Simon Bowers is the Assistant Director for Assets & Environment at West Northamptonshire Council. WNC is one of the largest unitary councils in England, having been created following the financial failure of Northamptonshire County Council. However, from the background of failure the new Council has built a strong and cohesive approach. Simon has been at the heart of this, forging a corporate assets function which responds to the needs of the organisation, with initiatives ranging from office optimisation, to new in-house children’s homes, to energy self-sufficiency. Simon has built deep and wide-ranging knowledge over his career, covering almost all aspects of place with an eye for innovative solutions and acute commercial awareness.