James Blake

James is Chief Executive of YHA (England and Wales Ltd) - the Youth Hostels Association, a post he took up in July 2017, after serving as Chief Executive of St Albans City and District Council since January 2013. Before this he was Deputy Chief Executive (Public Services).

Prior to joining St Albans Council in 2008, James worked for ten years in central government, becoming a senior civil servant in the Department for Communities and Local Government, where he focused on policy relating to regeneration, social inclusion and local government.