Nicky Old joined the Local Government Association (LGA) – the body representing local government in England and Wales - as director of communications in September 2022. Her previous communications and leadership roles include as director of communications and external relations for the membership organisation Universities UK, leading business communications and working as chief of staff in the Education Funding Agency within the Department for Education, managing communications for a non-departmental public body and running the media and public engagement function for the University of Oxford.