Uncover your council's success secrets in attracting a broader and diverse range of candidates.
The prevailing notion of retired, predominantly male parish and town councillors persists, echoing the enduring image from the Vicar of Dibley era despite ongoing national campaigns to challenge this perception.
This event will delve into major national diversity stakeholders' perspectives on this situation and explore strategies for local councils to attract a more diverse and youthful pool of candidates for election or co-option. Gain insights into the shared challenges organisations face in a world where fewer people have the time to volunteer.
Uncover your council's success secrets in attracting a broader, more diverse range of candidates willing to volunteer as local councillors against all odds.
Sponsors: Blachere Illumination, CCLA and Clear Councils Insurance
NB: NALC reserves the right to change the programme at any time.
Chief executive, Queen's Park Community Council
Leadership adviser, Local Government Association
Tamsin Hewett is a researcher and project manager with over 10 years of experience in public policy. She has a record of delivering customer-focused improvement and building capacity in complex political environments. She has experience leading improvement and development programmes at a national level and designing, delivering, and evaluating learning and development and organisational development interventions both as a consultant and in-house. She is particularly interested in leadership development for community and political leaders, using a systems leadership lens to foster the collaborative relationships and partnerships that deliver lasting change.
Director of policy, Reform Think Tank
In April 2022, Simon Kaye joined Reform Think Tank, leading the Reimagining Whitehall programme for its first year and a half. In 2023, he launched the Reform Scholars programme, and in 2024, he developed and led the new Reimagining the Local State programme. He worked in academia after gaining a PhD in political theory in 2015. In 2018, he leapt to think tanks, exploring the practical side of his research interests in democratic systems, government reform, political economy, localism, and how knowledge affects policy. Simon has written major reports on community power, self-governance and reform strategies for central and local government.