Mayor of Dacorum
The Mayor of Dacorum for 2025-2026: Councillor Catherine McArevey
The Mayor is the first citizen of the borough and is chosen each May by fellow councillors at the Council’s annual meeting. This is a non-political role, and during their year in office, the Mayor steps back from regular Council duties to focus on representing the borough.
The Mayor chairs Council meetings and attends a wide range of events, such as:
- Civic ceremonies and formal dinners
- Church services and school visits
- Community events and club meetings
- Welcoming dignitaries and opening local events
The Mayor also hosts groups and organisations in the Mayor’s Parlour. If the Mayor is unavailable, a Deputy Mayor will stand in.
The Mayor's correct title is The Worshipful the Mayor of the Borough of Dacorum.
Councillor Garrick Stevens was appointed Deputy Mayor for 2025-2026.
Request the Mayor's attendance
If you'd like to invite the Mayor to a function or event, please complete the online request form (below), giving as much notice as possible and as many details as you can.
About the Mayor
Catherine was born in Manchester and moved to Hemel Hempstead at age seven. She went to Loreto College in St Albans and raised her two daughters in the town.
From a young age, she was passionate about volunteering. She was the first young person in Dacorum to join the Millennium Volunteer scheme and has volunteered for many local organisations since.
She is especially known for her work in domestic abuse services. She volunteered for the Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Helpline, later helped set it up as a charity, and chaired it for five years. The helpline went on to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Catherine worked for Community Action Dacorum as a Domestic Abuse Coordinator, supporting the development of projects such as The Freedom Programme and Cherished, which support abuse victims. She also helped organisations secure more than £250,000 in funding for Hertfordshire domestic abuse services.
Professionally, Catherine trained as a nurse at Hemel Hempstead Hospital, later working as an Intensive Care Nurse there. She then became a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, supporting families at home for nine years. She also trained as a Forensic Nurse Examiner and worked at the Sexual Assault Referral Centre for six years, holding various safeguarding roles, including Designated Nurse at the Integrated Care Board overseeing safeguarding across Hertfordshire.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she returned to frontline nursing, supported people at home to avoid hospital admission, worked as a clinical contact tracer, and administered vaccines. Her experiences during this time inspired her to enter local politics.
During her mayoral year, she will continue to work part-time in a nursing and education role.
Awards
- Millennium Volunteer Award - 2000
- High Sherriff Award - 2012
- Dacorum Community Safety Citizen of the Year - 2012
- Hertfordshire Community Safety Citizen of the Year - 2012
- Hertfordshire Community Champion (Herts Chamber of Commerce) - 2012
- Pride in Dacorum Award finalist - 2013
- Emma Humphreys Memorial award finalist (national award) - 2015
- Hertfordshire Excellence in Public Health - 2022
- Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline receives Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service - 2022
- Queen's Nurse - 2022
- Cavell Star - 2023
- Hertfordshire NHS Hero - 2024
- Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Award (from the Queen's Nursing Institute for outstanding service) - 2024
Catherine was elected as a councillor for Leverstock Green Ward in 2023 and currently chairs the Health and Wellbeing Committee. She has also chaired the Housing and Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee. She is an active member of the Leverstock Green Village Association.
She is passionate about supporting people and promoting community services. During her year as Mayor, she hopes to encourage community togetherness and inclusion. She is keen to reduce loneliness, and hopes to visit nursing and residential homes, as well as encouraging community health through events and partnerships with faith leaders.
She has chosen to continue to support the Mayor's Future Fund this year.
Latest news
You can keep up to date with the latest Mayoral news and events on social media:
Contact information
Address:
Mayor's Office
Dacorum Borough Council
The Forum
Marlowes
Hemel Hempstead
Hertfordshire
HP1 1DN
Telephone: 01442 228202
Email: mayors.secretary@dacorum.gov.uk
Page Last Updated: Monday, 02 June 2025 at 03:54 PM