When I sat down with Carol Williams to reflect on her year as President of Socitm, I knew we’d cover a lot of ground. What I didn’t expect was just how much would come through in our conversation.
Carol’s year at the helm has been full of firsts, fast-paced learning, and a deep sense of purpose—and it’s clear she’s taken it all in her stride.
“You won’t get another chance like this.”
A year in conversation with Socitm President Carol Williams
“It’s hard to say what the best bit has been,” she said early on. “It’s just been a fantastic year. I’ve felt so privileged to be in this position.”
From representing Socitm internationally to shaping policy at home, Carol’s presidency has been defined by connection.
One standout moment was her visit to Antwerp to meet colleagues from LOLA, the international network of local government digital leaders. “It was eye-opening,” she said. “Seeing the digital challenges and progress others are making, it really made me think about how we can share learning and take it further.”
That spirit of collaboration came to life when she used AI guidance co-written with Socitm’s Martin Ferguson and colleagues from New Zealand [ALGIM]. Carol and her team “Walsall-ised” it for her own council.
“We took it through governance and had it in place within a month,” she said proudly. “From day one to day 31. It was really quick because somebody had already done it.”
ALGIM’s Chief Executive Mike Manson is one of the speakers at President’s Conference this year. As his presentation will be on day 2 (when new president Kurt Frary will be in charge) Carol will be able to sit back and really focus on taking in the latest on their cutting edge work with AI.
But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.
“There’s no worst bit,” she said, “but there’s definitely a juggle.” Balancing her role at Walsall Council with the demands of the presidency has meant long days and a lot of multitasking.
“I’ve got two notebooks—one for Walsall, one for Socitm,” she told me. “And some days, I’m flipping between them constantly.”
Kurt, I think you need to get yourself plenty of notebooks. Or apps. However you choose to organise yourself, get yourself ready to organise.
There’s also the unexpected side of visibility. “You suddenly realise how exposed you are,” she said. “I get all these LinkedIn messages—‘Mr. President, would you like our product?’ It’s not a problem, but it’s a shift.”
Still, Carol’s advice to incoming President Kurt Frary is clear: “Enjoy every moment. Grasp every opportunity. And remember—you’ve got something valuable to contribute.”
New responsibilities as trustees
She’s also keen to support the next generation of leaders. “For the Vice Presidents, it’s about preparation. We’ve worked hard to document processes so no one’s starting from scratch. And now that Socitm is a charity, we’re trustees too. That brings a whole new level of responsibility.”
Carol admits she didn’t fully appreciate what that would mean at first. “I thought, ‘Wheel me out, put a chain on me, great!’ But it’s so much more. We’re involved in governance, finance, risk, partnerships. It’s a real job.”
I hadn’t given any thought, until we spoke, to the extra dimensions of the roles. The President’s Team are now trustees of a charity.
And it’s a role she’s taken seriously. “We’ve tried to make sure there’s enough governance to stand up to scrutiny, but not so much that it becomes a burden. We’re all just passing through, so we need to make sure the knowledge is there for the next person.”
Digital skills in the public sector. The magic wand effect.
When I asked her what she’d fix with a magic wand at Walsall, her answer was immediate: digital skills.
“We’ve invested in Microsoft tools. But a Copilot trial showed us that without a solid foundation, people can’t get the most out of the tech. I want to create tailored training that meets people where they are.”
That same empathy extends to the public. I wanted to know what people get wrong or just don’t realise about their local authority.
“Local government is complex,” she said. “We offer hundreds of services, but people often only see the bins and potholes. We need to do better at showing what we do—and making it accessible to everyone, digitally or otherwise.”
Women in public sector leadership
And what makes local government such a good place to work, especially for women?
“It’s the culture,” she said. “It’s family-friendly, supportive, and full of strong female role models. There’s less hierarchy than in the private sector. I can call my chief executive ‘Emma’. That openness makes a difference.”
Carol’s own role models include Nadira Hussain, Socitm’s CEO, and her former chief executive Deborah Hindson.
“Nadira’s capacity for learning is incredible,” she said. “And Deborah was just brilliant.”
She’s also passionate about mentoring. “I’ve coached around 10 to 12 people through the LGA and Socitm. One of them just got promoted. We still catch up.”
Local government digital transformation
So how does she stay resilient in the face of constant change?
“It’s about remembering why we do this. We’re public servants. We want to make a difference. Even though we’re dealing with systems and processes, it’s ultimately about people.”
She’s also learned not to take things too seriously. “Go for a walk. Do some yoga. Talk to someone you trust. And don’t catastrophise. Sometimes you just need a different perspective.”
Socitm annual presidency. What do you do next?
As our conversation wound down, Carol reflected on what comes next. “The nice thing is, I don’t just drop off a cliff on the 11th of June. As past president, I still get to be involved. I still get to contribute.”
And of course, there’s the WhatsApp group. “Our presidential team is so supportive. We take the mickey out of each other, set silly challenges—like sneaking the words ‘fish and chips’ into a presentation. It keeps things light.”
That balance between seriousness and humour, responsibility and joy, is what defines Carol’s leadership. And it’s what will stay with Socitm long after her presidency ends.
Thank you so much Carol for making time to talk to me. It’s greatly appreciated.
Some of the things that Carol mentioned are here. You might find these useful too. You will need to find your own WhatsApp group.
