LG Challenge - Meet the contestants

Mark Albiston

Trafford Council

I am an integrated all-age service manager responsible for services provided by Trafford Council and the Trafford division of Pennine Care. I am also responsible for the professional standards across all adult social care, as my role includes lead professional for social work.

Catherine Anderson

Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council

I'm a CIPFA qualified accountant and I've worked in local government for 15 years. My current role involves heading up the council's programme management team, supporting the delivery of projects and programmes that make a contribution to budget savings and act as enablers for change.

Denise Blair

Croydon Borough Council

I work as a public health principal in the public health department. I work on sexual health and children's health and I'm looking forward to being part of the LG Challenge 2017.

Daniel Clark

Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council

I work in the Performance Unit as a senior strategy and performance manager. As a unit we work to drive improvements for the borough and its people through working across the local authority and with our Team Doncaster partners. My specific focus is on building effective partnerships, working on joint initiatives with the private sector, statutory partners, the voluntary and community sector and parish and town councils.

Georgia Faherty

Coventry City Council

I am a programme manager working in public health. My role is to lead work to reduce health inequalities, including Coventry's award-winning Marmot City programme. This is my first role in local government, having previously worked at national charity Marie Curie, and professional services firm Deloitte.

Katherine Heffernan

Barking and Dagenham Council

I am the group manager for services finance. I joined the council last summer, having previously worked in two other London boroughs. I lead the finance business partner team which provides financial support and advice (and challenge sometimes) to the council's services, helping them spend money wisely and get the best value for money for our residents.

Emily Higson

Wiltshire Counci

I work as a corporate support manager for Wiltshire Council, providing support to the Leader, Cabinet and Leadership Team on a variety of initiatives and programmes. Most recently I've been involved in the One Public Estate Programme and delivering the Armed Forces Covenant. I also lead on the council's equality and diversity agenda.

Alison Millbourn

Kirklees Council

I am an advanced health improvement practitioner, and have been working at this level for 12 years. My current post is in public health at Kirklees Council and I work in the Wider Factors Theme of the Kirklees Joint Strategic Assessment.

Austin Rodriguez

Birmingham City Council

I work as an officer in the neighbourhood development and support unit. I've had a diverse experience in local government to date, previously working in a number of roles and areas covering community safety, improvement and change programmes, neighbourhood management and development, early help and safeguarding concerning children, young people, families and adults, as well as a few others.

Catherine Shutt

Wigan Council

I'm the business partner for organisational development at Wigan Council. I've worked at the authority for two years and I'm passionate about pushing the boundaries in the public sector and making a real difference to our people.

Meet this year’s contestants in our introduction film.

The first challenge this year is in Swale and the contestants are tasked with developing pathways to employment for ex-offenders.

In the second of this year’s challenges, teams Inspire and Dynamic are competing in a Breckland Training exercise as the interim executive management teams for the failing fictional Swafford District Council.