Five London councils appoint new Director to lead a regional partnership that works to provide a voice on key issues such as health, housing, skills and enterprise for South London.
Sarah Sturrock has been appointed as Director of the South London Partnership (SLP). The Partnership is a group of five London boroughs; Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, and Sutton.
Earlier this year they formed a Joint Committee to strengthen their joint work to promote and improve the economic growth, investment and wellbeing in South London. Sarah joins the SLP with a strong background in the public sector and partnership working. Her latest role was the Strategic Lead for Health and Adult Services at London Councils.
This has recently involved leading the development of the London health and care devolution agenda, working in close partnership with boroughs, the GLA and NHS partners. Before this, Sarah was a civil servant with a varied career in Department of Communities and Local Government.
Her roles included Director of Strategy for the £9.6 billion Thames Gateway economic development and regeneration programme, and Deputy Director for Local Government Quality. Based at Richmond, she will now work across all five boroughs on a programme of activity that aims to lobby the Government and other stakeholders on three key areas: Transport and Infrastructure, People and Skills and Business and Enterprise.
A new prospectus, launching the ambition and priorities for the Partnership will be launched later in the Spring. Sarah said: “The South London Partnership boroughs have shown strong leadership in creating new arrangements through which to collaborate to shape economic growth and unlock devolution from the government and Mayor. I am excited to be joining them to turn their ambitions into real benefits for citizens across all five boroughs.”
Chair of the Partnership and Leader of Merton Council, Cllr Stephen Alambritis, added: “We are pleased Sarah is joining us at this exciting time and shares our ambition to develop our economic growth, investment and wellbeing in South London. She clearly has the experience and knowledge to support our vision and turn it into a reality.”