Orlo’s Advisory Board

Helena is a communications and engagement leader with much varied experience in the public sector, including both regional and national central government, and local government. She heads the award-winning comms team at Staffordshire County Council, where she puts her skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm into creative comms that have real impact. She is driven to build strong teams, and encourages people to focus on personal development and wellbeing as a priority, so they can deliver brilliant outcomes.

Huw has worked at South Wales Police for six years, after having previously been a journalist in Cardiff and Northamptonshire. With prior experience in both the press/media relations and internal communications teams within the department, he currently focuses on social media and the website, as well as working with the police control room during the force’s move to Orlo to help embed social media as an online reporting tool for non-emergencies.

Julian has worked in Housing since 2002, initially as an Environmental Health Officer and then various other housing related roles in local government including – Grants Manager, Renewal Area Manager, Head of Housing Services. Passionate about change management and making tangible improvements to services for the benefits of customers, Julian joined United Welsh Housing Association in 2018 as Deputy Director of Housing before being promoted to the Executive Team in 2022.

Michael is an experienced political communications manager with a history of working in journalism, local government and Parliament. Having worked in local government communications since 2014, he is currently Assistant Director of Communications and Engagement at Surrey County Council as well as Vice Chair of the LGcomms Executive Committee and an alumni of the national 2018/19 LGcomms Future Leaders programme.