Alison Barker is Chief Executive of North Lincolnshire Council, having joined the authority in February 2024. She leads the council’s strategic direction, organisational performance and partnership work, with a strong focus on place leadership, transformation, prevention, and improving outcomes for residents and communities.

Alison brings a substantial people-services background to her role as Chief Executive. She was Director of Adult Social Services for ten years, including at Hull City Council from 2014, and has held senior leadership roles across local government and the NHS since 1991. Her professional roots are in mental health nursing and social work, giving her a deep understanding of frontline practice, safeguarding, community support, health inequalities, and the importance of strong, person-centred public services.

Her leadership is grounded in people, relationships and place. Alison has led complex statutory services, supported improvement and assurance across adult social care, and worked closely with elected members, partners, communities and the workforce to build confidence, resilience and shared ownership of change. She has a strong interest in how councils create the conditions for people to live well, stay independent, contribute to their communities and benefit from inclusive economic growth.

As a LGA peer reviewer, Alison offers a balanced perspective that combines Chief Executive leadership with extensive experience of people-facing services. She is particularly able to contribute insight on corporate leadership, organisational culture, adult social care, partnership working, health and care integration, workforce engagement, community resilience, governance, transformation and improvement. She brings a supportive but appropriately challenging style, focused on practical learning, honest reflection and strengthening outcomes for local people.