Peterborough’s Chief Executive to retire
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s Chief Executive Gillian Beasley, OBE has announced plans to retire early next year after an illustrious 38 year career in local government.
Mrs Beasley, 63, who had delayed her original plan to retire last October because of the pandemic, had confirmed her retirement plans to all political leaders in both councils before this month’s local elections.
Gillian Beasley is a solicitor by profession and was appointed Chief Executive of Peterborough City Council in 2002, and became joint Chief Executive of both Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council in 2015.
“I have been privileged to work with and lead a group of staff at both councils who are tireless in their efforts for people in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, and nothing has demonstrated that more than the last sixteen months during the pandemic when their work has been at the frontline of protecting and supporting local communities.” she said.
“I have also been fortunate to work with elected Members of all political persuasions, who are driven by a desire to make a real difference to people’s lives.”
During her career Mrs Beasley has advised government on Children’s Law, migration impacts, government housing and cohesion and served on a number of bodies and Commissions linked to these issues. She also led on a complex Child Sexual Exploitation case in Peterborough, which helped inform and shape future local government practice.
Gillian Beasley received an OBE in the Queens New Year’s Honours list in 2009 for services to local government. She holds an honorary doctorate from Anglia Ruskin and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.