Louise Neilan is currently Assistant Director for Communications and Engagement at Thurrock Council, and also the Chair of LGcomms –a national membership body working to raise the standard of communications in the public sector. She has extensive experience in local government communications, having worked at Southwark Council, the Audit Commission, and other London Boroughs over her 25 year career. She believes passionately in the power of collaboration and networks to solve problems and support colleagues and communities, and has presented widely on learnings from crises, including the London Bridge and Borough terror attacks in 2017.