Tom Stannard is Director of Policy and Communications at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, where he has responsibility for corporate communications and marketing, community cohesion and engagement, policy, performance management and partnership working. He has delivered high performance for 3 and 4 star authorities under CPA and CAA, and currently sits as an Advisor on the UK SOLACE Management Board.

He began his career at the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), and has over twelve years’ local government experience. In London local government he held senior policy positions at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and prior to joining Blackburn with Darwen was Head of Policy and Performance at the London Borough of Hounslow from 2002 – 2007.

In Blackburn Tom’s team have led the authority through successive external performance assessments, securing the authority’s position as one of the best performing Councils in the country. He is currently leading BwD’s Local Integrated Services pilot programme and the LSP’s anti-poverty strategy. His team is at the forefront of shared service integration programmes across a nationally respected LSP.

Tom is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (MCIPR). He has led the first full shared communications service nationally between health and local government, as well as the nationally recognised Re:fresh campaign promoting access to free leisure for all local residents and workers. His communications team is leading the way on partnership communications and cost reduction strategies across the Borough’s LSP, with a significant social media dimension.

Tom is an avid Chelsea FC fan, likes fell-walking and as much sport as possible, has 2 crazy kids and Twitters at www.twitter.com/tomstannard