Maxine O'Mahony, the new chief executive at Breckland DC, cares about people first and foremost. Her 12 years of service as the council's executive director of HR have highlighted the importance of concentrating on what she calls the ‘people element'.

Speaking to The MJ just four weeks into her chief executive role, she says she began her career in the private sector, with jobs in JP Morgan and Marriot Hotels, before joining the local government world.