The City Mood Project

Michael originally developed the world’s first reporting and safeguarding app for children and young people called tootoot. To date, tootoot has supported over 600,000 children globally to report over 70,000 concerns of bullying, mental health and safeguarding to name but a few. Tootoot has recently been recommended and evaluated by the Department for Education and UK Government.

As a result of tootoot’s success, Michael and his team set out on a mission 3years ago to develop Stribe, an employee engagement platform which helps to create collaborative workplaces that great people thrive in.

Stribe, headquartered in Manchester’s Technology centre on Oxford Rd, is working collaboratively with the GM Good Employment Charter and pro-manchester, and is directly funded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Stribe supports organisations of all shapes and sizes across private and public sector and Stribe’s North West partners include; Bolton Council, Great Places Housing Group, GM Good Employment Charter, Wigan & Leigh College and Tangerine PR.

Michael has won a number of awards and accolades including; Forbes 30 Under 30 Entrepreneur of the Year, Tech Nation’s Rising Star 2020 and Nominet Trust’s Global Tech for Good Winner.

Michael is on a mission to make organisations happier and safe places with Stribe’s award-winning team

Sam Booth is Co-Chief Exec of pro-manchester, the growth network that brings together ambitious businesses across Greater Manchester to connect, develop and shape the future of the city region.

Sam leads the organisation’s outward-facing agenda, building strong relationships across the region and working closely with partners, members and stakeholders to understand where the biggest opportunities are for business. She brings an external perspective to pro-manchester’s work, helping to identify what matters now, where momentum is building, and how the organisation can create the right conditions for collaboration, growth and influence.

Alongside Co-Chief Exec Nicola McCormick, Sam is part of a leadership model that breaks from tradition. Together, they lead pro-manchester through a shared, collaborative approach that reflects the organisation’s belief in community, support and creating opportunity together. As two women leading side by side, they are proud to be showing that in Manchester, leadership can look different – and stronger – when it is built on partnership.

Sam has been at pro-manchester for 17 years and has been an integral part of its growth. A firm part of the Manchester business community, Sam is a familiar face to most, constantly and efficiently working to bring businesses together in the city region.

Sam also sits on the board of trustees for Forever Manchester, a charity that supports community activity across Greater Manchester. As well as this, Sam also sits on the Greater Manchester Economic Resilience Board, the Greater Manchester Organisational Representatives Group, the Manchester Business Sounding Board, the Bee Net Zero Advisory Board and the Manchester tech hub Board.  In 2019 Sam also became the Regional Deputy Chair of TheCityUK, where she helps to engage the national body on a regional level on behalf of individuals in the financial and professional services industries.

An exiled Scotsman, Ian has spent his career working on environmental and public health issues – and the socioeconomic policies that underpin them – from community to international levels.

Starting his career as an environmental health officer with Carlisle City Council, he has worked in delivery, policy and leadership roles for Edinburgh City Council, the Health and Safety Executive, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, The World Health Organisation (Euro), the UK Public Health Association, Groundwork UK and The Growth Company.

Since March 2019, he has led the development and implementation of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, – an initiative established by the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham in his first term and now a major policy foundation to help address employment related inequalities and build economic and social resilience in his second.

Clair is a values driven HR professional with over 15 years’ experience, working both overseas and the UK. Clair specialises in scaling SMEs through her people centric strategies that combine a logical business approach with innovation and creativity.

Having qualified in both HR and L&D, alongside her coaching and NLP knowledge, this gives Clair an unique perspective to be able to build solid relationship internally and bring about the change required to make a business successful with the people always at the heart.

Clair is passionate about working within the local schools and charities especially around educating and supporting young adults by giving them real life skills which will support them throughout their careers; having also created and developed an award-winning apprenticeship scheme.

Louise Brown is an award‑winning senior HR leader, organisational development specialist and culture strategist, recognised globally as one of the CIPD HR30 leaders for 2026. A published Author, TEDx Speaker and NLP‑qualified Coach, she is known for her thought leadership at the intersection of culture, identity and transformation, and for speaking candidly about self‑belief, leadership and the courage it takes to claim your place.

As the author of Bold, Brave, Brilliant! Louise introduces the BRAVElou® framework — a practical, deeply human approach to overcoming imposter syndrome and leading with authenticity. Her work blends evidence‑based HR practice with psychological insight, helping leaders navigate identity shifts, strengthen self‑belief and build cultures where people can think clearly, act courageously and perform at their best.

With over 30 years in the public sector, specialising in education, Louise has led major transformation programmes, complex people portfolios and large multidisciplinary teams. She holds a Master’s Degree in Human Resources and Organisational Development, is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, and an alumna of Oxford University Saïd Business School.

Named Leader of the Year at the Greater Manchester Good Employment Awards in 2023, Louise is recognised for leadership that puts people first and for championing the transformative power of Further Education, something she credits with changing the trajectory of her own life.