Steve Leach is Emeritus Professor of Local Government at De Montfort University, UK. He worked at the Institute of Local Government Studies (INLOGOV) from 1977 to 1996, by which time he held the position of Reader. He has worked previously as a town planner in local government and as a polytechnic lecturer in town planning.

John Stewart was a unique figure in the world of British local government with a profound influence on both theory and practice. He served as the Director of the Institute of Local Government Studies and Professor of Local Government at the University of Birmingham, UK. He was a member of the Layfield committee on Local Government Finance (1974-1976).