Our council is structured into five directorates:
- Adults and Communities
- Children's Services
- Place
- Core Services
- Public Health
Our senior management team (SMT) is led by Sarah Norman, the Chief Executive of Barnsley Council.
SMT is responsible for making sure that policies approved and decisions made by councillors are implemented effectively. Issues that go to SMT that require a political decision then go onto Cabinet and where necessary onto a meeting of Full Council.
You can find an overview of our leadership team below.

Sarah Norman
Our Chief Executive
You can contact Sarah Norman by emailing sarahnorman@barnsley.gov.uk

Wendy Lowder
Adults and Communities - Executive Director
• Stronger, Safer and Healthier Communities – Phil Hollingsworth (Service Director)
• Adult Social Care and Health – Julie Chapman (Service Director)

Mel John-Ross
Children’s Services – Executive Director
• Education, Early Start and Prevention – Nina Sleight (Service Director)
• Children’s Social Care and Safeguarding - Deborah Mercer (Service Director)

Shokat Lal
Core Services - Executive Director
• Business Improvement, HR and Communication – Michael Potter (Service Director)
• Governance and Business Support – Martin McCarthy (Service Director)
• Financial Services – Neil Copley (Service Director)
• Legal Services – Garry Kirk (Service Director)
• Customer, Information and Digital Services – David Robinson (Service Director)

Matt Gladstone
Place – Executive Director
• Economic Regeneration and Culture – Kathy McArdle (Service Director)
• Environment and Transport – Paul Castle (Service Director)

Julia Burrows
Public Health – Director of Public Health
• Public Health – Carrie Abbott (Service Director)