President

Rachael Wardell OBE
Executive Director of Children, Families and Lifelong Learning
Surrey County Council
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Rachael has been the Executive DirectRachael Wardell has been Executive Director of Children, Families and Lifelong Learning at Surrey County Council since December 2020, and was previously DCS in the London Borough of Merton (2018-2020) and West Berkshire (2013-2018). In West Berkshire she ‘twin-hatted’ as Director of Adult Social Care too. She has worked in local government children’s services since 2009 and prior to that had 14 years’ experience in non-departmental public bodies including Ofsted (2002 – 2009). Rachael is also a qualified solution-focused coach.
Rachael became ADCS President in April 2025; before becoming Vice President, she served 8 years as Chair of the Workforce Policy Committee.
Rachael became ADCS President in April 2025; before becoming Vice President, she served 8 years as Chair of the Workforce Policy Committee.
Vice President

Ann Graham
Director of Children's Services
Haringey Council
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Biog to follow
Immediate Past President

Andy Smith
Strategic Director of People
Derby City Council
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Andy works in Derby as the Strategic Director for People Services which encompasses the role of Director of Children’s Services (DCS) and Director of Adult Social Services (DASS), a role he’s held since 2016, although he was the DCS from 2015. Andy is a qualified social worker and prior to moving to Derby in 2014 as the Director for Early Help and Children’s Safeguarding, worked in Leicester in a variety of roles for nearly 20 years. Between 2010-2017 Andy also worked as a local authority associate inspector with Ofsted which provided him with learning and experience on the previous SLAC and SIF frameworks.
As a former child in care who was adopted by his foster carers when aged 10, Andy always knew that he wanted to be a social worker from an early age, and has always tried to use his previous lived and positive experiences of the care system and of social workers throughout his career.
Andy was previously chair of the ADCS Standards, Performance and Inspection Committee for two years prior to becoming Vice President of the association in April 2023.
Andy was ADCS President 2024/25.
Honorary Secretary

Jane Moore
Director, Children and Family Services
Leicestershire County Council
Honorary Treasurer

Tim Aldridge
Executive Director of Children and Learning
Camden Council
Elected Director

Harmesh Bhogal
Director of Children’s Services
Bedford Borough Council
Elected Director

Sukriti Sen
Director of Children and Education Services
Coventry City Council
Elected Director

Suanne Lim
Director of Early Help & Children’s Social Care
Derby City Council
Elected Director

Diane Benjamin
Director of Children’s Social Care
Hackney Council
Board of Directors
The ADCS Ltd Board of Directors comprises the following positions:
- President
- Vice President
- Immediate Past President
- Honorary Secretary
- Honorary Treasurer
- 4 Elected Directors
All posts are elected by Ordinary Members of the Association. Any Ordinary member may hold office as an Elected Director and need not be a DCS.
Council of Reference
The Council of Reference of ADCS comprises:
- Board of Directors
- Policy Committee Chairs
- Regional chairs and representatives and the Chair of the Associates Network.