Meet The Leader

Episoade

• Meet the Leader with Cllr Jonathan Lester 17.06.2026 24min

  For this latest episode of Meet the Leader, host Nick Kilby is joined by Jonathan Lester, Leader of Herefordshire Council. During the conversation, Jonathan reflects on his journey into local government, including his return from Australia and his dedication to public service as both an elected member and council officer. The episode explores his long-term vision for Herefordshire: driving economic growth and prosperity for all Herefordians, attracting greater investment, improving infrastruc...
• Meet the Leader with Cllr David Thomas 18.05.2026 26min

  For this latest episode of Meet the Leader, host Nick Kilby is joined by Councillor David Thomas, Leader of Torbay Council. During this conversation, Cllr Thomas talks to Nick about his remarkable journey from professional entertainer and musician to local government leader, reflecting on how he first became involved in politics, his early baptism of fire as Chair of Planning, and the lessons he has learned from more than a decade as group leader. The episode also explores the realities of le...
• Meet the Leader with Cllr Rob Waltham MBE 06.02.2026 34min

  In this episode of Meet the Leader, we travel to North Lincolnshire to sit down with Cllr Rob Waltham MBE, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation about leadership, public service and the realities of modern local government. Rob reflects on his unconventional journey into politics, being “conned” into becoming a councillor in his twenties, and how early life experiences shaped his values and long-standing passion for children’s services. He s...
• Meet the Leader with Cllr Steve Pitt 29.01.2026 19min

  In this episode of Meet the Leader, we sit down with Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, to explore an unconventional route into local government – from running an independent music venue to leading one of the UK’s most distinctive island cities. Steve shares how his lifelong passion for music, arts and culture has shaped his political philosophy, and why he believes culture should never be seen as a “nice to have”, but as a powerful driver of regeneration, opportunity and soc...
• Meet the Leader with Cllr Tudor Evans 11.06.2025 24min

  In this episode, we sit down with Cllr Tudor Evans, one of the most experienced and enduring figures in local government. With over three decades of service, including five terms as Leader of Plymouth City Council, Cllr Tudor shares the journey that brought him into politics, the challenges and triumphs of leading a city through economic transformation, and why he’s still as passionate today as when he first stood for election in 1987. We explore: Plymouth’s regeneration from naval decline to...
• Meet the Leader with Cllr Shantanu Rajawat 20.12.2024 24min

  In the final Meet the Leader episode of 2024, Nick chats with Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of Hounslow Council. Shantanu shares the journey that lead him to leading one of London’s most dynamic boroughs. They discuss the challenges of leadership, the importance of empowering young people, and bold ambitions for growth and opportunity in Hounslow. A must-listen for anyone passionate about community leadership and local government! Hosted by Cratus Group's Executive Chairman Nick Kilby, the ...
• Meet the Leader: 2024 in Review 12.12.2024 36min

  In this special episode of Meet the Leader, Nick reflects on the incredible leaders that have featured on the show this year. From the leaders of BCP Council right up to Leeds City Council, he shares their key moments and insights in this yearly round up. Hosted by Cratus Group's Executive Chairman Nick Kilby, the Meet the Leader podcast is a space to learn about the leaders in local government, highlighting the tremendous work they do for the communities they serve. You can listen to the pre...
• Meet the Leader with Cllr Nick Adams-King 05.12.2024 26min

  In this episode of Meet the Leader, we sit down with Nick Adams-King, the newly appointed leader of Hampshire County Council. Nick shares his unconventional journey from running drag cabaret restaurants to navigating the complex world of local government. We explore his experiences as a business owner and the challenges he faced balancing public service with personal milestones. Nick delves into his vision for Hampshire, addressing issues like deprivation, sustainable development, and local g...
• Meet the Leader with Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen 04.11.2024 40min

  In this episode Nick is joined by Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, Leader of Breckland Council. Sam shares his journey from a young councillor to council leader, inspired by his mother’s community work. They discuss the unique challenges young people face in politics, balancing career and public service, and Sam’s approach to mentorship. Sam highlights his vision for Breckland, focusing on community-driven planning and the award-winning “Inspiring Communities” program, tackling social issues li...
• Meet the Leader with Cllr Andy Mellen 19.09.2024 22min

  For this episode of Meet the Leader, host Nick Kilby is joined by Councillor Andy Mellen, Leader of Mid Suffolk District Council - the only council in the country outright controlled by the Green Party. In this episode, Cllr Mellen talks about his journey into local government and his role as both as County and District councillor, while diving into the details of his fascinating career that saw him working in education and development in Nigeria and Malawi for six years. Hosted by Crat...
• Meet the Leader with Cllr Kam Rai 05.09.2024 26min

