The council’s first ever female chief executive started the role this week, following the retirement of her predecessor last month. 

Susan Halliwell, who was appointed in June, takes over as Bracknell Forest Council’s most senior member of staff from Timothy Wheadon, after his 19-year leadership stint came to an end. 

Mrs Halliwell says she is “delighted” to start the new position and thanked the outgoing Mr Wheadon for his “steady stewardship” during his time in the role.  

Mrs Halliwell has 18 years’ experience in the public sector, joining Bracknell Forest from West Berkshire Council where she was executive director of Place – a department responsible for providing day-to-day services including local highways, recycling, waste and planning.    

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Since 2019, she has also been the second vice president and co-chair for the south-east network of Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport, which represents directors of place, as well as a non-executive director of Low Carbon Hub – a social enterprise tackling climate change.   

Prior to those, Mrs Halliwell worked at Oxfordshire County Council for eleven years where she held several positions including the environment and climate change manager, strategic infrastructure and planning resources manager, and director for planning and place. 

Whilst acknowledging that the borough is facing “increasing challenges”, Mrs Halliwell says she will be using her previous experience and working alongside staff, councillors and partners to “maximise opportunities” for Bracknell and “tackle any challenges” along the way. 

The council has said Mrs Halliwell will be setting out her priorities “over the coming months”.