Hertfordshire County Council

Hampshire County Council

South Tyneside Council

Birmingham City Council

London Borough of Haringey

London Borough of Hillingdon

Torbay Council Team 2

Fenland District Council

Midlothian Council

East Sussex County Council Team 1

North East Derbyshire District Council

East Sussex County Council Team 2

Birmingham City Council
Raffaela Goodby
Brummie girl, born and bred. Married to Jack, one daughter, Annabel – both make me very smiley indeed. At work I get to make a difference, managing a cultural change programme called BEST (ask me!). At home I like reading, cooking, laughing, chocolate, ranting, chatting, webby things, Apple products and Waitrose.
Six-word life story: Middle child, loves, smiles, talks lots.
Bella Jones
Part Sicillian, Italian, German and Welsh with no real roots – I believe home is where my cat is! At work I get to be creative some days, bossy on others, and I love days when I can see real progress being made. I have a passion for fine food, wine and my boyfriend.
Six-word life story: I'm only happy when it rains.
Birmingham's word: Love

East Sussex County Council Team 1
Anna Jones
I am the alternative education co-ordinator and arrange provision for vulnerable young people. I love travelling and went to Sri Lanka, Australia and Ghana during university. I love painting, doing crosswords, and making my bank manager cry. My ideal job would be presenting the news.
Six-word life story: Common: not as common as Smith.
Tessa McGilvary
I live in a rural location in East Sussex and work as the principal transport planner, dealing predominantly with rail issues. I enjoy being creative, DIY, walking in the countryside and socialising with family and friends. I love cooking and eating and I am getting married in August.
Six-word life story: Tomorrow never comes. Make today count.
East Sussex Team 1's word: Compassion

East Sussex County Council Team 2
Darren Elliott
I work as a performance improvement officer with a broad remit of responsibilities including service planning, equalities, communications, freedom of information, data protection, customer care and complaints. I occupy my spare time with photography, property development, sculpting, instruments and voluntary work.
Six-word life story: Don't regret anything. Cherish your beliefs.
Polly Reynolds
Polly works as a training and development officer, responsible for the development and assessment of training across two directorates. She also leads on the Skills for Life programme and co-ordinates the Public Sector HR Academy. In her spare time, Polly enjoys cooking (eating), socialising (drinking), and referring to herself in the third person. If Polly could have one wish, it would be that life was more like musical theatre, complete with dancing sailors.
Six-word life story: Everything is better covered in glitter.
East Sussex Team 2's word: Success

Fenland District Council
Hetty Thornton
I gew up in Hereford and studied history of art and design at university in Leicester and developed a love of painting. I moved to Norfolk to do teacher training. After qualifying as a teacher, I ran a large heritage project in Fenland. I am now working in community development.
Six-word life story: Always looking but not yet found.
Amy Wilson
Born and raised in Fenland, I am a zoology graduate with a keen interest in wildlife and conservation who has been side-tracked into a surprisingly interesting career in policy and performance management. In my spare time I enjoy live music, playing netball, volunteering at a local nature reserve and painting.
Six-word life story: Friends first, success second, logic last.
Fenland's word: Courage

Hampshire County Council
Andrew Boutflower
I was raised (but not born) in South Wales where I acquired my interest in rugby and history. After graduating, and a brief period in New Zealand, I joined Hampshire County Council in 2003. I qualified as an accountant in 2006 and now work as an accounting manager supporting the council's IT department.
Six-word life story: Shy but long way from retirement.
Emma Gordon
I am a scrutiny officer. My career in local government started four years ago, following periods working in France and Spain and then for Enron and Deutsche Bank in London. I enjoy most things 'out-doorsy' and also try to find the time to play and enjoy music.
Six-word life story: Failed pianist looking for exciting opportunities.
Hampshire's word: Tolerance

London Borough of Haringey
Lucy Cranshaw
I spent most of my younger days growing up in a small seaside town in Norfolk drinking a lot of cider. After finishing my degree in PPE at York, I joined my boyfriend in London in a flat with no central heating! I worked for a Liberal Democrat MP before starting my career in local government, first in member services and now in planning. I like exercise, dancing and cooking a fiery curry or tasty banoffee pie.
Six-word life story: Black was boring; started wearing purple.
Becky Cribb
Having spent the first 18 years of my life sandwiched between four brothers in Devon, I decided to move to the Big Smoke. After studying history and then embarking on a short-lived career in law, I thought I'd seek fame and fortune in the public sector. I've just started on Haringey's graduate training scheme where I'm working in corporate policy. In my spare time I like to go in search of fresh air – you can usually find me being lifted off my feet by my stunt kite on Blackheath!
Six-word life story: Always searching for the next adventure.
Haringey's word: Democracy

