Salena has worked in local government for over 20 years, starting her career as a temporary admin assistant before moving quickly into front line customer services where she developed a real passion for the difference local government could make to individuals and communities if it listened to, and worked in partnership with, local residents and local organisations across a range of sectors.

In 2020 she was appointed Assistant Chief Executive of the London Borough of Lewisham with a wide strategic portfolio including Organisational Development and Transformation, Policy and Communications. In 2023 she joined Test Valley Borough Council in Hampshire as Deputy Chief Executive.