'I use my experience of working with third sector and community organisations, especially building their links with local authorities and other public sector bodies and creating effective and efficient delivery partnerships with a strong sense of local ownership. Much of my recent experience has been with national bodies such as the DCSF, Healthcare and Social Care Commissions and, particularly on projects aimed at promoting community engagement and equalities.
I run the national programme for Future Leaders in local services as well as a number of local leadership programmes. I am always struck by how participants view the value of development alongside executive coaching, not just for their own personal gain but to promote good leadership that will produce radical efficiency savings and improve the quality of services for communities. For example, the Future Leaders programme (for the Housing Corporation) helped to develop an impressive cadre of leaders in the Homes and Communities Agency to stimulate partnerships between local communities, developers, housing associations and local authority housing departments in whom I think local people can really feel confident.
I have been very involved in running the competitions for New Schools for the DCSF and in supporting LINKS, the new Local Involvement Networks. These programmes are part of empowering local communities and organisations to play an active role in commissioning and monitoring the local services their areas need. What I have witnessed is a new confidence amongst people that there is a role for them and that they can take it on authoritatively but also enjoy the experience.'