Chief Executive & Senior Leadership Team
Our Chief Executive and Senior Leadership Team, like all staff employed by Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils, work equally across both Councils:
Arthur Charvonia, Chief Executive
Phone the Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive and Council Leaders, Deborah Largent: 01473 296335
Kathy Nixon, Deputy Chief Executive
Phone Kathy's Executive Support Officer, Michelle Markwell: 01449 724640
Melissa Evans, Director for Corporate Resources
Phone Melissa's Executive Support Officer, Tina Taylor: 01449 724810
Melissa holds the statutory position of Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer) and is responsible for:
- Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction Scheme
- Commissioning and Procurement
- Finance
- Revenues (Council Tax and Business Rates collection)
Mark Emms, Director of Operations and Regulatory Services
Phone Mark's Executive Support Officer, Keeley Whitlock: 01449 724588
Mark is responsible for:
- Waste and Recycling
- Public Realm Services
- Health and Safety
- Environmental Protection
- Food Safety
- Licensing
Ifty Ali, Interim Director for Law and Governance
Phone Ifty's Executive Support Officer, Keeley Whitlock: 01449 724588
Ifty holds the statutory positions of Monitoring Officer, Data Protection Officer and Deputy Returning Officer; and is responsible for:
- Civic Office
- Data Protection
- Electoral Services
- Land Charges
- Governance
- Councillor Support and Development
- Information Management
- Internal Audit
- Legal Service
- The Constitution and Councillor Conduct
Fiona Duhamel, Director for Economic Development and Climate Change
Phone Fiona's Executive Assistant Jacqui Kiewiet: 01449 724888
Fiona is responsible for:
- Delivery of Non-Housing Capital Build Projects
- Economic Development and Business Support including business grants
- Inward Investment
- Regeneration projects
- 5 key towns' "Visions and Invest" programmes
- Climate Change and Sustainable Travel
- Parking Strategy and Operation
Tom Barker, Director for Planning and Building Control
Phone Tom's Executive Assistant Jacqui Kiewiet: 01449 724888
Tom is responsible for:
- Development Management
- Infrastructure
- Strategic Planning
- Planning Enforcement
- Heritage
- Building Control
Di Robinson, Director for Communities and Wellbeing
Phone Di's Executive Support Officer, Michelle Markwell: 01449 724640
Di is responsible for:
- Community Development
- Community Grants
- Community Safety
- Communities Wellbeing
- Leisure, sport and physical activity
- Integrated Partnerships
Emily Atack, Director for Assets and Investments
(and Managing Director of CIFCO and Gateway 14)
Phone Emily's Executive Personal Assistant, Sarah Ford: 01449 724656
Emily is responsible for:
- Assets and Investments
- MD of our Limited Companies
Sara Wilcock, Director for Customer Services, Digital Transformation and Improvement
Phone Sara's Executive Support Officer, Tina Taylor: 01449 724810
Sara is responsible for:
- Policy and Corporate Performance
- Data and Insight
- Corporate Improvement and Risk Management
- Executive Support
- Communications and Engagement
- Customer Services (including web, telephony and in-person access)
- FOI and Digital Skills
- ICT and Geographical Information System (GIS)
- Programme Management Office
Deborah Fenton, Director for Housing
Phone Deborah's Executive Support Officer, Keeley Whitlock: 01449 724588
Deborah is responsible for:
- Building Services
- Asset Compliance
- Asset Management
- Repairs and Maintenance
- Voids
- Housing Solutions
- Choice Based Lettings
- Homelessness and Homelessness Prevention
- Housing Policy and Strategy
- Private Sector Housing
- Rough Sleeper Services
- Strategic Housing
- Temporary Accommodation
- Tenant Services
- Anti-Social Behaviour
- Income Collection
- Leaseholder Services
- Neighbourhoods Team
- Right to Buy
- Sheltered Housing
- Tenancy Management