The SKAO Council, the governing body of the SKAO, has been meeting this week in the SKAO headquarters at the Jodrell Bank Observatory near Manchester in the UK. The Council represents the SKAO Member States (now 14), with Member Voting Representatives and their Advisors attending meetings. The Council is supported by two committees, the Finance Committee and the Science and Engineering Advisory Committee. The Council discussed the strategic direction, governance and future priorities of the SKA Observatory.