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Alison McKenzie‑Folan OBE Appointed As Project Sponsor for SAVVI

by Shelley Heckman, Published 12 May 2026

We are delighted to announce that Alison McKenzie‑Folan OBE, Chief Executive of Wigan Council and Executive Chair of iNetwork, has formally stepped into the role of Project Sponsor for SAVVI.

“SAVVI is about turning innovation into real, practical change for councils and the communities we serve. I’m proud of the work Wigan has already been part of, and I’m excited to support the programme as it continues to grow, learn, and embed what works across local government.”

Alison McKenzie‑Folan OBE, Chief Executive, Wigan Council

What is SAVVI?

SAVVI (Scalable Approach to Vulnerability via Interoperability) is a collaborative programme hosted by iStandUK (at Tameside Council), supporting local authorities to better identify vulnerable people and coordinate support across organisations.

Funded through the MHCLG Local Digital Fund, SAVVI focuses on developing and promoting common data standards that help councils and their partners work together more effectively to improve information sharing, target support more accurately, and deliver joined‑up responses to those most in need.

A Change in Sponsorship

Alison succeeds Phil Swan, who previously held the Project Sponsor role during his time at Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). Phil has since moved on to take up a new role with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). We would like to thank Phil for his leadership and support during an important stage of SAVVI’s development.

As the programme continues to evolve, it was important to appoint a sponsor who is deeply embedded at the local government level and who understands both the strategic ambition of SAVVI and the realities of delivery and adoption on the ground.

Why Alison?

Alison is a natural fit for the role. Under her leadership, Wigan Council has demonstrated a strong commitment to SAVVI through active participation in multiple pilots:

⁠

Wigan Civil Contingencies Pilot – Phase 1⁠

(completed)

Wigan Civil Contingencies Pilot – Phase 2 (started this year)

Wigan Benefits Maximisation Pilot (started this year)

In total, Wigan has launched and supported three SAVVI pilots, making it the most engaged organisations in the UK to date.

This level of participation reflects not just organisational involvement, but personal leadership. Alison believes strongly in the aims of SAVVI and has been instrumental in spearheading adoption within her organisation, ensuring learning from pilots translates into meaningful change.

Leading by Example

As Executive Chair of iNetwork, Alison also brings a national perspective and a strong track record of collaboration across the local government sector. Her appointment strengthens SAVVI’s connection to the wider public‑sector community, supporting shared learning and the spread of effective practice.

Her sponsorship signals a clear commitment to moving SAVVI from experimentation to embedded, sustainable impact, with strong local leadership at its heart.

Looking Ahead

We are delighted to welcome Alison’s leadership as SAVVI enters its next phase and look forward to working closely with her as the programme continues to support innovation, learning, and delivery across the sector.

Get Involved

SAVVI continues to grow through collaboration with councils and public‑sector partners who are committed to improving how vulnerability is identified and supported.

If your organisation is interested in learning more about SAVVI, joining future pilots, or exploring how common data standards could support your services, we’d love to hear from you. Visit our

website⁠

get in touch ⁠

to find out how you can be part of the next phase of SAVVI.

Get in touch at

info@savviuk.org⁠

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