The current Chief Executive of Manchester City Council and the former CEO of Wigan Council are among 25 people named today by The Local Government Information Unit as among the top thinkers in public services
Tom Stannard was recently appointed as the Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, one of the largest Core Cities in the UK and a highly performing organisation of almost 7,000 staff.
Manchester is a fast growing and diverse city of over 600,000 people, with a proud history of successfully competing on the global stage to attract investment, jobs and visitors.
Tom says the Instiute works closely with Cllr Bev Craig – Leader of the Council, focussed on maximising these strengths and ensuring that growth generates benefits for the whole city, providing excellent day-to-day services and improving the lives of Manchester’s residents.
joined Manchester City Council following more than 27 years of experience in local government across the UK, including in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and London. Most recently, he spent four years as the Chief Executive of Salford City Council, leading the Council to some of the highest levels of performance in the North West, and gained recognition in 2024 as City of the Year and the LGC’s Best Place to Work. He is nationally recognised as a leading voice in local government, and has a track record of delivery in regeneration, inclusive growth, public service reform and improving council services.
Donna Hall CBE was CEO of Wigan Council between 2012 and 2019, during which she led the development of The Wigan Deal, a new relationship with residents.
This replicated her success in creating a social contract with residents while CEO of Chorley Council, known as The Chorley Smile.
She was awarded a CBE in 2009 for innovation in public service for her role in the national “Tell Us Once” bereavement project with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and was named Transformational Leader in the Northern Powerwomen Awards 2017, and has been described as a “public service pioneer” by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.
She now chairs PossAbilities, a social enterprise supporting people with learning disabilities and is a NED at Mutual Ventures.
“These impressive thought leaders are paving the way and seeking answers to some of the biggest challenges facing us today and tomorrow.”says the Institute
