Annabel Bates is the Executive Director of Children's Services for Middlesbrough Council. As the statutory DCS for the town, Annabel works with schools and settings across the local area to improve services and opportunities for children and young people. She was previously director of education & inclusion for the London Borough of Newham, the education representative for the London Adolescent Safeguarding Oversight Board and co-chair of the London Safeguarding Children's Partnership's Education Sub Committee.