Chair of the council

About the chair

The chair is the ceremonial head of the council. The chair must be a serving county councillor but must remain politically impartial. A chair must not be a member of the Cabinet.

Ceremonial duties include:

• being the politically impartial civic leader of Oxfordshire
• promoting the objectives and services of the county council and Oxfordshire 
• acting as an ambassador for the county council and Oxfordshire
• fostering community identity and pride.

Key responsibilities include:

• presiding over meetings of the full council
• accepting invitations on behalf of the county council to attend events
• inviting individuals and representatives of key organisations to events at County Hall and other venues.

Chair,  Councillor Susanna Pressel

After graduating from Somerville College, Oxford, Susanna spent five years in Zambia and then returned to Oxford to teach in state secondary schools in Didcot and Oxford for many years. She has been a city councillor since 1996 and a county councillor since 2009. Her hobbies include playing pool for the county.

Vice Chair,  Councillor Felix Bloomfield

Born in Oxford, and educated locally before attending university in London, Felix has lived and worked in Oxfordshire most of his life.  He was a South Oxfordshire District Councillor for 20 years and was the district's youngest ever Chairman.  A professional photojournalist for many years specialising in motorsport and the music industry.

Events

If you would like to invite the Chair to an event, email  chair@oxfordshire.gov.uk