The Helena Kennedy Foundation are pleased to announce the appointment of Rachael Shimmin as a Trustee for the charity.
Rachael Shimmin is the first CEO for the new unitary council of Buckinghamshire, an organisation which was created on 1 April 2020 bringing together the five predecessor council in the county. This has created a council with a gross budget of over £1bn and is the 2nd largest non-metropolitan unitary council in the country.
Speaking on her appointment Rachael commented, “I wanted to join the HK foundation as I am passionate about all young people having access to higher education and the foundation helps to ensure practical and emotional support is put in place to enable wider access”.
The new council was launched in the middle of the Coronavirus emergency and Rachael established and lead a series of partnership arrangements across the County to respond to the pandemic locally.
Rachael came to Buckinghamshire in September 2016 and lead the Counties bid and subsequent implementation of the first county based unitary for 11 years.
Rachael helped to lead local government reorganisation in County Durham, delivering a unitary council in 2009, with significant financial savings and service improvements. The Council went on to become Council of the Year in 2014.
Previous roles include the Corporate Director for Children and Adults Services at Durham County Council having responsibility for a revenue budget of over £800m and team of 3,000+ people. Rachael has extensive experience in the key sectors of children’s services, adult social care, health and community safety.
Rachael has been the North East regional Chair of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS)/ The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) and the local government representative on a variety of regional and national boards focusing on issues relating to health and social care.
Rachael is currently the County Council Networks CCN) CEO lead on adult care and health, a Board member of the Association of Local Authority Chief Executives, the lead Chief Executive for the South East Strategic Leaders Group and a member of a number of national government advisory boards. Rachael is a qualified Executive Coach and Peer Reviewer for he Local Government Association.
Rachael lives in Buckinghamshire and enjoys spending time with her 12 year old son and Dexter and Teddy, two adorable but disobedient cockapoos.
She was awarded the OBE for services to social care in 2014.
To learn more about our Trustees and staff please click here