Richard Kemp CBE has recently completed his forty-second year as a member of Liverpool City Council, where he has held a number of positions in both control and opposition. He was the Lord Mayor of Liverpool in the council year 2024-2025. He is the councillor for the world-famous Penny Lane area and has settled down to a back-bench role for the first time in many years. He was made a CBE in 2011 for services to public service and regeneration.
Outside the council, Richard served for 25 years as an officer of the Local Government Association, where, among other positions held, he was Lib Dem leader and LGA vice-chair for seven-and-a-half years, spokesperson on health and social care during the COVID-19 pandemic and the international spokesperson for all four UK LGAs for nine years.
Since 2000, Richard has worked in many councils for the Audit Commission and the LGA, inspecting, reviewing, supporting and mentoring in a wide range of councils of all types.
Outside councils Richard is chair of the Local Authority Mutual Investment Trust, which currently provides investment opportunities for local councils and affiliated bodies that are part of the wider local government family. He is also chair of QS ImpACT a global charity that helps universities work with disadvantaged communities, NGOs and businesses to develop actions to deliver the UN’s SDGs.
Richard’s mayoral themes were disadvantaged children and care leavers. He maintains this interest by being both supportive within the council in these services and by chairing a CIC that promotes good practice for those about to leave care or who have already left care.
At GGI, Richard focuses on driving improvement and developing senior leaders in local government and across organisations that exist for the public good.
