Thames Valley

Sarah Kingston IRRV Hons

Current Position:   Transformation Project Manager, Bracknell Forest Council 

Sarah has been working in Revenues for almost 10 years, beginning her career at Aylesbury Vale District Council in 2004 as a Revenues Officer.  She then moved to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in 2010 where she took on a Team Leader position; and most recently has taken the post of Revenue Services Manager at Bracknell Forest in January 2014.

Sarah has completed her IRRV Diploma and is looking to begin the Honours qualification in the coming year.

When not at work Sarah tends to avoid sport of any kind but does enjoy cooking, eating, drinking and socialising.

Kath Leonard IRRV Tech

Current Position:  Technical Manager, West Oxfordshire District Council

Telephone:  01993 861246

Kath has worked in Local Government for over 25 years originally in Benefits and more recently in Local Taxation.  She qualified with the IRRV as a technician and is currently training as an NVQ Assessor working with candidates working towards the level 3 NVQ in Local Taxation.  

In her spare time Kath helps run a Guide Unit and with her family socialise puppies to be trained as Hearing Dogs for Deaf people.

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Tess Ethelston FIRRV

Current Position:  Director - Business Rate Payment Management, GL Hearn

Telephone:  02380 210685

Tess qualified as a Corporate Member of the Institute in June 2009 having completed her Technician level in 2006.   Tess joined the newly reformed Thames Valley Association in 2008 and served as its President in 2011/12.  She was admitted as a Fellow of the Institute in 2014.

Tess joined GL Hearn in July 2011 as Director heading up the Rate Payment Management team which oversees payments in excess of £2bn in client rate liabilities annually from their Southampton and Cheltenham offices.  Prior to this she was Principal Revenues Officer at West Berkshire Council.  Before joining local government in 2004 she worked as a project coordinator specialising in Welfare Benefits for West Berkshire Citizens Advice Bureau.

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Current Position:  Revenues Manager, Aylesbury Vale District Council

Telephone:  01296 585303

Andy has been in the trade for quite some time and is currently Revenues Manager at Aylesbury Vale DC. He has been the chair of the Oxfordshire Treasures Association Revenues Group for some years and as a Bucks authority, has actively encouraged other authorities to join.

His past leisure time has included coaching rugby and ignoring Phil Adlard’s excellent refereeing. He also currently works for the Thames Valley Probation Service.

Kevin Strong IRRV Dip

Current Position:  Customer Services Team Leader - Housing Repairs, London Borough of Hounslow

Kevin has been working in Local Government for 23 years, currently at the London Borough of Hounslow as the Customer Services Team Leader - Housing Repairs.

Kevin started at Reading Borough Council during Community Charge doing a number of different roles before working his way up to Senior Court Officer. He then spent 4 years at Surrey Heath Borough Council as Recovery Manager before joining Hounslow in 2004.

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Trishy Neczaj IRRV Tech 

Current Position:  Chief Officer Customer Services, Bracknell Forest Council

Telephone:  01344 352096

Keith has worked in local government since the last century, starting his career at the London Borough of Brent in 1970. Via the London boroughs of Hammersmith and then Ealing, Keith arrived at Bracknell Forest Borough Council. In various roles at Bracknell Forest, Keith moved through local taxation systems from general rates, to poll tax and business rates and eventually on to council tax.

Keith is currently Chief Officer Customer Services at Bracknell Forest, a post he has held since 2004.   In that role Keith is responsible for customer contact and revenues.

Keith was a founder committee member of the Thames Valley Branch when it was inaugurated in 1979 as the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Branch of the Rating & Valuation Association.   Keith was Branch Chairman from 1989 to 1991, during the heady days of the implementation of the poll tax.

Away from work, Keith plays league cricket for his local cricket club and also for Berkshire over 50's.

Learning & Development Officer, West Oxfordshire District Council/Cherwell District Council

01993 861241

Julie is currently the Joint Learning and Development Officer for both West Oxfordshire and Cherwell District Councils. She has been in local government since January 1990. She is also a board member of Acorn, (NVQ assessment centre) and a qualified NVQ Assessor, offering training and support to local authorities across the country.

Julie used to play football in a local ladies football team. Her interest derived from her childhood, when her older brothers used to take her to White Hart Lane to watch Spurs!

Past Chairs / Presidents

1976-1983   Leroy Garner

1983-1985   David Magor

1985-1987   John Tye

1987-1989   Les Taylor

1989-1991   Keith Woodman

1991-1993   David Grundy        

1993-1995   Shirley Entwistle

1995-1997   Victor Pennington

1997-2001   Simon Horsington

2001-2008   the Association was dormant

2008-2010   Jon Dearing

2010-2011   Phil Adlard  IRRV Tech 

2011-2012   Tess Reeves  IRRV (Hons) 

2012-2013   Helen Curtis  FIRRV 

2013-2014   Ed Bowen  IRRV (Hons) 

2014-2015   Lynda Callaway  IRRV (Hons) 

2015-2016   Kevin Strong  IRRV Tech

2016-2017   Emma Newcombe  IRRV (Dip)

2017- 2018  Kirsty Anderson  IRRV Tech

2018- 2018  Sarah Kingston IRRV (Hons)

2019-            Laura Smith 

Current Position:  Managing Director, e-mpirical Ltd.

Tony has over 30 years experience of managing and delivering major transformation projects across the public sector.

An experienced operational and programme director with a background in public facing service delivery, including over 20 years in Revenues and Benefits. Qualified IRRV member since 1983,. He has extensive experience of working with councillors, senior officers and external partners and is truly appreciative of the challenges that face services and authorities when they are required by central government to implement often confusing and conflicting initiatives. At the heart of all of his work is the innovative use of technology in all of its shapes and sizes to bring about major cultural change that ultimately leads to improved service and reduced costs. Tony has worked at operational and strategic levels in organisations as varied as Plymouth City Council, Department of Health, Reading Borough Council and Skills for Health.