Carole Williams is a public sector expert with 24 years of leadership experience in local government. Having served as a Cabinet Member for Employment, Skills and Equalities since 2016, Carole has extensive experience in strategic evidence-based policy development, community leadership, partnership building, and working with government.

Throughout her tenure, Carole’s portfolio focused on delivering tangible community outcomes, including expanding access to training and apprenticeships in green sectors, leading the council's poverty-reduction response during the cost-of-living crisis, and leading the Employment, Skills and Adult Learning Service through a successful bid, securing millions in investment for local employment programmes. She was instrumental in achieving Hackney’s Borough of Sanctuary status and shaping the council’s Equality Plan.

At a national level, Carole’s leadership was marked by her appointment as the country’s first Cabinet lead for Windrush. In this role, she played a pivotal part in Hackney’s hosting of the national launch of the Windrush Commissioner’s office and subsequently worked with the Commissioner to establish the Windrush Councils Network. She also led on health and wellbeing and contributed to national conversations on the future of adult social care through the Local Government Association’s Care Where You Live campaign

Carole has previously served on the Greater London Employment Forum and chaired skills policy on the Skills for Londoners Board for Central London Forward. She remains a dedicated community advocate, continuing her commitment to the well-being and progress of Hackney’s residents.