Andreas Christophorou
Director of Communications & Marketing, London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Andreas has been Director of Communications and Marketing at London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the past eight years.
In that time, he has created a multi award winning Communications Service which was singled out for praise this year by both the Local Government Association (Peer Review) and Investors in People. Andreas has also led Communications Peer Reviews himself and is an awards judge and mentor.
His local government career has also included Westminster along with Sutton Council where he was Head of Communications.
Andreas worked for the Mayor of London for seven years mainly on the development and legacy use of the 2012 Olympic Park where he was Head of Media for the London Legacy Development Corporation. Before moving into communications, Andreas was a local and national journalist.
Bobbie Hough
Managing Director, Hough Bellis Communications
Bobbie has worked in the social housing sector for the past 20 years, supporting boards and executive teams on everything from strategic planning and crisis communications to public affairs and campaigns. He has worked with some of the UK’s most influential organisations overseeing successful mergers, high profile campaigns and managing crisis scenarios.
Carly Davis
Head of External Communications, Lewisham Council
Carly is an award winning public sector communicator and marketer, a behaviour change campaigns specialist and a data lover.
Currently the Head of External Communications at Lewisham Council, she has led her team to deliver several award winning campaigns and represented local authorities on the international stage, winning Campaign of the Year at the Global Marketing Awards last year.
A champion of public service comms, she is passionate about continually innovating, lifting industry standards and driving comms as a skilled profession, and a science.
Caroline Adlem
Director of Corporate & Customer, Castle Point Borough Council
Caroline is Director of Corporate & Customer at Castle Point Borough Council in Essex, a position she has held since April 2024. This busy Directorate includes the statutory Finance and Governance teams, as well as Elections, Revenues & Benefits, People, Policy, Transformation, Performance and Customer. The Council has had no communications team for the last decade, so this important function is currently being reintroduced, with proof of the concept delivered through a successful campaign promoting engagement in the Castle Point Plan consultation.
Prior to this, Caroline held several Head of Service roles, including Head of Communications & Engagement at Slough Borough Council, Head of Commercial & Assets at Wealden District Council, Head of Customer Transformation Programmes and Head of Commercial & Traded Development, both at Essex County Council.
Having started her career in advertising in Cologne Germany, Caroline relocated back to England in the early 2000s and worked across the breadth of the communications team at Essex County Council, starting as Internal Communications Manager and working across roles including Communications Strategy Manager, Marketing Manager and Brand and Content Manager. In fact the only team Caroline never worked in at ECC was the media team, a lack of experience she more than made up for at Slough!
Dan Hare
Director, Forefront
Dan Hare is a director at Forfront; creators of the e-shot digital communications platform. With more than 25 years’ experience in digital marketing, Dan has worked to support a vast range of central and local government customers to create highly effective digital campaigns. He in an engaging presenter who teaches best practices on a range of topics including email design, marketing automation and accessibility.
Dan Slee
Director, Dan Slee C2 Ltd
Dan Slee is a freelance digital communications consultant who specialises in the public sector. He spent 20 years working for and with the media as a journalist and in local government communications. He has pioneered the use of social media in local government since 2008. He is a former editorial board member for The Guardian’s Public Sector Leaders and a former LGComms Future Leaders alumni. He is a Fellow of the RSA and a CIPR Local Public Sector committee member. He co-founded commscamp the largest UK public sector comms unconference. You can find him at danslee.co.uk and dan@danslee.co.uk. He tries to make future comms easier.
Cllr. David T. Molyneux MBE,
Leader – Wigan Council
David Molyneux was first elected to the Council in 1982. He is an engineer by profession and in the latter part of his career was the Head of Purchasing in the Aerospace industry. Since being elected, David has served the Council in a number of positions including Chair and Vice Chair of the Planning and Development Committee and has served on the Housing, Highway and Works and Policy and Resources Committees.
He became Leader of Wigan Council in May 2018 after holding the position of Deputy for the previous 10 years, where he had responsibility for the environment and regeneration. As Leader he retains the Portfolio for Economic Development and Regeneration. He also holds the GMCA portfolio for Resources/Finance
David is a keen sports fan and follows both Wigan Athletic FC, Wigan Warriors RLFC and Leigh Leopards RLFC.
He was honoured to receive an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2022 for services to the community and local government.
Georgia Turner,
georgiaturnercommunications.co.uk
I was Director of Communications and Marketing at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council until 2022, when I set up my consultancy business to provide communications and engagement expertise with energy to the public sector. I specialise in supporting comms leaders and teams with strategic capacity gaps, communications reviews and reputation audits, strategy and narrative creation for your organisations and projects, public affairs support (in particular around devolution and structural reform), campaigns, training and mentoring. Find out more about what I do at www.georgiaturnercommunications.co.uk.
Geraldine Brown,
Head of Policy, Development and Public Affairs, Stockton on Tees Borough Council
Geraldine is Head of Policy, Development and Public Affairs at Stockton on Tees Borough Council. Stockton is an award winning Council, where Geraldine has a senior role driving the organisation’s strategic planning and policy agenda.
