Cllr Kaya Comer-Schwartz and Cllr Una O’Halloran confirmed in new roles in Islington Council’s Executive

Cllr Kaya Comer-Schwartz will take on the role of executive member for children, young people and families, and Cllr Una O’Halloran will join the Executive to lead the community development portfolio.

The appointments were made by the Leader of the Council, Cllr Richard Watts, and both councillors, who were born and raised in the borough, will take up their new roles on 1 March.

The appointments follow the decision of Cllr Joe Caluori to step down from his Executive role at the end of February after serving for six years.

Cllr Comer-Schwartz said: “I have hugely enjoyed my time as executive member for community development, working closely with the voluntary sector, championing equality and tackling discrimination in all its forms.

“The potential of Islington's young people is limitless; I am really driven to make sure that the council is doing all that it can to cultivate their futures and the future of Islington. I am determined to fulfil our commitment to make Islington the best place to grow up in.

“Joe has achieved so much in his role, and I am looking forward to building on his successes and taking on the challenges ahead. I’d like to welcome Una to the Executive and I know she will do a fantastic job.”

Cllr O’Halloran said: “I am thrilled to be joining the council’s Executive to serve in the important and challenging role of executive member for community development in the borough I have called home all my life.

“I am looking forward to getting started, and to working with the many local groups and charities that contribute so much to our wonderful borough.

“I also want to thank Kaya for her work in championing local voluntary and community groups, as well as her role in developing the borough’s licensing policies, and I know I will be picking her brains as I get settled in.”

Cllr O’Halloran has represented Caledonian ward since 2014 and served as the Mayor of Islington in 2017/18. A regular volunteer at a local soup kitchen, Cllr O’Halloran is also a governor at St Joseph’s Primary School and is very active in her local church, St Mary Moorfields. She will leave her role as chair of the Policy and Performance Scrutiny Committee to join the Executive.

Cllr Comer-Schwartz has represented Junction ward since 2013 and was appointed executive member for community development in 2015. Prior to that, she chaired the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee. Cllr Comer-Schwartz’s professional background is in the charitable sector, and she has worked for the Centre for Mental Health, Shelter and World Jewish Relief. The councillor also sits on the National Living Wage Friendly Funders Steering Group, and is a member of the Archway Town Centre Business group.