Women make up more than three quarters of UK council officers, yet only around a third of council chief executives. Across UK councils, representation at senior levels remains a challenge.
I want to share what's made the difference for me in my five years working in the sector. I was in my first council officer role when I joined the London Boroughs Women's Network (LBWN) in 2021. Now, as vice chair, I see first-hand how it supports and uplifts women across London's local government.
Founded following discussions between London staff women's network chairs during Covid, the LBWN is the first pan-London women's network for local government officers, uniting all 32 boroughs and the City of London Corporation. It is a volunteer-led model that is increasingly being looked to across the sector for its scale, reach and impact on workforce development.
In 2026 alone, LBWN has delivered 13 events, both online and in person, regularly attracting audiences of more than 200
The network brings together more than 600 women across all London boroughs and seeks to address a clear gap in provision. While most councils have internal women's networks, a number of network chairs realised that these often operate in isolation, limiting opportunities for shared learning and cross-borough collaboration.
What has emerged instead is a pan-London platform for development and connection, run entirely by volunteers alongside full-time roles in local government. The network now delivers regular events, shared learning sessions and leadership development opportunities that are accessible regardless of borough, grade or professional background.
In 2026 alone, LBWN has delivered 13 events, both online and in person, regularly attracting audiences of more than 200. Topics have included leadership, confidence, workplace culture, women's health, boundaries and public speaking. Sessions are often shared across boroughs, allowing learning developed in one organisation to be accessed across the capital.
The impact of the network is consistently described by members in terms of confidence, progression and connection. One network member, Camden policy and projects officer Claudia Eeles, shared that being part of LBWN has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her career in local government. Having worked across two local authorities, she values both the opportunity to maintain relationships with former colleagues and friends and the chance to build new connections with inspiring women across the sector.
Similarly, network member Vanya Dzhumerska, who works in Redbridge LBC's domestic abuse service, describes LBWN as much more than a professional network, highlighting the strong sense of community and mutual support it provides. She credits the network with helping her build meaningful relationships, learn from experienced colleagues and increase her confidence both personally and professionally. She also speaks of the pride she feels in being part of the network.
This sense of community, trust and safety is central to LBWN's model. It is built through peer facilitation and sustained by volunteers who bring lived experience from across the sector. The result is a network that supports both personal development and system-wide learning.
The network is led by a volunteer steering group drawn from across the sector, reflecting the same cross-borough collaboration it seeks to promote:
• Edith Galliers, co-chair and head of organisational development at Waltham Forest LBC
• Ferzanah Ahmed, co-chair and head of policy and equalities at Redbridge LBC
• Larissa Schneider-Kim, vice chair, formerly at Kingston LBC and now working at the International Institute for Environment and Development
• Shona Galt, vice chair and policy designer at Camden LBC
For councils considering how to strengthen leadership pipelines and workforce development, the LBWN model offers a practical example of what can be achieved through coordination rather than additional resource. It demonstrates how shared programming can widen access to development, reduce duplication between boroughs and build stronger professional networks across the capital.
Councils and colleagues interested in getting involved can connect with the team via LinkedIn and join the growing cross-London network of practitioners working to strengthen inclusion, leadership and workforce development across local government.
In a sector where collaboration is often discussed but harder to embed in practice, LBWN provides a working example of what shared infrastructure can look like when it is built from within the system itself.
Shona Galt is vice chair at London Boroughs Women's Network and policy designer at Camden LBC