Hertfordshire County Council
David Butcher
I am a policy officer with the planning and improvement team in Hertfordshire's Children, Schools and Families Department. A keen sportsman, I won a hockey Blue while at university, and enjoy both playing and watching cricket. As well as an eclectic taste in music, I also enjoy current affairs, cooking and Californian wine. Originally from Norfolk, I now live in Hertford.
Six-word life story: Still believes in happily ever after.
Keir Mann
I joined Hertfordshire County Council in 2006 as a graduate management trainee, having lived in the county for 15 years. I have worked in a range of service areas, including highways and children's social care, as well as working towards a Masters in public management. I graduated from Sheffield University in 2003 and, since then, have held a number of jobs in the public sector.
Six-word life story: Dealt good hand. Better use it.
Hertfordshire's word: Freedom

London Borough of Hillingdon
Esther Bray
I was born and grew up in Newport, South Wales. I studied history at Warwick University and am now working as a project and programme manager. I got married last year and now live in Rickmansworth with my husband and two cats. I enjoy swimming, eating out and going to the theatre.
Six-word life story: Love my cats, love my husband.
Dan Kennedy
I was born in Reading and studied geography at Plymouth University before completing a diploma in management studies. My current post involves managing a performance and quality team in a busy adult social care, health and housing department. I enjoy classic cars.
Six-word life story: Accelerated quickly, excellence now in sight.
Hillingdon's word: Humanity

Midlothian Council
Fiona Duncan
I am a social worker in the criminal justice team. I am originally from Ayr but now live in Edinburgh. Outside prison walls, courtroom and office, I spend my time travelling, holding dinner parties, shopping, visiting friends, going to my Thai cooking class and spending weekends in the Highlands and Lake District.
Six-word life story: Wherever they are, I'll be here.
Iain Pemble
I work for the criminal justice team, which provides services for the court and Scottish government. My work includes providing court reports, supervising offenders, delivering personal change programmes and managing high-risk offenders. Originally from Campbeltown, I now live with my family in the Scottish Borders. My hobbies include most sports and reading Star Wars books.
Six-word life story: So, how did I get here?
Midlothian's word: Justice

North East Derbyshire District Council
Sarah Clow
I lived in Hertfordshire until 1998 when I moved to Yorkshire to study environmental science and geography. After finishing my degree I relocated to York where I fell into a job in training. After a few years in this role, I decided that it really wasn't the career for me and in 2006 I moved to Sheffield to study for a MSc in urban regeneration. On completion of this course, I started my current job as housing strategy officer.
Six-word life story: Always laughing, and mostly at myself.
Julia Tomlinson
I am originally from Beverley, East Yorkshire. I graduated in politics from the University of Sheffield in 2003 and worked briefly in the civil service. I've worked in local government since 2004 in communication and policy roles. I live in Sheffield with my partner James and my spare time is mainly taken up with fitness classes and friends.
Six-word life story: Lots of plans. Gradually adjusting them.
North East Derbyshire's word: Identity

South Tyneside Council
James Davies
A Lancastrian born and bred, I have found my way to the north-east. I am on the National Graduate Development Programme having studied history and international relations. As a trainee I will move around but am currently a performance officer. I enjoy meeting up with friends, reading, music, travelling and hill-walking.
Six-word life story: Saw the motorway. Took the B-road.
Dan Jackson
From a small village in Northumberland, I am now working in the Big Smoke (South Shields). Happily married with one baby daughter. PhD in political history. Local government policy officer for 14 months – entered through National Graduate Development Programme. Lover of books, Newcastle United, Italian churches.
Six-word life story: Descended ivory tower to make difference.
South Tyneside's word: Equality

Torbay Council
Sarah Paul
I grew up in South Devon, studied sociology and popular culture at university, then started a career with Torbay Council. My first role was dealing with complaints about dog poo and beach huts, then worked setting up the new council website before settling in corporate property and procurement. I enjoy watching football and visiting pubs in my spare time!
Six-word life story: Emotional rollercoaster, currently on way up.
Jo Penhaligon
I live in Paignton, Devon. Married to Andy for nearly three years and we are expecting our first child at the end of April. Currently working as Torbay Council's extended services co-ordinator and also joint-manage a local multi-agency cluster. When not watching local or national rugby matches, I enjoy walking in the South Devon countryside and beaches with my chocolate labrador called Nelson!
Six-word life story: Worked hard, played hard, now contented.
Torbay's word: Idealism