Councillor Rebecca Charlwood is the Chair of the Leeds Health and Wellbeing Board and has been the Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adults for Leeds City Council since May 2016.

Councillor Charlwood moved to Leeds at the age of 20 for university and has called the city home ever since. After university, she was determined to pursue a career that could genuinely make a difference to the lives of others. So, she became a mental health support worker, with a focus on peer support. Her four years in that environment had a profound effect. She then went on to work for a national charity for a further four years as a quality officer. This role reinforced just how important it is that people receive the right support at the right time, in order to help them work towards recovery.

Councillor Charlwood then began a Masters degree in public policy and management. This led to her decision to get involved in politics, with a commitment to making sure the right people were making the right decisions about how best to support those who need it most.

Following completion of her Masters, Councillor Charlwood continued to work within the third sector, as a UK compliance advisor for a care provider. She was then elected to represent Moortown and Meanwood ward as a local councillor.