Having picked up the remit for Public Affairs 18 months ago, she has responsibility for raising the profile of the Borough among stakeholders both within, and outside of the area. This includes securing support and building alliances to deliver the Council’s ambitious programme of inclusive growth and transformation, branded as ‘Powering Our Future’.
Geraldine has previously held senior roles in economic policy and partnerships, working with Local, Regional and Central Government. She has played a key part in developing strategic partnerships and shared platforms to influence Government around the English devolution agenda.
Heather Jameson
Editor, The MJ
Heather Jameson is editor of The MJ, the leading weekly local government title for chief executives and senior managers, and of www.TheMJ.co.uk.
She is a regular speaker at both local government events and The MJ’s own events, including The MJ Future Forum, The Future Forum North and The MJ Achievement Awards.
Heather was a member of the Councillors’ Commission, chaired by Professor Colin Copus of De Montfort University, and is a passionate advocate of local government.
Jack Fox
Senior Digital Consultant, Orlo
As a Senior Digital Consultant at Orlo, Jack is passionate about helping public sector organisations connect with the citizens they serve by working with them to develop and enhance their digital engagement strategies.
James Odling-Smee
Director of Communications and Public Affairs, London Councils
James Odling-Smee is Director of Communications and Public Affairs at London Councils which is the collective of local government in London representing 32 boroughs and the City of London Corporation. His team works to promote collaboration and partnership across London – between boroughs as well as between all local, regional and national public services such as the NHS and Greater London Authority. They also work with partners across the country to lobby Government and Parliament to promote greater devolution to localities, including providing the Secretariat for the London APPG.
James has worked in council communications roles Hackney, Hertfordshire, Luton and Camden.
Jason Gibbins
Acting Head –BBC Local News Partnerships
Jason Gibbins, a multi-media editor and journalist, is the head of the BBC Local New Partnerships [LNP].
He initially joined the LNP as Assistant Editor ahead of its launch in 2017, before stepping up to lead the project in July 2022.
The LNP is a collaboration between the BBC and the UK regional news industry to support public service reporting, sustain local democracy and improve skills in journalism.
Prior to joining the BBC Jason spent more than 20 years working in the regional press, including 12 years as editor of various news titles in the South Midlands such as the Banbury Guardian, Daventry Express, Buckingham Advertiser & Review and Bucks Herald.
Other titles he has worked for include the Northampton Chronicle & Echo, Coventry Telegraph and, on a freelance basis, the Mail on Sunday and Sunday Express.
Email: jason.gibbins@bbc.co.uk
X: @jgibbins
Jill Laverick
Director of Corporate Affairs, Sunderland City Council
Overseeing services including communications, strategy, partnerships and performance. Jill’s has led the city’s public affairs activity for a number of years working across government relations and inward investment to secure funding and private sector buy-in for the city’s key projects. She has also worked at a regional level, alongside North East colleagues to deliver award winning behaviour change campaigns and then as part of the team that secured a Mayoral devolution deal for the region.
Jill has recently taken on responsibility for engagement and cohesion for Sunderland and will be working with partners and communities alongside government to establish an approach that helps the city to come back stronger from the social disorder of August 2024, she is from Sunderland and cares passionately about connecting residents from across the city to the opportunities presented by its ongoing regeneration.
Julie Heath
Communications Manager, West Lindsey District Council
Julie has been a dedicated member of the team for 14 years. Before joining the council, Julie spent several years as a local journalist, where she developed a passion for storytelling and connecting with the community. At West Lindsey, she manages a small but highly creative corporate communications team, known for their innovative approaches and strong, people-focused messaging. Julie loves to explore new ideas to engage with the public and opportunities to work with other communication professionals, ensuring that the council’s communications are always clear, effective, and resonate with residents.
Laura Hogan
Digital Communications Manager, Wakefield Council
As Digital Communications Manager at Wakefield Council, Laura’s aim is to connect people through clear and cohesive communication. With a background in comms right across the public sector, Laura has previously worked in both local government and the healthcare sector.
Laurel Smithson
Senior Communications Manager, Hertfordshire County Council
Laurel is a Senior Communications Manager in the award-winning comms team at Hertfordshire County Council.
Previously a journalist in local and national newspapers, she has worked in local and national public sector comms for over 17 years in areas including policing, immigration, climate change, international trade, business and workers’ right. Known as the ‘queen of evaluation’ in her team, she’s passionate about driving impactful campaigns using insight and a strong evaluation process.
Laurel is also a blogger and judge for Comms2Point0.
Lauren Wiffen
Corporate Communications & Media Officer, Braintree District Council
Lauren is a communications professional who has worked in local government for 9 years, starting her career as an apprentice and winning multiple regional and national apprenticeship awards, and to now specialising in media relations, digital marketing and managing communication for high profile project areas including strategic planning and crisis communication. She is also the Vice-Chair of the East of England CIM, delivering regional
Louisa Shaw
Head of Place Marketing at We Are Staffordshire
Louisa Shaw is the Head of Place Marketing at We Are Staffordshire, leading the promotion and marketing for the county’s place brand with a mission to see and celebrate Staffordshire on the regional, national and international stage as a great place to live and work, visit, study and invest in a prosperous future.
