Ministerial Envoys

Kim Bromley-Derry - Ministerial Envoy

Kim was a former Commissioner for Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and is currently a Strategic Advisor at Dudley Council.

Kim held the role of Chief Executive at the London Borough of Newham for over 10 years. Before becoming Chief Executive at Newham, Kim was an Executive Director of Children’s Services at Newham Council, South Tyneside Council and Leicester City Council and prior to this has been a senior manager of children’s, adults and social care services at a number of other local authorities.

Kim received a CBE in the New Year’s Honours List 2017, for his contribution to the local authority sector and in 2017 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration by the University of East London for his major contribution to the borough of Newham and the public sector. Kim became a Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Greater London in 2019.

Kim was the Lead Inspector for the Best Value Inspection at London Borough of Tower Hamlets in 2024. In his role as Ministerial Envoy in Tower Hamlets, Kim will lead on Leadership and Partnerships, whilst maintaining oversight across the council's improvements work.

Pam Parkes - Assistant Envoy

Pam is currently a Best Value Commissioner at Birmingham City Council, and president of the Public Services People Managers Association.

Previously, Pam was the Executive Director for People and Transformation at Essex County Council, and part of the Best Value Inspection Team at Thurrock Council.

Pam started in Local Government at the age of 19 and has worked in a range of local authorities including Southwark, Lambeth, Hackney, Croydon and Essex.

Pam’s Professional discipline focuses on HR, organisational development and change, and she is a FCIPD qualified senior practitioner. In her role as Assistant Envoy in Tower Hamlets, Pam will lead on Culture, whilst maintaining oversight across the council’s improvement work.

Shokat Lal - Assistant Envoy

Shokat is currently the Chief Executive of Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and has 36 years of experience working across the public sector, in local government and health at a senior level.

Prior to joining Sandwell, Shokat was Executive Director of Core Services, Deputy Returning Officer and Senior Information Risk Owner at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council.

Prior to that, Shokat was Assistant Chief Executive at Rotherham Council, where he was part of the senior leadership team responsible for bringing the council out of intervention.

Shokat’s professional background is in Human Resources and organisational development and he is a Chartered Companion of the CIPD. Shokat also has extensive experience of working in the voluntary sector. In his role as Assistant Envoy in Tower Hamlets, Shokat will lead on Governance whilst maintaining oversight across the council’s improvement work.