First elected to Stoke-on-Trent City Council in 2010, I've served my beloved city in both administration and opposition. From 2015 until 2023 as deputy leader and then leader, I led numerous landmark projects that transformed the face of Stoke-on-Trent, including the award winning Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone, the city’s shortlisted bid to be City of Culture 2021, and Stoke-on-Trent’s nationally acclaimed Fostering Friendly City campaign, which created the greatest concentration of fostering friendly employers in the country. Alongside securing the largest ever Levelling Up Fund allocation for any single place, bringing over £100m of government investment to the city, and the second largest relocation of civil service jobs from Whitehall, my high profile leadership shone a spotlight on how place-based policy-making led by local leaders could influence across government. I've given evidence to select committees, led No 10 cross governmental round tables, and been credited with influencing national policymaking from asylum and housing, to culture and devolution.Placing partnership working at the heart of placemaking, I have extensive experience of working with the public, private and voluntary sector to deliver change, having served on numerous bodies including the Community Safety Partnership, Health & Well Being Board, Intergrated Care Partnership and Local Enterprise Partnership.My involvement with the LGA stretches back to 2017 - in 2022 I became chair of the Improvement and Innovation Board, leading our response to government on local government assurance and sector-led improvement. As an active member peer working predominantly with challenged local authorities, I work regularly with leading politicians of all colours, senior officers and commissioners about the sector, which I’ve translated across to my chairmanship of the IDeA company board, strengthening our reputation, expand our work and increase revenue.In July 2023, I was elected Deputy Leader of the LGA Conservative Group. I also became a trustee of Localis, the neo-local thinktank. I also do a small amount of consulting work for preferred clients, as well as speaking at events.I received an OBE in the 2024 King’s New Years Honours in recognition of my contribution to local government.Most recently, I have become a Non Executive Director at Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency. I’m looking forward to working with a range of places to drive housing growth, using my own expertise as well as the local ambition that I know councils have across the country.