Hertfordshire: driven by firm beliefs and a clear purpose

Jeremy Newmark was appointed as Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council in May 2023, having been first elected to the authority in 2017 and becoming principal opposition leader shortly afterwards. Cllr Newmark was elected Chair of the Hertfordshire Growth Board in July 2024. As member for Borehamwood’s Cowley Hill Ward he represents an area that scores particularly highly on the national indices of multiple depravation. Jeremy previously chaired Hertsmere’s Shareholder and Investment Committee and served on Planning, Licensing and Policy Review Committees. He has a professional background in political communications with specialisms in housing and transport-related issues. Jeremy has previously headed a national third sector organisation and worked for seven years as spokesperson for the former Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks. Chair of Hertfordshire Growth Board.

Cllr Jeremy Newmark

Leader, Hertsmere Borough Council

Sajida Bijle is the Chief Executive of Hertsmere Borough Council. Prior to this she was the Director of Resources and Corporate Director for Hertsmere BC for over 15 years. Sajida is also Company Secretary to Elstree Film Studios Limited and an Accountant and Lawyer by profession.

Sajida Bijle

Chief Executive, Hertsmere Borough Council

Peter Taylor has been the Elected Mayor of Watford since 2018 and joined Hertfordshire LEP Board in September 2019. Before becoming Elected Mayor, he worked as a teacher and Assistant Director for the Catholic Education Service. He served as a councillor in Watford since 2012 and lives in Oxhey with his wife and three young children. Vice Chair of the Hertfordshire Growth Board

Mayor Peter Taylor

Leader, Watford Borough Council

Donna Nolan joined Watford Borough Council as its first female Chief Executive in February 2020. Former Deputy Chief Executive of Mendip District Council, Donna has led a range of successful regeneration and commercial programmes in both the public and private sector. Donna works closely with Watford’s Elected Mayor to ensure the council’s strategic commitments can be implemented, including its ambitious plans for sustainable regeneration.

Donna Nolan

Chief Executive, Watford Borough Council

Richard Henry was elected to Stevenage Borough Council in May 1995 and has held a number of executive positions. He became Leader of Stevenage Borough Council in on 1st January 2023 and has the portfolio ‘Transforming Stevenage’ which includes regeneration. Richard served a term on Hertfordshire County Council from 2013/2017. His professional background includes Social Work, managing Multidisciplinary Mental Health Teams and teaching Health & Social Care at North Herts College. He is a passionate advocate of Stevenage Re-imagined - the council’s long term Cultural Strategy, leisure facilities for residents and the work the council does to support sport and young people across the town. Vice Chair of the Hertfordshire Growth Board

Cllr Richard Henry

Leader, Stevenage Borough Council

Matt Partridge is the Chief Executive of Stevenage Borough Council and has over 35 years local government experience in a variety of front-line and strategic leadership roles. In his current role, Matt is responsible, in conjunction with the Leader, Executive and the Senior Leadership Team, for the ongoing development and implementation of the Council’s Cooperative Corporate Future Town Future Council Plan.

Matt Partridge

Chief Executive, Stevenage Borough Council

Richard Roberts is the Conservative Leader of Hertfordshire County Council. He was first elected to the County Council in 2003 as the member for Kings Langley and has previously served as the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care during the Covid-19 Pandemic, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Cabinet Member for Partnerships and Performance. He is Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board and became Leader of the Council in May 2021.

Cllr Richard Roberts

Leader, Hertfordshire County Council

Angie Ridgwell joined Hertfordshire County Council in September 2024 as Chief Executive, from Lancashire County Council where she was Chief Executive and Director of Resources for over six years. Prior to that she was Director General, Finance and Corporate Services at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). A qualified accountant by profession Angie's work has focused on improving public services. Angie has worked in a wide range of public sector bodies and local authorities, principally as Chief Executive or Director of Finance. These include Bristol City Council, Thurrock Council, Coventry City Council and Bridgnorth District Council.

Angie Ridgwell

Chief Executive, Hertfordshire County Council

Mark Mills-Bishop was elected to the Council in May 2006 and was appointed the Leader in May 2024. He was previously Leader between 2014 and 2019. Mark is passionate about improving the Broxbourne economy so that local people have opportunities to find employment in high value jobs without the need to travel outside the Borough.

Cllr Mark Mills-Bishop

Leader, Broxbourne Borough Council

Jeff Stack is the Chief Executive of Broxbourne Borough Council in southeast Hertfordshire. He joined the Council in 2008 as the Director of Environmental Services and became Chief Executive in 2013. Prior to this, he worked for a variety of councils and in the housebuilding industry. He is a chartered town planner and has been a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute since 1985.

