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Colm Howard-Lloyd, Head of Public Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement
Colm has overall responsibility for the LGA’s public affairs activity which seeks to enhance the reputation of local government within Parliament. This includes overseeing our work lobbying on councils’ key priorities as we work with parliamentarians to inform debates, support the scrutiny of legislation and engage with select committees and all-party parliamentary groups. Colm joined the LGA in November 2022, having previously worked in several government relations and public affairs roles both in agency and in-house, as well as in Westminster and in Brussels.
Iredia Oboh, Public Affairs and Communications Manager
Iredia plays a key role in overseeing the delivery of the LGA’s corporate parliamentary engagement and supporting the LGA’s Chairman and Chief Executive with their speeches and communications with councils. Iredia joined the LGA in August 2018, having previously worked for the General Medical Council.
Elliot Gregory, Public Affairs and Campaigns Adviser
Elliot is the LGA's public affairs lead for environment, transport and housing, which covers issues such as housing, planning, homelessness, environment, climate change, energy, transport, waste management and flooding. Elliot joined the LGA in May 2023, bringing experience from his previous roles at BECG, a specialist communications consultancy, and Plan International UK, a children's rights, and equality charity.
Arian Nemati, Public Affairs and Campaigns Adviser
Arian is the LGA’s public affairs lead for Community Wellbeing, which covers issues related to adult social care, public health, mental health, health systems and supported housing, including refugees and unaccompanied children. The LGA’s work on Improvement and Innovation as well as local government finance, including engagement on fiscal events also falls under Arian's portfolio. On behalf of the Safer and Stronger Communities Board, Arian also leads on fire safety, licensing, modern slavery, domestic abuse, violence against women and girls, police and crime, social cohesion, counter terrorism and extremism. Arian joined the LGA in May 2023, having previously worked for Carers UK.
Archie Ratcliffe, Public Affairs and Campaigns Adviser
Archie is the LGA’s public affairs lead for skills and employment, cyber, digital connectivity, AI, devolution and local government reorganisation and democracy. He also provides the secretariat to the Digital Communities APPG. Archie joined the LGA in December 2023, having previously worked at the Federation of Small Businesses and public affairs consultancy JBP.
Zahraa Shaikh, Public Affairs Support Officer
Zahraa is the LGA’s Public Affairs lead for Culture, Tourism, and Sport. She also supports the Public Affairs team, co-ordinating our Parliamentary and Communications and Parliamentary Network bulletins, as well assisting the team in its work influencing parliamentary debates, select committees and legislation, as well as stakeholder engagement. Zahraa joined the LGA in January 2024 having previously contributed to Scottish economic projects at the David Hume Institute, an independent research think tank based in Edinburgh.
