City council names Daya as Service Director for Legal and Democratic Services

Shahzia Daya has been appointed as the Service Director, Legal and Democratic Services at Bristol City Council after a period acting in an interim capacity in the role.

As Service Director, Daya will manage the legal team, democratic services (previously known as committee services), scrutiny, elections, registrars, political group offices, the Lord Mayor’s office, HM Coroner and the mortuary. She will also be the council’s Monitoring Officer.

Daya grew up in Bristol, having studied at what is now the City Academy (then known as St George school).

She started as a trainee solicitor with Avon County Council in 1990, moving on to councils in Bath, Somerset and Gloucestershire before coming back to join Bristol as a part time senior solicitor in 2002.