International Women's Month: Celebrating Women in Local Government and Beyond

International Women's month is an opportune moment to celebrate the incredible contributions of women in local government. Across the United Kingdom, from council chambers to executive offices, female leaders are appointed into pivotal roles and driving change within their communities.

Representation in local government

As of 2024, out of the 372 local authority CEOs, 137 are women, equating to 37% of the leadership. These numbers reflect a significant stride towards gender equality in governance and the growing influence of women in strategic decision-making roles within the public sector, yet also highlight the progress in the journey with more work needed towards parity.

Placements and partnerships

At Odgers, we are proud of our long history of supporting, often first-time, female CEO appointments into key positions across government.

More widely across government and beyond, we have successfully assisted, introduced and appointed numerous female leaders who are now pioneering innovative policies and practices, including:

• Dame Inga Beale, Lloyds of London.
• Amanda Pritchard, NHS.
• Hannah Jones, Earthshot Prize.
• Dame Sharon White, OfCom, John Lewis.
• Abi Tierney, Welsh Rugby Union.
• Joanne Roney, Birmingham.
• Suzanne Wylie, Government of Jersey.
• Angie Ridgewell, Hertfordshire.
• Rebecca Laurence, British Library.
• Katherine Hammond, SYMCA.

These collaborations are not only enhancing the operational effectiveness of government, yet also fostering a culture of inclusivity and diversity.

Looking Forward

A recent report by the UK Parliament provides a broader perspective on gender representation. It noted that women constitute 43% of Members of the Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament, 46% of the Scottish Parliament, and 40% of the Northern Ireland Assembly. In England, approximately 41% of local authority councillors are women. In Northern Ireland, the figure is around 26%, in Scotland it stands at 35%, and 25% in Wales. 44% of members of the London Assembly are women.

We are also proud to have an excellent all female guest judging panel for the forthcoming MJ Government Awards. As we celebrate International Women's month, it is essential to recognise and support the efforts of women in government. By advocating for policies that promote gender equality, this helps to maintain a more diverse and inclusive leadership pipeline.