CORE CITIES - Key Persons
Three Universities are based in the city - Cardiff University; Cardiff Metropolitan University and University of South Wales, as well as the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
Our former director Chris Murray pays tribute to the man who did so much for Manchester and other big cities.
Job Titles:
- Councillor
- Leader of Cardiff City Council
Councillor Huw Thomas is the Leader of Cardiff Council and is the youngest Council Leader in Wales.
Job Titles:
- Leader of Liverpool City Council
CLLR Liam Robinson is Leader of Liverpool City Council and has been a Councillor since 2008, representing the Kensington & Fairfield ward.
Job Titles:
- Policy and Governance Officer
Diane has worked primarily in Children and Families, in particular, research and analysis, communications commissioning, policy and performance in Adult Services and Safeguarding.
Diane had five years of Software Engineering/Development experience before moving into Local Government. She joined Manchester City Council as a Graduate Management Trainee working in Back Office Council wide SAP implementation, Highways Services and Ward Co-ordination. Prior to Core Cities UK, she has worked primarily in Children and Families, in particular, research and analysis, communications commissioning, policy and performance in Adult Services and Safeguarding.
Councillor John Cotton was elected as the Leader of Birmingham City Council in May 2023, alongside Cllr Sharon Thompson as Deputy Leader, pledging to…
Known worldwide as the home of Robin Hood, Nottingham is home to Boots the Chemist and Raleigh bicycles. Other prominent local companies and brands include Experian, Games Workshop and Paul Smith. Notable achievements in the City include the discovery of Ibuprofen and the creation of MRI scanners.
Stephen has worked across a number of government departments, including seven years in the Cabinet Office and 10, and has worked on a range of economic and domestic policy agendas.
Stephen has been Director of Core Cities UK since October 2022. In that time, he has looked to strengthen Core Cities engagement with Government and the private sector and working collaboratively with others to shape policy through influential reports like the Urban Futures Commission and Preventative Public Services.
Prior to joining Core Cities UK, Stephen spent 19 years in the civil service, most recently as the Director of the Cities and Local Growth Unit, jointly working between the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. He has worked across a number of government departments, including seven years in the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury, and has worked on a range of economic and domestic policy agendas.
Job Titles:
- Leader of Glasgow City Council When the SNP Became the Largest Party on the Council and Formed a Minority Administration in May
Susan Aitken became Leader of Glasgow City Council when the SNP became the largest party on the Council and formed a minority administration in May…
Job Titles:
- Head of Public Affairs and Communications
Will chairs our Core Cities Communications Directors Group. He is a passionate believer in the power and potential of the local state.
Will began his career in regional journalism before leaving to become a communications manager for a public sector organisation. He then started a freelance career working with clients including the UK Film Council and the Open University. He joined Core Cities UK from Newcastle City Council where he worked on a range of projects including communications around adult social care, social housing and advising the then leader on how to communicate measures around austerity. Will chairs the Core Cities UK Communication Group and is a passionate believer in the power and potential of the local state and of the difference that evidence-based policy can make to people's lives. He has also written for regional and specialist publications about Core Cities UK and its work. In 2023 he was selected to join the Japanese Local Government Centre's annual study tour to Kagoshima prefecture to look at lessons to be learned from Japan's approach to devolution and decentralisation.