Who's Speaking?

Eric Pickles is Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Other previous political appointments include: Member of Parliament for Brentwood and Ongar (April 1992), Leader of Bradford Council (1988-1990) and Deputy-Leader of the Conservative Group AMA (1989-1991).

Hilary is MP for Leeds Central and the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons. Previously, he served as International Development Secretary, as a Minister in the Home Office and as Secretary of State at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
 

Born in Cornwall on 12 June 1962, and educated at Truro School and Reading University. A Chartered Surveyor by profession, and former self-employed businessman and company director, Mark was elected as the Member of Parliament for Hertford and Stortford in 2001 with over 44% of the vote.

Will Hutton has just begun as Principal of Hertford College Oxford. Regularly called on to advise senior political and business figures and comment in the national and international media, Will is today one of the country’s leading economic commentators.

Julian Le Grand is the Richard Titmuss Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics. From 2003 to 2005 he was seconded to No 10 Downing St as senior health  policy adviser to the Prime Minister, Tony Blair.  He has also acted as an adviser to the World Bank, the World Health Organisation, the European Commission, the OECD, HM Treasury and the UK Department of Health.

Steve Stewart has extensive senior-level experience in local government across the UK, having spent 9 years as Assistant Director at Leeds City Council between 1990-99 followed by 4 years as Head of Corporate Strategy at Middlesbrough Council between 1999-2003.

Cllr Peter John was born in Weston-Super-Mare. He attended his local comprehensive school and went on to study law at the University of London. After graduating in 1988 he became a barrister.

He has been a member of the Labour Party since 1982. He was elected as a councillor for South Camberwell Ward in 2002 and after serving as group Chief Whip became Leader of Southwark Labour in 2004.

He was elected the new Leader of Southwark Council at Council Assembly on Wednesday 19 May 2010.

Mike is Chief Executive of New Economy,  a Manchester-based public private partnership which works to create economic growth and prosperity for Greater Manchester.  He has extensive experience in economic development and regeneration.

John Tizard is an independent strategic advisor and commentator on public policy and public service practice. He works with a range of public, third, private and academic organisations.  His approach is “collaborating and challenging for excellence”. 

Paul Blantern has been chief executive of Northamptonshire County Council since 1st June 2010 and has also been Managing Director of LGSS since 1st October 2010.

Paul joined Northamptonshire County Council on an interim basis in 2008 and in September that year was appointed as Corporate Director for Customer and Community Services where he was responsible for a wide range of customer–facing services including libraries, country parks, adult learning, fire & rescue and the customer service centre as well as support services such as HR and IT.