biography

Joanne Phillips was elected to serve as a member of Delaware County Council in 2025 and was sworn in to begin a four-year term in January 2026.  She formerly served eight years as the elected County Controller, winning the election in 2017 and reelection in 2021.  As a member of Council, she will serve as the Chair of the Jail Oversight Board and a member of the Retirement Board.  She also represents Delaware County on the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority where she has served since 2020.

Ms. Phillips brings eight years of County experience to her new role. As the independent Controller, Ms. Phillips led the office responsible for the financial business of the County, including payroll, accounts payable, audits, pension and financial reporting.  The Government Finance Officers Association for the United States and Canada (“GFOA”) awarded her office the prestigious award for Excellence in Financial Reporting each year during her term.  She spearheaded new programs for the County, including creating an Unclaimed Property program and fraud hotline. She served as the Secretary to the Retirement Board and member of the Jail Oversight Board since its inception in 2020.

Ms. Phillips is an experienced real estate and finance attorney who, before retiring from private practice, represented business clients, cultural institutions, hospitals and universities in real estate development, zoning and land use, eminent domain, and real estate finance. Ms. Phillips also served in state government as the Director of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Bureau of Real Estate, in the Department of General Services, where she oversaw a department responsible for a multi-million-dollar portfolio of leased facilities and the acquisition and sale of real property. She also served as a Special Assistant to the City of Philadelphia’s Managing Director to work on streamlining business processes and real estate issues.

Ms. Phillips graduated summa cum laude from Widener University's Delaware Law School, where she was the valedictorian of her class and an editor of the law review. She received her B.A. from Ursinus College, with Departmental Honors. She was also a member of the school's nationally ranked field hockey team.

A leader in professional organizations throughout her career, highlights include serving as Chair of the Real Property Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association and Chair of the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Counselors of Real Estate (“CRE”.) Joanne was active in the Pennsylvania County Controller’s Association and the Pennsylvania State Association of Elected Officials. Ms. Phillips is a member of the Pennsylvania and Delaware County Bar Associations and its deFuria Inn of Court.

Ms. Phillips and her husband have lived in Middletown Township for more than thirty-six years.  Their two children attended schools in the Rose Tree Media School District.  Ms. Phillips was also involved in volunteer youth activities in her community. She became a licensed soccer coach and coached boys' and girls' intramural and travel teams for more than 15 years and served as a director of the Rose Tree Soccer Club.