Why I’ve Been Quiet Lately: A Busy Chapter of Work and Governance

I’ve been quiet these last few months, not just because of Summer, but because life has been full on.

Alongside my day job, my voluntary role as Chair of Governors has kept me incredibly busy. I recently chaired the recruitment panel for a new Headteacher, and I genuinely hadn’t appreciated how much preparation goes into the process: drafting and advertising the post, managing the admin, coordinating stakeholders, and then leading the formal assessment and interview stages.

Shortly after, I chaired a disciplinary panel involving several parties, a Trade Union representative, two management representatives, a Local Government HR adviser, the Clerk and others. A complex and sensitive process, but an important part of governance.

July also brought a highlight: representing my group at the Government Communication Service event in Nottingham for the East Midlands. It was an energising opportunity to connect with colleagues across government, share best practice, and reflect on how strategic communication shapes public service. A genuinely valuable experience.

Work has been equally demanding. I was asked to cover for the Capability Lead for the Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber while they were away. Overnight, my remit expanded from 3 districts to 10, which meant adjusting my workload, communication style and coordination approach. I didn’t deliver any of this alone, my Leads and wider network were brilliant, but coordinating everything certainly kept me busy.

On top of all this, September marked the start of the Government Development Programme Achieve Your Potential (AYP). The first session was genuinely worthwhile and already helping me strengthen my resilience and reflect more deeply on what leadership really means.

All of this has stretched me, taught me, and made me stronger. I’ll share more regular updates as soon as I can.

Thank you for your patience, and for sticking around during a very busy season.

24 September 2026 23:03