Denbighshire County Council has congratulated a member of staff for making the finals of a prestigious national competition to find the next generation of top executives.
Helen Burkhalter, Portfolio Officer – Climate Change, has made it to the final ten shortlisted for the Local Government Challenge, which is run by the LGA Group, in partnership with the Local Government Channel.
The Challenge is “an exciting new competition which seeks out talented individuals and tests their ingenuity, creativity, ability to lead and potential to become top local government executives.”
Helen is the only candidate from Wales to make the final ten and over a five month period, all ten finalists will carry out a series of tasks designed and hosted by local authorities across the UK. Four candidates will then be shortlisted to go head- to-head at the LGA annual conference in Bournemouth where they will be put through their paces by a panel of leading government figures. They will then be narrowed down to the final two.
The winner will receive the £10,000 Bruce Lockhart Scholarship.
Helen said: “I couldn’t believe it when I made the final 20. I had to go to London to produce a three minute film which included giving a short presentation and answer some questions about my job and the work of local councils.
“Then to receive the news that I’d made the final ten was really exciting. It will be a tough competition but I’m looking forward to the challenge and fingers crossed that I bring some glory back to Denbighshire and to North Wales”.
Mohammed Mehmet, Chief Executive of Denbighshire, said: ” Helen is a very lively, committed and dedicated officer and it’s really no surprise that she has made it through to the final ten.
“We are very proud of her achievements to date and wish her the best of luck in the challenge. She will be a great ambassador for Denbighshire County Council and Helen will rise to the challenge and I’m sure she’ll go far in her career in local government.
