonry business and feel fully settled in both the role and the industry. I consider myself extremely fortunate to work alongside an excellent team, and I value the welcoming and supportive nature of the industry as a whole. Outside of work, much of my time is spent ferrying my children to various clubs and sporting activities. When I do find a moment to myself, I enjoy cycling, running, and singing in our local church choir.

John Adams is a fourth-generation Funeral Director with Perry & Phillips Funeral Directors in Shropshire and a Past National President of the National Association of Funeral Directors. He is the Funeral Industry Advisor to Child Bereavement UK, Ambassador for The Good Grief Trust, co-author of the internationally sold book Don't Tell the Children, and host of the podcast Death: A Changing Industry. Following the death of his mother when he was 12 years old, John became passionate about improving society's understanding of grief and bereavement. In 2022, he launched a national campaign calling for bereavement awareness to be incorporated into the school curriculum. The campaign secured more than 11,000 signatures, was debated in Parliament, and contributed to bereavement education becoming part of the statutory curriculum from September 2026.

Tom Guilbert-Newell is a keen young adult who has always had a passion for a better and healthier future, ensuring that his passion for sustainability is embedded throughout the action he takes. Tom is an Environment and Sustainability Keele Graduate, and after 2 years working in sustainability and the community at Keele Students' Union, Tom joined Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council where he currently works at all levels within the organisation to develop social, economic and environmental solutions to combat climate change for a more sustainable Council and borough. In particular for this presentation, Tom and the Council have focused on using spaces of bereavement like cemeteries to recover the local natural environment through sustainable grassland management, wildflower introduction, perennial planting and much more!

My funeral industry career began at Memoria as Bereavement Services Manager. A challenging position in a busy crematorium. It didn’t take long for me to realise helping bereaved families was my calling. When the opportunity came to move to Bramcote Crematorium I jumped at the chance, more funerals meant more families to help at the most difficult of times. In my current position as Strategic and Business Development Manager I look forward to developing the service to its full potential in challenging times.

Senior Project Manager at Thomson Gray Construction Consultants with over 20 years’ experience in the construction industry, with specialist expertise across a diverse range of sectors including crematoria, heritage, high secure facilities, and listed buildings. Experienced in risk management and delivering projects within sensitive, live environments. A member of the Association for Project Management, bringing extensive leadership experience and a strong track record in delivering complex projects.