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.