  For this latest episode of Meet the Leader, host Nick Kilby is joined by Councillor Kam Rai, who became the new Leader of the London Borough of Redbridge back in July. Cllr Rai had spent six years as Deputy Leader of the Council, and became Leader of the Council after then-leader Jas Athwal (who appeared in the inaugural episode of this series back in January 2023) became the new MP for Ilford South at the 2024 General Election. In this conversation, Cllr Rai talks about his journey into lo...
• Meet the Leader with Cllr Petrina Lees 24.07.2024 34min

  For this latest episode of Meet the Leader, host Nick Kilby is joined by Councillor Petrina Lees, Leader of Uttlesford District Council. Cllr Lees represents the Residents for Uttlesford group who have controlled the council since 2019, with her becoming the councils first female leader back in December 2021. During this episode, Cllr Lees talks about her journey into local government which began at the parish level after a 30-year career in nursing. With a passion for community invo...
• Meet the Leader with Cllr Peter Marland 24.06.2024 42min

  In this latest episode of Meet the Leader, host Nick Kilby is joined by the Leader of Milton Keynes Council, Councillor Peter Marland. Cllr Marland has been a part of the council for ten years having begun his career in finance, and in this episode he shares his journey into local government which led him to becoming Leader in 2014. In this conversation, Cllr Marland talks about the importance of long-term planning, the future of the city-region and the unexpected story around b...
• Meet the Leader with Cllr Vikki Slade 12.06.2024 29min

  In this latest episode of Meet the Leader, Nick Kilby is joined by Cllr Vikki Slade. Cllr Slade tells the story of how she first got involved in politics, from her entry to the council to her two terms as Leader as Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. This conversation also explores the challenges of forming coalitions in 'No Overall Control' councils, which Cllr Slade did firstly with the Unity Alliance in 2020 and then with the Three Towns Alliance following the 2023 L...
• Meet the Leader with Jason Brock 22.05.2024 26min

  For the latest episode of Meet the Leader, host Nick Kilby is joined by Jason Brock who recently stepped down as Leader of Reading Borough Council after a 5-year stint at the helm. Jason's meteoric rise saw him go from by-election candidate to Leader of the Council in under three years, in a time that was dominated with difficult challenges such as financial woes and the Covid-19 pandemic. In this episode, Jason reflects on his journey into politics, his time as Leader and the future ...
• Meet the Leader with Cllr Bridget Smith 07.05.2024 31min

  The Meet the Leader podcast series returns for May, and Nick Kilby is joined by the Leader of South Cambs District Council, Councillor Bridget Smith. Cllr Smith has led the authority since since 2018 and the District Councillor for the village of Gamlingay for the past 15 years. During this conversation, Cllr Smith discusses her journey into local government and the time spent as Leader so far, as well as the four day working week trial which has attracted so much attention from Westm...
• Meet the Leader with Cllr Lucy Nethsingha 26.03.2024 26min

  For this latest episode of Meet the Leader, Nick Kilby is joined by the Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, Councillor Lucy Nethsingha. Cllr Nethsingha dives into the details of her storied journey in local government which has seen her serve at the Parish, City and County level, in addition to also being a former MEP. In this conversation, the pair also talk about the level of support in local government that exists for women and mothers, while also looking forward to Cllr...
• Meet the Leader with Cllr Elizabeth Campbell 20.03.2024 23min

  For this latest episode of Meet the Leader, Nick Kilby was joined by Councillor Elizabeth Campbell, who has led the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea since 2017. Cllr Campbell was elected as Leader in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower Fire, and speaks about the impact that the tragedy has had on her experience as Leader, while looking at the legacy for Grenfell and the council as an organisation going forward. Hosted by Cratus Group's Executive Chairman Nick Kilby, th...
• Meet the Leader with Cllr Hannah Dalton 05.03.2024 28min

  No two councils in this country are the same, and that is especially true when considering Epsom and Ewell Borough Council. Since its inception in 1937, the local authority has been controlled by Residents Associations - and is currently one of two RA controlled councils in the entire country, along with Uttlesford. The majority group of the Residents Associations of Epsom and Ewell has been chaired by Councillor Hannah Dalton since May 2021, and for this episode of Meet the Leader, Cll...
• Meet the Leader with Cllr Grace Williams 01.02.2024 22min

  Last year, Nick Kilby began the 'Meet the Leader' series as a way to showcase the leaders in local government and spoke to 12 leaders from local authorities across the country. The series is entering into its sophomore year and we begin with our first special guest of 2024, Cllr Grace Williams from the London Borough of Waltham Forest. During this conversation, Cllr Williams recounts her journey into local government which began back in 2016 and saw her become Leader of the Council in 2021 fo...