Meet The Leader
This series celebrates the amazing talents and leadership that can be found in the local government. Hosted by Nick Kilby, Executive Chairman of Cratus Group, these inspiring interviews highlight the tremendous work and aspirations of the Leaders. Be reassured and inspired, making life better for residents is the utmost priority of great leaders in the local government. You can be a leader, and you can have a great leader in government.
Episodes
Meet the Leader with Cllr Jonathan Lester
For this latest episode of Meet the Leader, host Nick Kilby is joined by Jonathan Lester, Leader of Herefordshire Council.During the conversation, Jonathan reflects on his journey into local government, including his return from Australia and his dedication to public service as both an elected member and council officer.The episode explores his long-term vision for Herefordshire: driving economic
Meet the Leader with Cllr David Thomas
For this latest episode of Meet the Leader, host Nick Kilby is joined by Councillor David Thomas, Leader of Torbay Council.During this conversation, Cllr Thomas talks to Nick about his remarkable journey from professional entertainer and musician to local government leader, reflecting on how he first became involved in politics, his early baptism of fire as Chair of Planning, and the lessons he ha
Meet the Leader with Cllr Rob Waltham MBE
In this episode of Meet the Leader, we travel to North Lincolnshire to sit down with Cllr Rob Waltham MBE, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation about leadership, public service and the realities of modern local government.Rob reflects on his unconventional journey into politics, being “conned” into becoming a councillor in his twenties, and how
Meet the Leader with Cllr Steve Pitt
In this episode of Meet the Leader, we sit down with Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, to explore an unconventional route into local government – from running an independent music venue to leading one of the UK’s most distinctive island cities.Steve shares how his lifelong passion for music, arts and culture has shaped his political philosophy, and why he believes culture should
Meet the Leader with Cllr Tudor Evans
In this episode, we sit down with Cllr Tudor Evans, one of the most experienced and enduring figures in local government. With over three decades of service, including five terms as Leader of Plymouth City Council, Cllr Tudor shares the journey that brought him into politics, the challenges and triumphs of leading a city through economic transformation, and why he’s still as passionate today as wh
Meet the Leader with Cllr Shantanu Rajawat
In the final Meet the Leader episode of 2024, Nick chats with Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of Hounslow Council. Shantanu shares the journey that lead him to leading one of London’s most dynamic boroughs. They discuss the challenges of leadership, the importance of empowering young people, and bold ambitions for growth and opportunity in Hounslow. A must-listen for anyone passionate about community lea
Meet the Leader: 2024 in Review
In this special episode of Meet the Leader, Nick reflects on the incredible leaders that have featured on the show this year. From the leaders of BCP Council right up to Leeds City Council, he shares their key moments and insights in this yearly round up.Hosted by Cratus Group's Executive Chairman Nick Kilby, the Meet the Leader podcast is a space to learn about the leaders in local governmen
Meet the Leader with Cllr Nick Adams-King
In this episode of Meet the Leader, we sit down with Nick Adams-King, the newly appointed leader of Hampshire County Council. Nick shares his unconventional journey from running drag cabaret restaurants to navigating the complex world of local government. We explore his experiences as a business owner and the challenges he faced balancing public service with personal milestones.Nick delves into hi
Meet the Leader with Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen
In this episode Nick is joined by Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, Leader of Breckland Council. Sam shares his journey from a young councillor to council leader, inspired by his mother’s community work. They discuss the unique challenges young people face in politics, balancing career and public service, and Sam’s approach to mentorship. Sam highlights his vision for Breckland, focusing on community-driven
Meet the Leader with Cllr Andy Mellen
For this episode of Meet the Leader, host Nick Kilby is joined by Councillor Andy Mellen, Leader of Mid Suffolk District Council - the only council in the country outright controlled by the Green Party.In this episode, Cllr Mellen talks about his journey into local government and his role as both as County and District councillor, while diving into the details of his fascinating career that saw hi
