Local Government still holds great opportunities

Northumberland is a 'Land of Great Opportunities' and the County's Chief Executive, believes working in local government opens up equally, great opportunities for people who are passionate about serving communities. 

In her inaugural lecture as Northumbria University’s newest Visiting Professor, Dr Helen Paterson will talk about her role running a local authority and what it means to be a modern, responsive council; the challenges in terms of funding, changing demand and expectation as well as the great opportunities that councils and their partners can harness to benefit their residents.

About the Speaker

Helen is the Chief Executive at Northumberland County Council. After initially teaching in Yorkshire, she successfully led three Primary schools in Hampshire. From 2003 she was a Director in Solihull and Executive Director of Children’s Services in Sunderland 2005-10. From 2010, in Sunderland, as Strategic Director for Transformation, she led the Council’s business transformation, efficiency and improvement work. She was Chief Executive at Wrexham Borough Council from 2011-17 and at Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council from 2017-2023.

Her priorities are growing resilient communities through reframing the Council's relationship with the public and the local economy. She seeks to harness the opportunities, time, and energy within communities to enable them to develop themselves into strong local providers of services. With the economy her focus is on investing in skills and securing investment for jobs. She believes these foci increase economic and social wellbeing and ultimately tackle inequality and poverty in our communities. Helen has been influential in shaping innovative practice nationally in England and Wales particularly within business transformation; digital enabling; governance arrangements; regeneration; alternative delivery models; social care; health and education.