LGcomms has appointed Louise Neilan as its Chair for 2025 following its Annual General Meeting.
Louise succeeds Andy Allsopp who served a three year term as LGcomms Chair.
Louise Neilan has recently completed her first year as Assistant Director for Communications and Engagement at Thurrock Council. Before that she worked at Southwark Council for eleven years, first as Media Manager, and then as Head of Communications. Previously she worked at the Audit Commission for seven years, having started her local government career in west London, first at Ealing, and then at Hammersmith and Fulham. She has presented widely on learnings from crises having supported communities through a number of difficult events, including the London Bridge and Borough terror attacks in 2017. Louise was the first Chair of the London Councils Heads of Communications network, and believes passionately in the power of collaboration and networks to solve problems and support colleagues.
There are no other changes to the Senior Executive with all the vice chairs, the national secretary and the treasurer being reappointed to their roles.
The organisation’s Officers for the coming year are:
Chair:
Louise Neilan
Vice Chairs:
Alix Macfarlane, Jeni Harvey, Andrew Hadfield-Ames, Eddie Coates-Madden
National Secretary: Michael Stringer
Treasurer: Danni Clayton
LGcomms Chair Louise Neilan, said:
“It is a great honour to take on the role of Chair of LGcomms at such an exciting time for local government. Andy has been an incredible Chair who has taken the organisation from strength to strength over the last few years, nurturing relationships in every corner of Britain, and working with the whole executive to hone our purpose and offer. LGcomms is a force for good in our sector, growing our talent and expertise; supporting comms professionals across the country; and ensuring councils don’t get left behind by the eye-watering pace of change in how people communicate.
“Collectively, in the LGcomms executive, and in our wider community, I believe we have all the answers to the challenges we face in serving our organisations, our politicians and our residents. Our power is in working together to share our solutions, our wisdom, and crucially the mistakes we’ve made along the way. I’m really excited to support this work as Chair, and help with the evolution of this fantastic organisation.”