Meet the Leader with Cllr Kam Rai
For this latest episode of Meet the Leader, host Nick Kilby is joined by Councillor Kam Rai, who became the new Leader of the London Borough of Redbridge back in July.Cllr Rai had spent six years as Deputy Leader of the Council, and became Leader of the Council after then-leader Jas Athwal (who appeared in the inaugural episode of this series back in January 2023) became the new MP for Ilford Sout
Meet the Leader with Cllr Petrina Lees
For this latest episode of Meet the Leader, host Nick Kilby is joined by Councillor Petrina Lees, Leader of Uttlesford District Council.Cllr Lees represents the Residents for Uttlesford group who have controlled the council since 2019, with her becoming the councils first female leader back in December 2021.During this episode, Cllr Lees talks about her journey into local government which began at
Meet the Leader with Cllr Peter Marland
In this latest episode of Meet the Leader, host Nick Kilby is joined by the Leader of Milton Keynes Council, Councillor Peter Marland. Cllr Marland has been a part of the council for ten years having begun his career in finance, and in this episode he shares his journey into local government which led him to becoming Leader in 2014. In this conversation, Cllr Marland talks about the importance of
Meet the Leader with Cllr Vikki Slade
In this latest episode of Meet the Leader, Nick Kilby is joined by Cllr Vikki Slade. Cllr Slade tells the story of how she first got involved in politics, from her entry to the council to her two terms as Leader as Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. This conversation also explores the challenges of forming coalitions in 'No Overall Control' councils, which Cllr Slade did firstl
Meet the Leader with Jason Brock
For the latest episode of Meet the Leader, host Nick Kilby is joined by Jason Brock who recently stepped down as Leader of Reading Borough Council after a 5-year stint at the helm.Jason's meteoric rise saw him go from by-election candidate to Leader of the Council in under three years, in a time that was dominated with difficult challenges such as financial woes and the Covid-19 pandemic.In t
Meet the Leader with Cllr Bridget Smith
The Meet the Leader podcast series returns for May, and Nick Kilby is joined by the Leader of South Cambs District Council, Councillor Bridget Smith.Cllr Smith has led the authority since since 2018 and the District Councillor for the village of Gamlingay for the past 15 years.During this conversation, Cllr Smith discusses her journey into local government and the time spent as Leader so far, as
Meet the Leader with Cllr Lucy Nethsingha
For this latest episode of Meet the Leader, Nick Kilby is joined by the Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, Councillor Lucy Nethsingha. Cllr Nethsingha dives into the details of her storied journey in local government which has seen her serve at the Parish, City and County level, in addition to also being a former MEP. In this conversation, the pair also talk about the level of support in loc
Meet the Leader with Cllr Elizabeth Campbell
For this latest episode of Meet the Leader, Nick Kilby was joined by Councillor Elizabeth Campbell, who has led the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea since 2017. Cllr Campbell was elected as Leader in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower Fire, and speaks about the impact that the tragedy has had on her experience as Leader, while looking at the legacy for Grenfell and the council as an organ
Meet the Leader with Cllr Hannah Dalton
No two councils in this country are the same, and that is especially true when considering Epsom and Ewell Borough Council. Since its inception in 1937, the local authority has been controlled by Residents Associations - and is currently one of two RA controlled councils in the entire country, along with Uttlesford. The majority group of the Residents Associations of Epsom and Ewell has been chair
Meet the Leader with Cllr Grace Williams
Last year, Nick Kilby began the 'Meet the Leader' series as a way to showcase the leaders in local government and spoke to 12 leaders from local authorities across the country. The series is entering into its sophomore year and we begin with our first special guest of 2024, Cllr Grace Williams from the London Borough of Waltham Forest.During this conversation, Cllr Williams recounts her
Meet the Leader 2023 Review
