Andrew Burns, FCPFA MBA, CiPFA

Associate Director and Fellow

Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)

Andrew Burns is an Associate Director and Fellow at CIPFA where his role is to further develop strong links between CIPFA and the local government sector, building trust to improve public financial management and governance.

He was CIPFA President in 2017/18 serving an Institute with over 14,000 members worldwide who work throughout the public services, in national audit agencies, in major accountancy firms and in other public bodies where public money needs to be effectively and efficiently managed.

Until December 2018, he spent 12 years as a Director of Finance and Resources for Staffordshire County Council; was Treasurer of the Staffordshire Pension Fund and a former President of the Society of County Treasurers.

He is also a trustee of the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) the leading national organisation promoting and supporting excellence in governance and scrutiny across public services and a Non-Executive Director at the Housing Plus Group, a Charitable Community Benefit Society providing homes and care services across Shropshire and Staffordshire.

Andrew Shufflebotham, Watson Fox

Director, Watson Fox Ltd

Andrew brings over 30 years of practical, real life, experience in professional services to his work with lawyers, and others, to help equip them with the commercial skills they need to really stand out in today’s highly competitive market. His experience-based approach helps to engage lawyers in a unique and relatable way - he has sat where they sit, and understands, from first-hand experience, the pressures, challenges and opportunities of working in professional services today.

Andrew spent three decades as a practising solicitor in Central London, and was a Partner and Board Member at Addleshaw Goddard. He subsequently worked as Chief Operating Officer at Invicta Law,  a local authority owned law firm, before becoming an independent consultant and adviser, with his business Watson Fox. 

Andrew works with some of the leading law firms in the country, covering topics as diverse as delegation, presentational skills, effective negotiation, leadership, business development and client care that really works for clients. Andrew also facilitates team days and partner conferences, and he works with lawyers at all levels, from paralegals to senior partners, and everyone in between.

Andrew has an LLB honours degree in law from the University of Exeter and is a qualified, non-practising, solicitor. He is also a trained actor and has appeared in several professional theatre productions, in the West End and elsewhere. Andrew is also a qualified rugby coach.

Alan Park, LGSCO (Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman)

Artemis Kassi, Consultant

Artemis has over six years’ experience in local government, and has been the Statutory Scrutiny Officer and Head of Scrutiny at authorities in London and beyond.

Artemis is a qualified solicitor who trained at HSF, and also has an academic background, having lectured in law as a Visiting Lecturer at SOAS. She has significant international experience, including at an NGO in Jordan, in international law firms, and as a lawyer at the United Nations in Geneva. Since her time in the Environmental Practice Team within the Litigation Department of a US law firm in Washington, D.C. and discovering the US “Government in the Sunshine” Act 1976, Artemis has been passionate about transparency and accountability, including about what she terms scrutiny’s role in bringing local government into the sunshine.

Artemis was a member of the London Scrutiny Network Steering Committee (2018 – 2019) and successfully completed the ADSO Diploma in Local Democracy with a specialism in scrutiny.

Bethan Evans, Bethan Evans Consultancy

Bethan Evans Governance Training and Consultancy

Beth is a recognised expert in local authority governance, having worked in the field for over 35 years. She worked as an in-house lawyer for nearly 20 years at four different councils in England specialising in housing, education and social care. Beth then moved into management posts, culminating in roles as a County Solicitor and a Director of Corporate Services in a unitary authority.

Beth led the Welsh Local Government Agency responsible for improvement and development in Welsh local government for three years. In 2001 she joined Bevan Brittan LLP as a partner where she led the local government team for 17 years, four of which she spent as senior partner.

Beth acted as secretary and chair of a branch and then as national chair of the (then) Local Government Group in 1998/99.

David Carter, Formerly Joint Managing Director, Warwickshire County Council

Former Joint Managing Director, Warwickshire County Council

David Carter has over 40 years experience in local government. He retired as Joint Managing Director and Head of Paid Service at Warwickshire County Council. For the last 30 years he has operated at Management Board level, initially as County Solicitor and then with a variety of support and direct service portfolios including responsibility for all support services as Strategic Director of Resources for 8 years. David is a past chair of the Law Society local government group and a past president of the Association of Council Secretaries and Solicitors.

Hannah Cottam, Sellick Partnership

With over 20 years of professional services recruitment experience, in particular at the senior end, I am an expert in the legal recruitment field.

