Governance and leadership
Click on the images to understand more about our governance team. Our president and vice-presidents are appointed annually, and our chair and vice-chars are two-year appointments, serving a maximum of four years. The roles are appointed at our Annual General Meeting.
Cllr Keith Stevens
Cllr Keith Stevens was elected chair in 2021. He is also the chair of Wartling Parish Council in East Sussex and the East Sussex Community Voice and was previously chair of the East Sussex Association of Local Councils. Before entering public service, he was a private banker for 32 years with Coutts & Co, specialising in taxation and medical finance. He also was a non-executive director of the Royal National Throat, Nose, and Ear Hospital.
- Twitter:
- @NALC_chair
Cllr Peter Davey
Cllr Peter Davey is a seasoned professional with over 13 years of experience as a voluntary councillor. He currently serves as the vice-chair (finance) at NALC, overseeing all financial and governance matters. He is also the chair of the Essex Association of Local Councils, leading around 300 parish and town councils and influencing strategic direction across the region. With a corporate strategy and team development background, he brings a wealth of expertise to his roles, driving positive change within the local council sector.
Cllr David Francis
Cllr David Francis has dedicated his career to rural community development and local governance. Beginning as a planner in Lincolnshire, he pursued a PhD in rural community development, conducted national research, and held leadership roles in rural community councils. He has been the chair of his local parish council since 1987 and involved with NALC since 1983. He is also an active member of the Friends of the ACRE Network and has co-authored books on rural community development.
Baroness Ros Scott
Baroness Ros Scott of Needham Market has been our president since 2021. She is a current member of the House of Lords. Her key policy focuses centre around agriculture, animals, food and rural affairs, communities and families, energy and environment, housing and planning, and transport. Baroness Scott is an advisory board member for the Institute for Volunteering Research and a Community Action Suffolk and Industry and Parliament Trust trustee. She was also the party president for the Liberal Democrats between 2009 and 2011.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7219 8660
- Twitter:
- @BaronessRos
- Website:
- members.parliament.uk/member/2542/contact
Baroness Bennett
Baroness Natalie Bennett of Manor Castle has been our vice-president since 2021 and is a current member of the House of Lords. She was the leader of the Green Party of England and Wales between 2012 and 2016. She has served as a member of the Board of the Green European Foundation and as a trustee for the Fawcett Society.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7219 5353
- Twitter:
- @natalieben
- Website:
- members.parliament.uk/member/4719/contact
Cllr Sue Baxter
Cllr Sue Baxter is our current vice-president having previously served as the chair between 2016 and 2021. She is a current councillor and former chair at her local council, Wythall Parish Council in Worcestershire, and an independent member and deputy leader of Bromsgrove District Council. She believes that local people best understand their area's needs and that by making more decisions about the local services they value, they can build thriving communities.
- Twitter:
- @suejbaxter
Andrew Gwynne MP
Andrew Gwynne has served as vice-president since 2021. He is the Labour MP for Denton and Reddish and has been an MP continuously since 5 May 2005. Andrew currently serves as Shadow Minister (Social Care). He has served as Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care) from 2021 to 2023 and Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government from 2018 to 2020.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7219 4708
- Twitter:
- @GwynneMP
- Website:
- members.parliament.uk/member/1506/contact
The Earl of Lytton
The Earl of Lytton has been vice-president since 2021, serving as president between 2000 and 2015. He has been a member of the House of Lords since 2011. His previous roles include chair of the RICS Boundaries & Party Walls Professional Panel, fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and chair of the Rights of Way Review Committee.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7219 5353
- Website:
- members.parliament.uk/member/1864/contact
Lord O'Shaughnessy
The Lord O'Shaughnessy has been vice-president since 2021. He has been a member of the House of Lords since 2015. He has previously served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care) in 2018, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health) between 2016 and 2018 and Government Whip (Lord in Waiting) between 2016 and 2017. Lord O'Shaughnessy was a senior fellow at the Legatum Institute and the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues at the University of Birmingham.
Click on the images to learn more about our leadership team.
Jonathan Owen
Jonathan Owen became chief executive in 2014. He is committed to raising the profile of parish and town councils and giving them a strong voice on the national stage. His interest in local government began with his doctorate studies at Bristol University. His previous experience includes ten years of national public affairs lobbying the government and parliament, fifteen years at the board level with a prominent London Borough, English district and as head of policy at an award-winning county council. He has experience in corporate and frontline service delivery, including leading improvement programmes and delivering savings.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7290 0307
- Twitter:
- @NALCchiefexec
Justin Griggs
Justin Griggs has been head of policy and communications since 2018 and has held several roles since joining in 2000. He has previously worked for a district council and a unitary council, as well as in the private sector. Justin has extensive experience leading successful national campaigns, influencing Parliament and successive governments, and overseeing significant programmes. He has played an instrumental role in NALC campaigns to change legislation to give councils more powers, reform business rates, create new councils, and secure government funding.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7290 0317
- Twitter:
- @JustinGriggs