Dr Helen Peterson is the Chief Executive at Northumberland County Council.
After initially teaching in Yorkshire, she successfully led three Primary schools in Hampshire. From 2003 she was a Director in Solihull and Executive Director of Children’s Services in Sunderland 2005-10. From 2010, in Sunderland, as Strategic Director for Transformation, she led the Council’s business transformation, efficiency and improvement work. She was Chief Executive at Wrexham Borough Council from 2011-17 and at Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council from 2017-2023.
Most recently, at Northumberland County, Helen has delivered rapid organisational improvement and culture change. Helen believes passionately in the power of systems leadership, establishing with key partners, a Countywide Partnership with a shared vision to tackle long-term social and economic inequalities. This aligns with her priority to grow resilient communities through reframing the Council’s relationship with the public and the local economy. Helen has delivered game-changing investments in Northumberland, including: a £10bn inward investment by ‘Blackstone QTS’ in Europe’s largest Data and AI campus; and building a new railway line connecting South East Northumberland with Newcastle City Centre.
Helen has been influential in shaping innovative practice nationally in England and Wales particularly within business transformation; digital enabling; governance arrangements; regeneration; alternative delivery models; social care; health and education.