I set up Sellick Partnership’s Legal division in 2004, before becoming Legal Director in March 2006, and then Group Director in 2008. I have overseen the opening of the Leeds and London offices in order to meet growing demand and have delivered year-on-year growth through our dedicated and committed recruitment teams.

I take a pro-active and strategic approach to the business, supporting continuous development and helping to form plans for future organic growth. In addition, I regularly speak at legal conferences and deliver workshops to solicitors and lawyers on a range of topics such as career progression, market trends, leadership and management, as well as general recruitment advice and guidance.

Helen Bradley, Head of Legal & Democratic Services Durham County Council & LLG National Lead for Monitoring Officers and Governance

Helen trained as a solicitor in Local Government and has nearly 20 years’ experience in working at both district and unitary level. Helen initially specialised in civil and criminal litigation, obtaining Higher Rights of audience in the criminal courts. Since becoming a Deputy Monitoring Officer and subsequently a Monitoring Officer, Helen has specialised in all aspects of local authority governance but has a particular interest in the Standards Regime.

Helen is currently Head of Legal & Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer, Durham County Council.

Jaqui McKinlay, formerly Chief Executive at CfGS, currently Chief Operating Officer at Liverpool City Council

Jacqui McKinlay is Chief Operating Officer at Liverpool City Council.  She joined Liverpool City Council in January 2022 to lead on improvement and transformation, with responsibilities for areas including strategy, equalities, performance, customer services, HR, digital and Violence Against Women and Girls.

Prior to joining Liverpool, Jacqui was chief executive of the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS), the national centre of expertise on governance and scrutiny. Jacqui oversaw CfGS’ work with a range of sectors including local and national government, health, housing, police and the private sector.  Regularly sitting on national advisory boards, advising Government, giving evidence to Select Committees and speaking at conferences .

Previously Jacqui was Director of Strategy and Customer Services at Staffordshire County Council and has worked in health, sport and the civil service.

She is also a New Local board member.

Cllr Jemima Laing

Jemima Laing is a qualified solicitor and an ex-BBC journalist, elected as a Plymouth city councillor in a by-election in 2018; she was appointed to the cabinet when she was re-elected in May 2019. Jemima held the Children's portfolio until 2021 then became the chair of the Education and Children's Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee for two years in opposition.

Since May 2022, Jemima has been deputy leader of the Plymouth Labour group and became deputy leader of the council in May 2023 when Labour regained control. She has the Children's portfolio once again and is steering the service through an improvement journey prompted by an Ofsted monitoring visit last year.

Jemima is also the cabinet member for Culture and continually advocates for the importance of culture and access to it, especially for children and young people, as well as its vital role in place- shaping. Jemima is a member of the LGA Culture, Tourism and Sport board as well as the Arts Council South West Regional Board.

Cllr Jemima Laing has mentored other councillors in the group and has acted as an informal mentor to councillors in other groups.

Jemima was a school governor for 18 years and until recently a trustee of a homelessness charity as well as a director of a prominent city dance organisation which improves lives through dance.

Jemima has many years' experience in communications and PR and runs communications for the Labour group as well as holding the Comms portfolio for the council. Jemima sits on the Health and Wellbeing board and is the chair of the Corporate Parenting Board. Jemima campaigns particularly on increased rights for care experienced people and on better access to dentistry, especially for children and young people.

John Austin, Chair ADSO

John's career in local government was within democratic services, culminating in the position of Assistant Director, Corporate Governance and Monitoring Officer at the London Borough of Enfield. 

Having retired in 2016 John worked with others to set up a professional association for the democratic services sector. Established in 2009 ADSO has gone from strength to strength, representing its many members as the voice for good governance. 

John is also an advisor for the Certificate and Diploma and facilitates a number of training courses both within and
outside of ADSO.

Additionally John carries out independent investigations into complaints against councillors and works for the Everton FC charity 'Everton in the Community' 

Manisha Patel

Manisha Patel is an Inclusion and Culture Strategist, Non-Executive Director, Executive Coach, and Founder of the Female Executive Mentoring Programme.

Manisha is currently working with a range of high profile organisations as a strategic advisor on diversity, inclusion and culture.  In her role as Non-Executive Director at LLG, Manisha advises and supports the Board on ensuring all strategic decisions embed equality, diversity and inclusion.