We’re delighted to introduce Sue Butcher, our new permanent Director of People. Sue took up her position on 2 March 2026 and has been working closely with outgoing Interim Director of Children’s and Adults’ Services, Dr Sue Ross and her team to ensure a smooth handover. Dr Sue Ross will remain with the Council for a few weeks yet in order to support Sue Butcher and ensure continuity is maintained.
Sue Butcher will be working full time and travelling between Cambridge in Gloucestershire and the islands on a fortnightly basis in the long term, but she plans to spend more time on Scilly in the early days, in order to get to know the islands and our community as quickly as possible.
Sue has a wealth of experience in Children’s Services, most recently in a hybrid role as Executive Director of Children’s Services for Slough Borough Council and Chief Executive of Slough Children First (an alternative model for delivering Children’s Services). She began her career in social work in Gloucestershire in 1992, after qualifying at the University of the West of England. Sue has since worked in a significant number of local authorities, particularly those where there is a need to improve outcomes for vulnerable children at pace, and she is looking forward to applying her knowledge and experience of working in communities across England to her role on Scilly, and to helping us tackle our unique challenges. She is confident that the skills, knowledge and experience she has developed within Children's Services are transferable to Adult Services, and is looking forward to widening her remit to include Adults with support from her teams.
Sue Butcher, Director of People, Council of the Isles of Scilly said: “I am so looking forward to learning more about these beautiful islands and getting to know you all. I am confident that my appointment, and those of two new permanent Heads of Service in Adults and Children’s, will bring greater stability to our services and enable us to work to embed some of the positive changes which have been identified by service users, staff and inspectors in recent years. My experience in restorative practice has taught me the importance of professional relationships and I am committed to working together with my colleagues and partners across the islands to ensure that everyone who relies on our services is supported to thrive. My first few weeks have been busy to say the least, so I’m already getting a sense of how varied and fulfilling my new role will be. Thank you to everyone who has welcome me so warmly so far – I look forward to meeting more of you soon!”
Russell Ashman, Chief Executive, Council of the Isles of Scilly said: “We are all extremely pleased to have appointed such an experienced and committed permanent Director of People to continue the good work of our Interim Directors, and drive forward further improvements in Children’s and Adults Services. I know you will all join me in welcoming Sue Butcher to her new role, and also in thanking Dr Sue Ross for her service to our community, when she completes her handover period in the next few weeks.”
Photo of Sue Butcher, Director of People, Council of the Isles of Scilly