For the final episode of 2023, we round of the debut year of Meet the Leader as host Nick Kilby (Cratus Group) recounts his top five moments of the series so far that has seen him interview a broad slate of council leaders from across the country. Special thanks to all our guests who have appeared in 2023 for sharing their stories and allowing us to highlight the quality leadership that exists in
Meet the Leader with Cllr Ruth Dombey
For the penultimate episode of Meet the Leader in 2023, Councillor Ruth Dombey joins Nick Kilby to talk about her fascinating route into local government, which all began with some Italian wine.Cllr Dombey first became a councillor back in 2002 and has led Sutton since 2012, making her the second longest-serving council leader in London.Hosted by Cratus CEO Nick Kilby, The Meet the Leader podcast
Meet the Leader with Cllr Joe Harris
For this latest episode of Meet the Leader, Nick Kilby (Cratus) is joined by the Leader of Cotswold District Council, Councillor Joe Harris. During this conversation, Cllr Harris talks to Nick about his inspirational journey in local government which began with him being first elected at the age of 18, and subsequently becoming the youngest Mayor in the country at just 20 years old. Fast forward t
Meet the Leader with Cllr Vince Maple
For this latest episode of Meet the Leader, Nick Kilby is joined by Councillor Vince Maple who was elected as the new Leader of Medway Council in May. Labour took control of Medway Council for the first time since 1998, and Cllr Maple had led the party in opposition for 11 years before taking control this year.During this conversation, the pair discuss Cllr Maple's journey into politics which
Meet the Leader with Cllr Bev Craig
For this latest episode of Meet the Leader, Nick Kilby is joined by the Leader of Manchester City Council, Bev Craig, to shine a light on her personal journey in local government, and the work that is being done in Manchester.Originally moving to Manchester in 2003 for university, Cllr Craig has been an elected councillor for over a decade and is nearly two years into leading the city council.Thro
Meet the Leader with Cllr Gareth Roberts
For this latest episode of Meet the Leader, Nick is joined by the Leader of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Councillor Gareth Roberts.This episode explores Cllr Roberts' journey in local government, looking at his various roles in opposition as well as the political transformation of Richmond that he has witnessed. The pair also discuss the importance of changing the perception of
Meet the Leader - Cllr Dan Swords
In this latest episode of Meet the Leader, Nick is joined by the new Leader of Harlow District Council and the youngest council leader in the country, Councillor Dan Swords. During this episode, Cllr Swords sets out his vision for the next municipal year, ahead of Harlow's all-out elections in 2024, while crediting some of the trailblazers within local government who have inspired him along t
Meet the Leader with Cllr Darren Rodwell
In this latest instalment of our Meet the Leader series Nick Kilby is joined by Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, Cllr Darren Rodwell. Cllr Rodwell recounts his journey into local government and talks to Nick about what it means to serve the community that he grew up in, and how he views himself as a facilitator of aspirations. He is passionate about delivering for his community and illustra
Meet the Leader on International Women's Day with Cllr Linda Haysey
For International Women’s Day 2023, we are joined by Councillor Linda Haysey, Leader of East Herts District Council. Cllr Haysey discusses the importance of balance in gender representation, the challenge in encouraging women to stand in local elections and some of the barriers they face. We look back over some of the tests and triumphs of her 18 years in local government and 8 years as leader, in
Meet the Leader with Cllr Linda Taylor
In our latest episode, we are joined by Cllr Linda Taylor, Leader of Cornwall Council, as she proudly discusses her journey in local government. Cllr Taylor delves into the current housing crisis facing the region and speaks about the dynamic between Cornwall and Europe. She is passionate about making a difference to the whole of Cornwall through effective teamwork.Hosted by Cratus Group's Ex
Meet The Leader with Cllr Jas Athwal
On our first episode, we are joined by Cllr Jas Athwal, Leader of the London Borough of Redbridge and he takes us through his journey of becoming the leader. Cllr Athwal recounts the early days when he was first approached to join a party and how he made the decision. He expressed that he became the leader to change people’s lives and considers his residence as his boss. Cllr Athwal illustrates th