With over a decade’s experience in placemaking, regeneration and strategic communications, Louisa has led complex marketing and community engagement programmes for major infrastructure and developments in the Midlands and wider UK.
Cllr Louise Gittins
LGA Chair
Cllr Louise Gittins was first elected to Cheshire West and Chester Council in 2011, to serve Little Neston and Burton. A year later, she became the Shadow Spokesperson for Culture and Leisure and was subsequently appointed as the Shadow Deputy Leader in 2014.
Following the 2015 election, which saw Labour take control of Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cllr Gittins was named Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing, and in May 2019, she was elected as Leader of the Council and continues in this role to date.
Cllr Gittins was elected Chair of the LGA in July 2024.
Mike Pinkerton
Head of Comms, City of Edinburgh
Mike began his comms career with Dunfermline Athletic FC in 2003, handling the club’s media relations during a rare run to the Scottish Cup Final and even rarer foray into European football in 2004. Then came four fun creative years with Edinburgh Leisure before the real work began in 2008 with a move into the Council’s press office, tackling the Edinburgh Tram ‘fiasco’ and prolonged judge-led inquiry that followed. Rising up the ranks to Head of Comms, he led his team’s multi award-winning response to the Edinburgh schools’ crisis in 2016, passing of HM The Queen in 2022 and rather more successful tram project the following year.
Paul Beecroft
Communications Business Partner, Dorset Council
Paul has worked in local government comms since 2004. He worked in a variety of service areas including tourism, adults & housing, children’s, transformation and now Corporate Services. Paul’s current portfolio covers a wide range of topics including strategic planning, cost of living, finance, HR, media relations and social media, digital marketing, business continuity, warning & informing, civic events and asylum seekers and refugees.
Paul has always wanted to make a difference and is passionate about getting things right for his communities, and strives to deliver effective comms which reach, engage and support his residents.
Paul is always looking for new ways to grow and develop both professionally and personally and looks forward to meeting lots of you at this years’ Academy.
Sarah Rochester
Service Manager, Communications and Marketing Customer & Digital Services, Aberdeenshire Council
Sarah has worked in local government in Scotland for around a decade, following a period in the aviation industry and before that in radio.
During her career she has navigated and managed major crisis events, significant national coverage, built relationships at a Scottish and UK level and supported her team with a range of incidents. She is an experienced communicator and also runs events, supports a team of designers, and UX experts.
She lives on the edge of the Cairngorm National Park in north-east Scotland, so has no excuse to not take the dog out or go for a run in all weathers. Sometimes all weathers in one day!
Shane Spence
Campaigns Manager, Sheffield City Council
With over ten years of experience in comms, predominantly within the public sector, he brings a creative and data based approach to all projects undertaken by the team.
He is passionate about public and community engagement, ensuring local people are considered throughout the planning and implementation process. This all ties into the ultimate aim of creating impactful campaigns that reflect and portray the communities that we serve.
Shelley Kipling
Assistant Chief Executive, Oldham Council,
With a career in local and regional Government spanning more than two decades, Shelley has extensive experience across strategy, policy, communications, marketing and business transformation.
Currently Assistant Chief Executive at Oldham Council, Shelley began her career at Wakefield Council before then temporarily moving into the private sector. She then went back into local government and headed up the communications and marketing services at organisations including Oldham Council and Manchester City Council, before moving back to Oldham Council and being promoted into her current role where she has responsibility for areas including communications, policy, IT, customer services and human resources.
A creative and inspirational leader, Shelley is a firm believer in placing communications at the heart of strategic decision-making.
Shirah Bamber
Director at Alma, Alma
Shirah is a strategic comms specialist with extensive experience delivering communications, marketing, and engagement services across the public, private, and third sectors.
She is a co-founder of Alma, an audience development consultancy that works with clients across the UK, delivering strategic communications, media + digital, and training services. Alma has recently had regular coverage in journalism trade press for its innovative work with London-based publisher, The Lead, and their pop-up hyperlocal newsletters and newspapers.
Alum of the LGComms Future Leaders’ Programme, Shirah also has a Masters in Strategic Communication and Diploma in Leadership and Management.
Will began his career in journalism before starting a career in public relations and public affairs. Before joining Core Cities UK, he worked for Newcastle City Council on a range of projects, including adult and children’s social care communications. He is a passionate believer in the power of communities and the local state.
Yakub Qureshi
Democracy editor, Reach
Yakub manages the local democracy reporting service at Reach, leading a team of reporters and editors.
Working in partnership with the BBC, it’s his job to ensure LDRs within the newsrooms effectively report on their councils.
Yakub oversees legal, financial, training and strategic elements of the service, ensuring coverage is accurate, objective and useful to audiences.
Yakub also works across editorial projects within Reach ranging from coverage of UK elections, newsletters, data stories and AI.
He previously worked at the Manchester Evening News, Press Association, Mirror Online and The Scotsman.