Devon County Council names new Chair and Vice Chair for key civic roles
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Devon County Council has appointed a new Chair and Vice Chair, with councillors from Dawlish and Barnstaple taking on important civic responsibilities representing communities across the county
Two councillors with strong ties to their local communities have been appointed to lead Devon County Council's civic duties for the coming year.
At a meeting of the Full Council on Wednesday, Councillor Rosie Dawson was confirmed as the new Chair of Devon County Council, with Councillor Syed Jusef appointed as Vice Chair.
Councillor Dawson, who represents the Dawlish division, takes on the role after serving as Vice Chair of the County Council since her election in 2025.
She has previously served as Mayor of Dawlish and Chair of Teignbridge District Council and has been involved in the Council's Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee.
As Chair, Councillor Dawson will represent Devon County Council at community and ceremonial events across the county.
She will also preside over Full Council meetings and help ensure proceedings are conducted fairly and in accordance with the Council's constitution.
The position is politically neutral and does not involve executive decision-making, which remains the responsibility of the Council's Cabinet and Leader.
Speaking after her appointment, Councillor Dawson said: "Devon is a fantastic place with strong, proud communities, and I'm really looking forward to meeting people across the county, and celebrating what makes Devon so special.
"I'm honoured to take on the role of Chair and have the opportunity to highlight the work happening in our communities and to make sure people feel connected to the Council and the services we provide."
Councillor Syed Jusef, who represents Barnstaple North, will support the Chair in carrying out civic duties and representing the Council at events across Devon.
Elected to the County Council in 2025, Councillor Jusef is also North Devon District Council's member for Barnstaple Central.
He has been involved in initiatives aimed at improving community safety and wellbeing and has more than a decade of experience advising Devon and Cornwall Police on hate crime issues.
Like the Chair, the Vice Chair role is non-political and focused on representing the Council and local communities.
Councillor Jusef said: "I'm proud to take on the role of Vice Chair and to represent the Council across Devon, building strong connections with communities and making sure everyone feels included, respected and heard."
Together, the Chair and Vice Chair play a key role in supporting the democratic process and representing Devon County Council across the county, helping to strengthen engagement with residents, communities and partner organisations.