Pippa Milne
Chief Executive, Argyll and Bute Council
Pippa Milne has served as Chief Executive of Argyll and Bute Council since January 2020, following her role as Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure. With over 30 years of experience in local government across the UK, Pippa brings extensive expertise and a deep commitment to delivering the council’s vision: that Argyll and Bute is a place where people choose to live, learn, work, and do business.
As Chief Executive, Pippa leads an organisation of around 4,000 dedicated employees, providing a diverse range of public services across one of Scotland’s most beautiful and varied regions. Her focus is on partnership working to achieve the best possible outcomes for communities, and she is passionate about promoting the many opportunities Argyll and Bute offers.
Beyond her role in the council, Pippa is Chair of SOLACE Scotland and portfolio lead for Leadership and Development, playing a key role in shaping the future of local government leadership. She sits on the Chief Executives Working Group on Transformation and the PSR Board, facilitates the Leadership Practitioner Forum, and hosts the Solace Springboard Programme, supporting the next generation of public service leaders.
Pippa is a strong advocate for values-based, ambitious, and future-focused leadership. Her work reflects a commitment to organisational culture, collaborative transformation, and unlocking potential for communities and public services alike.
10:00–11:00
Main Plenary
Women across local government are challenging long standing norms, reshaping organisational cultures, and redefining what leadership looks like. This panel brings together three senior female leaders to explore both the systemic barriers that still shape career progression and the powerful role authenticity plays in overcoming them. Through candid reflections on navigating political challenge, leading through complexity, and building confidence in spaces not designed with them in mind, panellists will share practical strategies and personal insights. The session will examine how allyship, inclusive cultures, and values driven leadership can create genuinely equitable pathways - and what it will take to ensure more women can lead boldly and authentically across the sector.