Jeff Stack

Chief Executive, Broxbourne Borough Council

Adrian England recently became Leader of Dacorum, after a year as Deputy, following the change of control from Conservative to Liberal Democrat in 2023. During this year he has also served as the Chair of Hertfordshire Climate Change & Sustainability Partnership, and Hertfordshire’s representative on the Regional Climate Change Forum in the East of England. After a career in Marketing and Communications focused mainly on Lettings, Supported Housing and Health Associations, Adrian has been a Dacorum Borough Councillor since being elected to represent Adeyfield West at a by-election in September 2016, and since 2021 a County Councillor representing the Division of Hemel Town, which includes Boxmoor and Apsley. As an Opposition Councillor at Dacorum, Adrian became Shadow Portfolio-Holder for Neighbourhood in 2019 with a focus on Climate matters, having previously served on the Housing & Communities Scrutiny Committee and the Health in Dacorum Committee.

Cllr Adrian England

Leader, Dacorum Borough Council

Claire Hamilton has over 25 years’ experience of working in the public sector, leading high-performing teams and developing positive partnerships to deliver complex regeneration initiatives. Claire’s previous role was Director of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town, which is an exciting regeneration project, building on the heritage of Harlow to deliver 23,000 high-quality homes, 9,000 employment opportunities and sustainable travel infrastructure within the area. Claire has a background in housing development, estate regeneration and town centre regeneration and economic development.

Claire Hamilton

Chief Executive, Dacorum Borough Council

Ben Crystall has lived in Hertfordshire for over 20 years. He has served on East Herts District Council since 2019 and became the East Herts Green Party’s first-ever representative on Hertfordshire County Council in 2021. As a member of the district council’s planning committee and the county’s Environment Cabinet Panel, Ben has advocated for policies that safeguard the environment and promote sustainable growth. Prior to this, Ben enjoyed a successful 10-year scientific career. He has a PhD in solar energy and spent 18 years as a writer and editor for the New Scientist magazine. Ben was elected Leader of East Herts District Council in May 2023.

Cllr Ben Crystall

Leader, East Herts Council

Helen Standen was appointed as Interim CEO at East Hertfordshire District Council on 19/9/24. She started at East Herts in June 2016 as Strategic Director and became Deputy CEO at East Herts in April 2018. She has worked previously across all tiers of local government, including central government, county council and internationally advising the overseas territory of St Helena, Ascension and Tristam de Cunha. Helen is also a Senior Peer for the LGA, undertaking Corporate Peer Reviews.

Helen Standen

Interim Chief Executive, East Herts Council

Daniel Allen was elected to North Herts Council in May 2018 for the Letchworth Grange ward, before being election in May 2024 in Letchworth Norton, following a boundary review. He was elected as Leader of the Labour Group following the May 2024 elections and was subsequently elected Leader of the Council at the Annual Council meeting on 23 May 2024 for a 4 year term. Before becoming Leader, Daniel was Chair of the Council for 2023-24, and during this time raised over £4,000 for his chosen charities, Resolve and Feed Up Warm Up. As well as Leader of the Council, he currently also serves as Chair of the Employment Committee and the Joint Staff Consultative Committee.

Cllr Daniel Allen

Leader, North Herts District Council

Anthony Roche has been Managing Director of NHDC since July 2020, having previously served as Deputy Chief Executive from 2017. A lawyer by background, he started in private practice before switching to the public sector and NHDC in 2008.

Anthony Roche

Managing Director, North Herts District Council

Paul de Kort, Liberal Democrat councillor for Harpenden East Ward since 2021, is Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Leader of the Council. He is also chair of the Council’s Strategy & Resources Committee and the Planning Policy & Climate Committee. Paul’s career included 15 years in the oil industry (commercial & development management), and 23 years in state secondary education including 16 years as Head of Sixth form. He was elected as a County Councillor in Hertfordshire in 2021.

Cllr Paul de Kort

Leader, St Albans City and District Council

Amanda Foley is Chief Executive at St Albans City and District Council. She was appointed in 2017, previously holding the post of Head of Corporate Services. Amanda, who lives in the district with her family, joined the Council in 2009 from Ofsted – the Government’s Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills. She was Ofsted’s Head of HR Strategy and has worked across a range of sectors and industries including banking, retail and the Civil Service.

Amanda Foley

Chief Executive , St Albans City and District Council

Stephen Giles-Medhurst was first elected as the youngest elected councillor in the country at the time onto the London Borough of Harrow Council in 1978, being at the time the sole Liberal Councillor. He served as a councillor Harrow, including a term as Mayor in 1995-96, and Chair of various Committees for 20 years before moving to Three Rivers in 1999. He became the district councillor for Leavesden in 2000, an Abbots Langley parish councillor in 2008 and the county councillor for Central Watford and Oxhey in 2001. During his time as a district councillor, Cllr Giles-Medhurst held various lead member portfolios and chaired several committees. Most notably, Cllr Giles-Medhurst became the deputy leader of the council in July 2020 under Cllr Sarah Nelmes’ leadership. He was also the lead member for the Local Plan – a role he still has until the Local Plan is adopted. Outside of politics, Cllr Giles-Medhurst was a civil servant for 35 years in various roles and later in law enforcement with HM Customs & Excise before taking early retirement from his final position as Head of Customs at Stanstead Airport in October 2010.

Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst

Leader, Three Rivers District Council

Joanne Wagstaffe was appointed as Three Rivers’ new Chief Executive Officer on 3 February 2020 and was shared Director of Resources with both Three Rivers District Council and Watford Borough Council from 2013. Previously, Jo was the Director of Resources at Wyre Forest District Council; Director of Resources and Transformation at Copeland Borough Council; and an Assistant Director at Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council. Jo also has extensive private sector experience.

Joanne Wagstaffe

Chief Executive, Three Rivers District Council

Max Holloway has been representing the Howlands ward as Labour Councillor since 2016, and was elected as Leader of the Council in 2024. Max also holds the Climate Change and Biodiversity portfolio, and before that served on the Cabinet as the executive member for Community and Leisure. Max works for a financial inclusion not for profit which aims to make the financial services sector fair for everyone, widening access to fair products and services to people in financially vulnerable circumstances.

Cllr Max Holloway

Leader, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council

Ka Ng is Chief Executive of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and the lead Chief Executive on Hertfordshire Growth Board. She began her career at Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council in 2009 as a management accountant. After a few periods outside the council, she returned in 2016 to take on her current role, along with being the council's chief financial officer.

Ka Ng

Chief Executive, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council

Paul Burstow has a wide range of public policy and leadership experience. He currently holds a number of non-executive leadership roles across the health and social care sector. As the Independent Chair at Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care System he is working with system partners across local government, NHS and community and voluntary sector to develop population health working and integrated care. He has also been appointed as Chair of St Andrew’s Healthcare, a charity providing specialist mental healthcare for patients with complex mental health needs. He is also Chair of the independent charity SCIE (The Social Care Institute for Excellence) which works with local government, independent sector and Government by sharing knowledge about what works, translating policy into practice and supporting transformation to improve the lives of people who use care services.

Rt Hon Professor Paul Burstow

Chair, Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care System

Julia Krause joined Homes England in January 2024. Prior to joining Homes England, she worked extensively in the public and private sectors where she focused on the delivery of housing and infrastructure projects across the UK. At Homes England, Julia leads the South East team within the Markets, Partners and Places Directorate, where she works with partners to identify, develop, and provide support to large-scale, complex and innovative projects across the region.

Julia Krause

Assistant Director – South East, Homes England

Adrian Hawkins OBE is Chair of Hertfordshire Futures and its Skills & Employment Board, championing the delivery of the Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal (HOP). Adrian is the independent Chairman of the Stevenage Development Board and led on its bid from the Government’s Towns Fund, securing £37.5m - the second highest contribution received anywhere in the country. Adrian is also Founder of Weldability SIF, Chairman and Co-founder of biz4Biz and a Patron of Business Clubs, working alongside local MPs. In 2021, Adrian was awarded an OBE for his services to business and in particular, the welding industry.

Adrian Hawkins OBE

Chair, Hertfordshire Futures

Neil Hayes is Chief Executive of Hertfordshire Futures. He has overseen its development from its inception, helping to ensure that its long-term priorities set out in its Strategic Economic Plan (2017-2030) are delivered for the county, securing over £309m EU funding and UK government investment. The LEP’s Local Industrial Strategy continues to build on that vision by building on the county’s economic strengths to create opportunities for all its residents.

Neil Hayes

Chief Executive, Hertfordshire Futures

Jonathan Ash-Edwards was elected as Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire in May 2024. Hertfordshire resident Mr Ash-Edwards comes to the role with a background as a local Councillor in Sussex for 16 years, including as a Council Leader, as well as founding an education trust now responsible for the education of over 3,500 young people. Jonathan chaired a high performing Community Safety Partnership for four years, giving him a significant insight into effective strategies for crime prevention and tackling anti-social behaviour. Mr Ash-Edwards has also been a serial business builder, he started his first business at the age of 24 and has led a company delivering major projects to clients across a range of sectors.

Jonathan Ash-Edwards

Police and Crime Commissioner,

Wendy Wills has worked at the University of Hertfordshire since 2005, working in a range of research leadership positions and in relation to her professional background within public health nutrition. She is currently the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, overseeing all professional research, innovation and enterprise services, academic research and enterprise activity and the Doctoral College and she is responsible for the University’s performance in national research and knowledge exchange excellence frameworks. She is a member of the Herts and West Essex Integrated Care Partnership and Director of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) for the East of England.

Professor Wendy Wills

Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, University of Hertfordshire

Forogh Rahmani joined as Director for Hertfordshire Growth Board in April 2023 to deliver an ambitious vision for sustainable and good growth across Hertfordshire. Forogh is passionate about localism and has worked in local government including at the Greater London Authority and London Development Agency for the past 15 years. Forogh has led the development of economic strategies working collaboratively with London government, businesses and communities and delivered multi-million-pound skills and employment programmes, as well as helping to secure devolution of skills to the Mayor of London.

Forogh Rahmani

Director, Hertfordshire Growth Board