As you will likely know by now, both Graham Olway and Peter Colenutt have stepped down from their roles as EBDOG chair and vice-chair respectively.  Both have been in those roles for some time over the last few years and felt that it was the right time to leave the committee and provide opportunities for others on the group to take the chair and vice chair roles on.

We are sure that you will join all of us on the EBDOG committee in thanking both Graham and Peter for their years of service on the group, both have made huge differences to the way that Local Authorities work with the DfE and other partner organisations and they leave a lasting legacy having placed EBDOG at the forefront of discussions and decision making in all areas of our work.

As the committee try to fill the large void left by both there will understandably be a period of transition for the committee.  At the moment there are to be three ‘co-chairs’ who will continue to lead the work of the committee until such time as a new chair and vice chair are nominated and approved.   These are:

Sally Varley (North Somerset Council) – sally.varley@n-somerset.gov.uk 

Rob Thomas (Walsall Council) – rob.thomas@walsall.gov.uk

Pete Mumford (Suffolk County Council) – pete.mumford@suffolk.gov.uk

The co-chairs would like to thank all of their fellow committee members and regional colleagues for their support during this transition period and we hope to announce the chair and vice chair roles at the earliest opportunity.