Kirsty Hunt

Passionate about good governance | Supporting democratic processes from elections to councillor induction and strong decision making for local residents

Crowthorne, England, United Kingdom

About

I’ve spent over 20 years working in local government, and I still love what I do. My career has taken me through almost every corner of governance: elections, councillor development, constitutional advice, civic support and I’ve learned that good governance isn’t just about rules, it’s about enabling better outcomes for residents. I’m Governance, Development and Consultancy Manager at South East Employers, where I help councils strengthen decision-making, improve scrutiny, and navigate complex statutory requirements. I’m keen to be the person people call when things feel complicated or politically sensitive, and I pride myself on making processes clear, practical, and compliant. I’ve led big projects (like major election programmes and CRM implementations), redesigned services to make them more efficient, and coached officers to write reports that really land. I’m passionate about using digital tools to modernise local government and about creating governance frameworks that support ambition rather than stifle it. What really motivates me? Building relationships and helping people succeed. I’ve managed teams, mentored colleagues, and developed councillor training strategies that earned national recognition. Seeing former team members thrive in senior roles is one of my proudest achievements. If you’re interested in governance, democratic services, or creative approaches to councillor development, I’d love to connect. Always happy to share ideas and learn from others who care about making local government work better.

Experience

  • Governance, Development and Consultancy Manager at South East Employers
    Sep 2024 - Present · 1 yr 11 mos

  • Service Lead Electoral and Democratic Services at Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
    Dec 2022 - Sep 2024 · 1 yr 10 mos

    Working to facilitate the elections in May ‘23, support governance and decision making for RBWM residents.

  • Bracknell Forest Council (19 yrs 6 mos)
    • Governance and Scrutiny Manager
      Mar 2018 - Dec 2022 · 4 yrs 10 mos

      Working with Members to rebuild the O&S team at Bracknell Forest

    • Principal Democratic Services Officer (Governance)
      Oct 2009 - Feb 2018 · 8 yrs 5 mos

    • Deputy Head of Community Engagement and Equalities
      May 2014 - Jan 2015 · 9 mos

      Secondment opportunity to work with community engagement team on a number of projects including consultation and equality monitoring.

  • Senior Project Assistant at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
    Sep 1999 - Jul 2003 · 3 yrs 11 mos