Our small team is made up of leadership experts with experience in politics, local and central government and the private sector.
We believe it takes great leadership to create a thriving and prosperous community. Our role is to help create great places to live by giving leaders the opportunity to shift their thinking on leadership so they can fundamentally transform their communities for the better. We help local government leaders to meet the specific challenge of leading a place rather than a council as today’s local leaders are expected to provide the imagination to create a community out of place.
‘Leadership’ is all we do. We work with the leaders of local authorities and, within local strategic partnerships to help them develop the skills and qualities they need to be effective leaders across place.
Kate was previously chief executive of NHS Estates. Building magazine described her as ‘the most powerful woman in construction' as she managed Europe's largest property portfolio, the turnover for which she doubled in three years. Kate's career spans the civil service, local government, healthcare and the voluntary sector. Kate has witnessed at first hand the importance of leadership skills among both officers and politicians during her impressive and varied career. She is highly skilled at reshaping large organisations, particularly those in complex and sensitive political environments. Kate is an experienced leader, with a reputation for making informed, tough decisions, where she has brought out the best of her teams through her open and approachable style. Having worked as both a chairperson and chief executive, Kate has substantial board level experience.
John is the key figure dealing directly with local authorities responsible for ensuring chief executives, the leader or Mayor and both their senior teams are given the opportunity to fundamentally shift their thinking on leadership. He defines the scope of the work to be carried out, and he manages and develops the team of advisers who have become experts in working with local authorities, from making an initial assessment of an authority's leadership challenges to facilitating and supporting change and development. John also evaluates the impact and effectiveness of the work. John ran his own very successful leadership development business working with both the public and private sectors, including several of the world’s largest businesses. During this time he advised the chief executives of FTSE 100 businesses. He started his career in the army as a commander of the leadership development wing of the Royal Artillery where he was responsible for officer selection and development of non-commissioned officers.
Having read PPE at Oxford Joe started his careers in the voluntary sector, becoming Assistant Director of Community Service Volunteers. He worked in television for a number of years, heading up the ITV Telethon, working as Strategy Co-ordinator for BBC Worldwide and the Director of Programmes for World Learning Network. He is also the former National Programme Director for the New Millennium Experience. In parallel, Joe Spent 16 years as a councillor in Islington. Joe’s passion for and commitment to local government eventually led to him setting up the Leadership Centre for Local Government in 2004. Here he is Director of politics and partnerships, responsible for the Civic Pride initiative encouraging confident, capable and ambitious political leadership.
Nicky is responsible for the smooth running of the Leadership Centre. She is also the central project manager for the Total Place programme.
Holly is responsible for collecting and sharing the learning from the Leadership Centre’s work. She also manages the Leeds Castle Leadership Programme.
Ben works on Total Place knowledge management.
Virlina supports the Leeds Castle Leadership Programme and the Leadership Centre’s work with Strategic Health Authorities.
Rebecca works with Nicky and Holly on the Total Place programme.
John supports Nicky on the Total Place programme.
Charlotte works closely with Joe Simpson particularly on Civic Pride as well as other political aspects of the Leadership Centre’s work.
Siobhan works with Joe Simpson on areas of the Civic Pride initiative and is also responsible for our range of publications.
Sarah supports the Political officers and looks after the administration of a range of Civic Pride projects.
Daniel is PA to John Atkinson and Kate Priestley and responsible for the administration of the Leadership Centre office.
Steve Freer (Chief Executive, CIPFA)
John O'Brien (Chief Executive, London Councils)
Cllr David Parsons (Leader, Leicestershire County Council)
Kate Priestley
Kim Ryley (Chief Executive, Kingston Upon Hull City Council)
Cllr Lord Peter Smith (Leader, Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council)
Cllr Richard Stay (Chair, East of England RIEP)
