CIEH Licensing Conference

David Etheridge, Licensing Team Leader, Tewkesbury Borough Council. David Etheridge is a very experienced local government licensing practitioner, having begun his career at Worcester City Council in 2004.   Since then, he has worked for a number of local authorities and has developed a broad range of knowledge across various licensing disciplines.  David has significant experience of implementing new licensing regimes, including those created by the Licensing Act 2003, the Gambling Act 2005, the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, and by regulations made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.   David sits on a number of the Institute of Licensing’s Policy Committees, including on Tobacco and Vapes.

James Button, President, Institute of Licensing (IoL). Jim Button is a solicitor with over 30 yrs experience of local government and licensing work, having been an articled clerk at South Tyneside MBC, and a solicitor at Manchester City Council, now running his own niche Solicitors’ practice specialising in the fields of licensing, environmental and public health. He regularly advises local authorities, as well as appearing in the magistrates’ court on licensing appeals and is a popular and engaging trainer.
As a writer he is best known as the author of 4 editions of “Button on Taxis: Licensing Law and Practice”, as well as writing for the “Journal of Licensing”. He has written and contributed to many other books and periodicals.
Jim is President of the Institute of Licensing, having been a founder member and Chair of its predecessor, the Local Government Licensing Forum. The Institute honoured him with Companionship in 2012.

Louis Krog, Head of Public Protection, Cheltenham Borough Council. Louis Krog is Head of Public Protection at Cheltenham Borough Council. 
He has worked in local government licensing since 2009 and is the IoL’s National Communications Officer, as well as Chair of the South West region.

Marsha Kuye MBE, Head of Licensing and 24-Hour London, Greater London Authority. Marsha Kuye MBE is Head of 24-Hour London and Licensing at the Greater London Authority, where she leads the development of the Mayor of London’s Strategic Licensing Project and wider work to support London’s evening and night-time economy. With over 24 years of experience across local, regional and central government, Marsha has held senior roles spanning public policy, governance, resilience, economic development and major programme delivery. Her career has included leadership and advisory responsibilities on nationally significant initiatives, including border infrastructure, emergency response and recovery, public sector reform and organisational governance. Marsha was awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to post-Brexit border delivery and public service.

Mike Smith, Licensing & Community Safety Lead, Guildford Borough Council. Mike Smith is a Licensing Manager within a shared local authority regulatory service in Surrey. With a background spanning local government, Environmental Health and the licensed trade, he has specialised in licensing since 2013 and has particular expertise in licensing law, policy development, enforcement, governance and regulatory reform. Mike is an experienced trainer and conference speaker for the Institute of Licensing, an Advisory Council Member for the IoL South East Region, Chair of the LGA Licensing Forum and Chair of the Surrey Licensing Forum. He is currently helping to lead work on the licensing implications of Local Government Reorganisation in Surrey. A regular contributor to professional publications, Mike was awarded the Russell Jenner Award in 2022 for outstanding achievement in regulatory services.

Tony Ireland, Head of Public Protection, Luton Council. Tony Ireland is the Head of Public Protection for Luton Council, managing a range of regulatory services including licensing. Tony moved to regulatory services to implement the Licensing Act 2003 and has delivered projects including the award of a Small Casino Licence under the Gambling Act 2005, Introduction of a Business Improvement District (Luton BID), submitting a successful application for a Local Alcohol Action Area (Phase 2) and led on successful awards for Purple Flag since 2018. More recently he has worked in partnership to deliver key events in the town such as Party in the Park & Radio 1 Big Weekend. He has 42 years’ experience working in Local Government.