[1] Born in South Yorkshire to parents from Jamaica who immigrated to England as part of the Windrush generation, Thomas originally wanted to be a footballer and was signed to Sheffield United until a back injury.

[2] Thomas attended Newfield Secondary School, Sheffield, before pursuing further studies, graduating as MA in professional practice (change management) from Lancaster University in 2007.

"[2] Thomas was initially headhunted on a one-year contract by Malcolm Newsam, the children's social care commissioner appointed by the government to oversee children's and young people's services in Rotherham in the wake of the Jay Report by Professor Alexis Jay.

[1] He was chief executive of the London Borough of Lewisham in 2018, before serving as CEO of the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames (2019–23) where he led a £1.2bn regeneration programme providing an additional 1,338 new homes in Kingston,[5] plus investment in schools, leisure and cultural facilities, new jobs and apprenticeships, and inward investment, including Unilever's new global HQ.

As Town Clerk, a position dating back to the 13th century, Thomas acts as head of the paid service, leading over 4,000 City Corporation staff, and is principal advisor to elected Commoners on matters of policy.