Julie Odams

Safeguarding Lead Trustee

Julie has worked in the local government and higher education sectors for the last 25 years. She is currently Head of Policy & Communications at the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, a national government independent body overseeing complaint management in councils and social care organisations across England.

Her former roles include being Assistant Director of Communications & Customers at Derbyshire County Council and Communications Manager at Staffordshire County Council. She also spent several years as Head of Student Experience at The University of Salford and Head of Communications at Staffordshire University.

Julie has qualifications in geology, communications, leadership and management and is part of the national LGComms Executive Board. She is an international conference speaker and is passionate about public services and their improvement.

Julie is lifelong resident of the Potteries and is a firm believer in the power of activity to support wellbeing. As a child she was a county level gymnast and trampolinist, and now stays active through walking, swimming and pilates. Julie’s great love is gardening, and as well as her own garden she looks after an allotment in Silverdale and is the Treasurer of the allotment association.