Rachael Shimmin is the first CEO for the unitary council for Buckinghamshire, an organisation which was created on 1 April 2020 bringing together the five predecessor councils in the county. This has created a council with a gross budget of over £1bn and is the 5th largest unitary council in the country.
Rachael came to Buckinghamshire in September 2016 and led the County’s bid and subsequent implementation of the first county based unitary for 11 years.
Rachael helped to lead local government reorganisation in County Durham, delivering a unitary council in 2009, with significant financial savings and service improvements. The Council went on to become Council of the Year in 2014.
Previous roles span the local government and voluntary sector, and Rachael has initiated and sustained a number of partnerships with commercial organisations and CEOs.
Rachael has served on a wide range of regional and national bodies and boards and is currently a Trustee of the Helen Kennedy Foundation, a mentor for students at the University of Durham, the lead Chief Executive for the County Councils Network, a Board member of the Association of Local Authority Chief Executives and a member of several government advisory boards. Rachael is a qualified Executive Coach and is a lead Peer Reviewer for the Local Government Association.
Rachael lives in Buckinghamshire and enjoys spending time with her teenage son and Dexter and Teddy, two adorable but disobedient cockapoos.
She was awarded the OBE for services to social care in 2014.