Sandra Whiles
My name Is Sandra Whiles. I am 48 years old, married with a teenage son and a busy and varied life, both professionally and socially.
I qualified as an Environmental Health officer (EHO) back in 1981 after a four year academic and practical training programme with Tamworth BC where I was their first ever female student EHO. At the time this was quite challenging for some of my male colleagues who tried to protect me from what they saw as some of the more disturbing aspects of EH practice. Well before the end of the four years they had learnt not to try to protect me!
Over the years I have worked in many different operational and managerial roles in District, Borough, Metropolitan, City and Unitary Councils. I have lived through two local government reorganisations and numerous organisational restructures. This mixture of place and change has shaped how I work today and makes me excited about the future.
Early on in my career I realised that I get my greatest job satisfaction from people and organisational development, leading change and dealing with difficult challenges. I have also learnt a lot from the folk I have worked for and with. Very early on I was fortunate to work for and alongside some very generous, inspirational people who shared their learning, hopes and fears and helped me shape my own brand of leadership.
I moved to Blaby in April 2003 as a Strategic Director and was then appointed as Chief Executive in May 2005. I love my job but do occasionally dislike some of the tasks that make up my day. I think this is inevitable and that it is important to acknowledge that at times we all need to be able to do the more unpalatable things but must try to do them well, with principles and in a way that takes our organisations forward.
As a Chief Executive it is vital that I can juggle priorities, manage many different personalities and styles and pull things together so that we collectively achieve more. It is also vital to keep things in proportion, to maintain a sense of humour and to remember that there is more to life than our paid work.
Telephone: 0116 272 7501
Email: chief.executive@blaby.gov.uk