The Speaker

As the council has a directly elected mayor with executive powers, the role of Speaker fulfils many of the ceremonial and public duties traditionally associated with the Mayor.

The Speaker of the council is a serving councillor elected to the office for one year by fellow council members at their annual meeting.

They chair full council meetings, attend numerous events, welcome visitors to Hackney and preside over citizenship ceremonies.

The Speaker of Hackney is Councillor Sharon Patrick.

Visit Speaker’s Facebook page

Visit Speaker’s X profile

Events and engagements

To find about any forthcoming events contact the Speaker’s Office.

Invite the Speaker to an event

Whether you are a local community group, school or charity, inviting the Speaker to your event will lend an air of dignity and ceremony. The Speaker will try hard to attend either in person or by sending the Deputy Speaker.

Events which the Speaker attends include presentations of certificates, including citizenship ceremonies, police passing-out parades, religious services, the annual Remembrance Sunday parade, building openings, fetes, concerts, sporting events and civic receptions among many others.

The Speaker also visits schools in the borough to talk about the work of the Council and civic responsibility, and conducts tours of the Council Chamber and the Speaker’s Parlour for community groups.

Nominated charities 2025 to 2026

Each year the Speaker selects charitable causes to support, both by fundraising and by attendance at events. This year the Speaker has chosen to support Hackney Food Bank, Hackney Marsh Partnership and the Pedro Club.

Hackney Food Bank

Hackney Food Bank supports people who are in crisis or trapped in poverty with compassion and dignity. They do this by providing emergency food parcels, which offer practical, immediate relief in moments of crisis, and by connecting people with local organisations that can help them to address the root causes and wider effects of poverty in their lives.

Registered charity no: 1149896

Find out more on the Hackney Food Bank website.

Hackney Marsh Partnership

Hackney Marsh Partnership works to reduce poverty and isolation in Hackney, to enable people and communities to flourish. They do this through:

• youth programmes
• community activities
• adult training
• employability programme

Registered charity no: 1062470

Find out more on the Hackney Marsh Partnership website.

Pedro Club

The Pedro Club is a community centre that serves multiple generations in Hackney. It provides people with a safe place to thrive, lead healthy lives and fulfil their potential. The club offers a range of activities, including:

• amateur boxing
• football
• life skills
• education support
• social, cultural and mentoring opportunities

Registered charity no: 1195783

Find out more on the Pedro Club website.

Young Speakers of Hackney –  Martha Newman and Nisa Altun

The two Young Speakers of Hackney are selected from Hackney Youth Parliament members. As well as being a voice for the parliament, they work towards improving the lives of young people in the borough, by championing the youth voice, attending council meetings and working directly with the Mayor and Speaker.

Hackney Town Hall tours

Guided tours of Hackney Town Hall take place regularly. The tour includes a visit to the Hackney Town Hall vaults, a historical display on civic life in the borough.

Up to 30 people can attend a tour. To arrange a group tour, email speaker@hackney.gov.uk.

Hackney Town Hall Open House London virtual tour with 2021 to 2022 Speaker of Hackney Cllr Michael Desmond

Children’s tours

Specialist tours for primary school children are also available. They link in with the citizenship curriculum to help further children’s understanding of democracy. To book a tour for your school please contact us at the details on this page.

See children’s town hall tour worksheet (PDF 3mb)