Rachel Millward From Film Festivals to Frontline Politics

Rachel Millward's path into politics is anything but conventional. Before ever standing for election, she built an award-winning career in the creative industries — founding and directing a successful international film festival and a national charity supporting women filmmakers. In this session, she talks about that journey: the leap from the arts world into local government, what it actually feels like to lead a council for the first time, and how creative-sector instincts around storytelling, community and collaboration have shaped her approach to public life.

Since 2021 Rachel has served as Wealden District Councillor for Hartfield, and since 2023 as co-leader of the council — a role that has given her first-hand experience of the practical realities of local government: housing pressures, environmental challenges, and the day-to-day work of trying to improve a community's wellbeing. She'll share candid reflections on what surprised her about political life, the compromises and trade-offs of coalition leadership, and what she's learned about the gap between political ideals and the messier business of actually delivering change.

A familiar voice on BBC Politics, ITV, LBC and Times Radio, Rachel brings a thoughtful, personal perspective on public service, leadership, and what drew a career creative into frontline politics.

A Q&A session will follow.