Who we are

Colin has extensive leadership experience in higher education. He has also devoted significant time to roles in the public sector. These roles have focused on local government, and business development and capacity building with community and private sector partners.  

He is Emeritus Professor of Politics at the University of York, where he was previously Pro-Vice-Chancellor, having earlier had a similar role at the University of Bradford and previously holding academic positions at the universities of Southampton and Sheffield. He is also a Visiting Professor at the University of Huddersfield.  

Colin is Chair of the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee and was a founding board member of the York, North Yorkshire & East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership.  

Appointed as Chair November 2015. Reappointed as Chair November 2020. Current term expires December 2025.  

Andrew has a distinguished record in electoral administration. He was Director of Electoral Administration at the Electoral Commission for 10 years and was deputy Chief Counting Officer at the referendum on EU membership. He has also held senior positions in local government. He is an honorary member of the Association of Electoral Administrators.  

Appointed as Commissioner November 2017. Appointed to the Audit & Risk Committee May 2019. Appointed as Deputy Chair June 2019. Current term expires November 2025. 

Amanda’s career has specialised in environmental issues and sustainable development, with a strong focus on community engagement and major project oversight. She has also worked extensively with parliamentarians and local councillors. She was Chair of the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, and Chief Executive of the Council for National Parks.   

Amanda is Chair of the Marine Conservation Society, on the RSA Pop Up Board advising start-ups and small businesses, Chair of Guildford Residents’ Association, and mentors as a St George’s Leadership Fellow.   

Appointed as Commissioner June 2018. Appointed to the Audit & Risk Committee February 2022. Current term expires June 2026. 

A 40-year career in local government and housing associations saw Steve act as Chief Executive for both Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the newly formed unitary Cheshire West & Chester Council. He was appointed to oversee the improvement of Birmingham City Council as part of the Birmingham Independent Improvement Panel.   

Appointed November 2017. Appointed Audit & Risk Committee Chair November 2021. Current term expires November 2025.  

Liz has spent most of her career as a solicitor in several Greater Manchester authorities. Her focus in those roles was public law, adult social care, employment and education law. In an innovative move she became responsible for the legal and democratic services across Salford City Council, Manchester City Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Liz has also been a deputy returning officer for Greater Manchester Mayoral and Manchester City Council elections.

One of the longest-serving local authority CEOs in the country following 15 years at Harrogate Borough Council, Wallace has extensive senior local government leadership experience in a range of complex urban, rural and city environments. This includes 17 years as a chief officer in unitary authorities such as Bradford Metropolitan District Council and Kirklees Council. 

An experienced peer review lead for the Local Government Association, Wallace has a wealth of experience in public service delivery and is currently a non-executive director of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.  

In addition, Wallace is Chair of the Middlesbrough Independent Improvement Advisory Board and a member of the Strategic Advisory Panel for Commercial Services Group (CSG), one of the largest, local authority owned, trading organisations of its kind in the UK. 

Ailsa is Chief Executive and Accounting Officer and responsible for the running of the organisation. 

Ailsa has extensive experience in electoral administration and was Director of Electoral Administration and Guidance at the Electoral Commission.

Prior to joining the Electoral Commission’s executive team, Ailsa held different roles at the Electoral Commission in Scotland and across the UK.

Kathryn leads the Business Team which provides Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Risk Management and Assurance, Secretariat and Accommodation services across the Commission. 

A transformation expert, Kathryn has significant understanding and experience of business sustainability and has worked with a wide range of organisations, including providing consultancy services for the UK Community Foundations, Finance & Resources Director for The London Community Foundation and prior to that, Finance Director at Action for Children.

Richard leads a team responsible for the day-to-day running of a portfolio of electoral reviews. In addition, he oversees the laying of our electoral changes orders in Parliament. He also leads on related alterations and consent requests from local authorities. Richard has worked in the local government sector for 25 years, either directly for local authorities or for regulatory bodies that work with local councils.  

Alison leads a team which has responsibility for the day-to-day running of a portfolio of electoral reviews. In addition she is responsible for identifying and managing the programme of reviews for the Commission. She has over twenty years of managing and conducting electoral reviews.

Hayley leads the communications team supporting the Commission’s busy programme of statutory public consultations.

She has worked in a variety of communications roles across the public sector, including British Transport Police, Birmingham City Council, NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB and Oxford City Council.