Outstanding Individual Contribution

Local Government Association Conservative Group

Councillor Abi Brown OBE

In summary, we find Councillor Brown to be someone with immense relationship building skills which have contributed well to the sector support and improvement offer provided by the Local Government Association. Councillor Brown has always been on hand to support, often 24/7, senior Councillors in those councils that have required additional support recently, for example, Slough and the London Borough of Croydon. She has demonstrated to people in Stoke on Trent why it is that local government is important, bringing about regeneration and new opportunities to communities that have benefited from the Governments levelling up agenda.

Sandwell MBC

Liann Brookes-Smith

This is a nomination for Liann Brookes-Smith, Interim Director of Public Health at Sandwell Council. Since joining the Public Health team as a Consultant in Public Health in 2021, Liann has made a significant contribution to transforming our approach and influencing that of the wider Council through periods of transition and change. She is a compassionate and empathic leader who has shown great resilience and creativity in addressing ongoing and new challenges, including through building on established partnerships.

Brighton & Hove City Council

Rachel Chasseaud

As Assistant Director for City Environmental Management, Rachel Chasseaud embodies Brighton and Hove City Council’s values of respect; collaboration; efficiency; openness; creativity; and customer focus, leading a front-facing, operational service with compassion and dedication to improvement, despite significant financial and cultural challenges. Although the service has suffered years of disinvestment and has a workplace culture rife with bullying, harassment and discrimination, Rachel continues to drive up operational performance and improve the customer experience. She strongly advocates for an inclusive working environment and takes an open and honest approach to leadership, tackling problems head on, with patience and resilience.

South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership

James Gilbert

James Gilbert, South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership’s Assistant Director for Corporate, is a driving force behind the creation and success of a pioneering new Partnership working on unique scale. James has led on securing the Partnership’s future following a seismic election, influencing national approach around Drainage Boards, a complex office move and always putting colleagues first, prioritising service and terms and conditions alignment, pro-actively addressing budget pressures and operating an award-nominated training and mentoring programme. The influence of James’s contribution is not only impacting the Partnership’s present and future, but also a key reason for its existence and foundation. 

East Ayrshire Council

Mark Hunter

Mark is an inspirational Strategic lead who empowers his team to achieve exceptional results. His unwavering professionalism and resilience in the face of challenges are truly inspiring. With his guidance, his team of 800 staff is motivated to deliver the best possible outcomes. Mark's commitment to giving back through his volunteering work in food education and representation of East Ayrshire Council in the wider community is highly commendable. Mark recently attended the Oxfordshire farming conference this year and was invited along to discuss his expertise in sourcing sustainable food while tackling food poverty to maintain a sustainable economy

Lambeth LBC

Sophie Konradsen

This is a nomination for Sophie Konradsen for the outstanding individual award; this is in addition to the nomination from the commissioning/housing needs team at Lambeth . Sophie is the Lead Commissioner for the Joint Housing & Children’s Social Care Housing Related Support for Young People. This pathway was developed and nurtured by Sophie to provide tailored and specialist support aimed at vulnerable young people who are either homeless/at risk of homelessness and those open to Children Social Care as Looked After Children and Care Leavers by pooling together budgets from various departments.

North Devon Council

Natasha Rowland

This nomination details how a multi-agency team led by Natasha Rowland has provided a creative and innovative safe and supported accommodation solutions for complex rough sleepers. Focussing on a person centred, trauma informed approach to the entrenched rough sleeper community which has resulted in 24 bed spaces of bespoke temporary accommodation options have been introduced in the North Devon district, allowing 136 local rough sleepers have accessed this accommodation. This dynamic approach has brought praise both locally and nationally and is now considered as best practice. 

Westminster City Council

Serena Simon

Serena has made a personal impact to the lives of individuals both internally and externally. Three words go perfectly with Serena's contribution, commitment, integrity and growth for the organisation and personal growth for individuals. She has truly helped to transform the Council into an inclusive workplace. Her impact has been phenomenal across London Councils, NHS, voluntary and private sector addressing inequalities but more importantly doing the right thing. A resilient, innovative leader always willing to serve. 

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