First elected to Stoke-on-Trent City Council in 2010, Abi has served her beloved city in both administration and opposition. From 2015 until 2023 as deputy leader and then leader, Abi led numerous landmark projects that have transformed the face of Stoke-on-Trent, including the award winning Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone, the city’s shortlisted bid to be City of Culture 2021, and Stoke-on-Trent’s nationally acclaimed Fostering Friendly City campaign, which created the greatest concentration of fostering friendly employers in the country.
Alongside securing the largest ever Levelling Up Fund allocation for any single place, bringing over £100m of government investment to the city, and the second largest relocation of civil service jobs from Whitehall, Abi’s high profile leadership shone a spotlight on how place-based policy-making led by local leaders could influence across government. Abi has given evidence to select committees, led No 10 cross governmental round tables, and been credited with influencing national policymaking from asylum and housing, to culture and devolution.
Abi's involvement with the Local Government Association (LGA) stretches back to her sudden elevation to deputy leader of the council. Having initially been a member of the LGA City Regions Board from 2017 rising to become Vice Chair, Abi became chair of the LGA Improvement and Innovation Board in 2022. From engaging with the government on local government assurance and OFLOG, to driving significant change in the LGA's own sector-led improvement, as well as being an active member peer working predominantly with challenged local authorities, Abi is a passionate advocate for local government. In addition, since 2023 Abi has been the elected deputy leader of the LGA Conservative Group and a Deputy Chairman of the LGA.
Abi received an OBE in the 2024 King's New Year Honours for services to local government. She is a Non-Executive Director at Homes England, and a trustee of Localis.