Biographies
I have been a member of the Green Party for a number of years and stood as a ‘paper’ candidate a couple of times. This last election many of us in South Oxfordshire were incensed by the focus on untrammelled growth that all the local councils around us had. That along with the climate emergency convinced me to campaign hard and I won, along with five other Greens.
Professionally, I have worked in local government as an officer for the last 12 years, in children’s and public health service commissioning. I have been a secondary school governor and am chair of my parish council.
I am now vice chair of the newly- formed Climate Change Committee, the district’s Cycle Champion and on the scrutiny committee. This along with working full time, with a teenage daughter still at home and elderly parents close by, takes up all my time. My garden is nicely re-wilded as a result!
I’m Roy, a new green councillor for Lewes District Castle Ward. I succeeded in getting elected this May having never played an active part in local politics before, largely due to the hard work and support of a very dynamic bunch of local green party members.
I’ve lived and worked in Lewes for most of my life and raised four children there. I’ve been active within one of the Bonfire Societies [Lewes is famous for it’s November 5th celebrations], a member of the local athletics club and help to start a Border Morris dancing team.
I think it was because of my community links over of a period of time that enabled me to get elected as much as the growing public concern about green issues and global warming.
One of my concerns is the lack of truly affordable, ecological housing for young local people.
Silvia Collins is an experienced professional food industry consultant with university degrees in both food science and law. Silvia started her career teaching analytical chemistry at the University of Southbank and went on to lead a number of research projects with blue chip food companies. Now, with over 30 years’ experience in the food industry, Silvia has held management roles in industrial research, manufacturing compliance auditing, contract analytical laboratory services and critical risk analysis and trouble shooting. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) and has been an assessor for the IFST's continuing professional development (CPD) scheme.
Outside the food industry, Silvia has held a directorship of an IT start-up company where she managed its financial, employment and health and safety responsibilities through start-up to successful sale of the business. She gained further start-up experience as a consultant in partnership with a multi-national public relations firm, covering high risk global issues for blue chip food industry clients and has also led decision support analytics projects on issues such as BSE, genetically modified foods and food allergy awareness.
Whilst raising two children, Silvia became involved with local schools and was elected as a governor of Harlington Upper School, where she sat on a number of committees and chaired the Curriculum and Standards Committee.
More recently, Silvia has engaged in free-lance consultancy and in May 2019 stood and was elected as a unitary councillor at Central Bedfordshire Council.
Maxine is the Managing Director and founder of Amax Estates which has been successfully trading for over 18 years, specialising in lettings, sales and block management. Maxine is also a trainer of landlords and agents on behalf of the UK Landlords Accreditation Scheme (UKLAS) and is personally responsible for successfully training over five-thousand landlords and agents to date.
In addition to running her business, Maxine was a ward councillor in the London Borough of Bexley from 2010 to 2018 and this year successfully become an independent ward councillor and Deputy Group Leader in Sevenoaks District Council.
Due to her skills and knowledge she is often invited to be a stakeholder on various government consulting groups relating to housing.
I entered the world of politics via passion and ignorance. Nigel, my partner’s late father, was Chairman of Independent and Health Concern and we were discussing a local issue which lead to me being very vocal. It was at this point Nigel was very clever, before I knew it my election papers were signed, and I was having my photo taken for the leaflets.
To date I have served past seven years as a town councillor with the last four as a district councillor.
I am unable to say whether my proudest moment was winning my first election by a large amount in May 2011 or being asked by my council leader to be a cabinet member in May 2019.
I have two wonderful and independent sons and I live with my partner, Neil, who is the chef of the home. Time permitting, I enjoy gardening, walking and cycling. I also enjoy meeting up with friends and nights out with Neil and the odd G&T.
A project manager working in banking dealing with financial crime projects by day and a newly elected borough councillor in Epsom and Ewell in the remainder of my spare time it seems.
Born in Newcastle upon Tyne I moved south around 25 years ago to come and work in the big smoke.
I have a keen desire to be involved in my local community and I am involved in a number of local groups dealing with parks, trees, resident’s issues, advanced driving, horse racing and more.
Having been elected in May this year I joined a number of committees such as planning and environment.
In summary I like to help people – I am what you might call a fixer. I find out who to talk to get things done, I put people in touch with each other and develop relationships and facilitate.
I was elected as a Green Party Councillor to Shirley South ward on Solihull Council in 2016. I’m originally from Shirley, but had only recently returned from over 4 years in China when I was elected, where I had set up and been running a social enterprise with an officer from UNITAR.
Becoming a Councillor was a way to reconnect to my hometown and give back to the community I’m from. Since doing so I’ve been the Opposition Spokesperson for Managed Growth, which is now the Climate Change, Planning & Housing portfolio, as well as Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Jamie Osborn is a young Green councillor from Norwich. He was elected in May 2019, in a city-centre ward that is affected by deprivation, drugs and inequality, but is also one of the most beautiful and historic. As a new councillor, Jamie is keen to establish cross-party working, especially on his number one priority, climate change. As well as being a community activist, Jamie is highly involved with Extinction Rebellion, locally and nationally. He is also a poet and translator (though all his time now goes into activism), and is a board member of the magazine and charity Modern Poetry in Translation.
Hi, my name is Martin and I'm a newly elected Green councillor in Hollingdean and Stanmer Ward in Brighton. I'm currently sitting on the Housing Committee and I'm passionate about tackling the acute housing crisis that we have in Brighton and coming up with solutions to the issue on a national level. I also sit on the Licensing Committee and the Procurement Advisory Board.
I'm originally from North Shields, a town next to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne but moved to Brighton to study a few years ago. Outside of politics, I have too many interests that I don't get as much time to explore as I would like, but probably I'm most passionate about watching and playing sport.
With a background in economics and finance, I came to the UK in 1994 to work at senior level in industry, and pursued my dream to read for a doctorate in social policy. I have a portfolio career that includes freelance project management, book editing, coaching, mentoring and teaching.
My work aims to help build a democracy that is ecologically respectful, compassionate, joyful and resilient. My personal research aims to develop a concept of ‘Politics of wellbeing’ that incorporates political reform, environmental protection, social justice, gender equity, personal growth and emotional resilience. I actively support the worldwide campaign for divestment from fossil fuels.
I am determined to raise awareness of the importance of stewardship of the environment in decisions made by Wealden District Council.
Newly elected Green Party Councillor for Unitary Authority North Somerset, newly changed from heavily conservative to a Rainbow administration. Bridget has been appointed to the newly created role fo Executive Member for Climate Emergency and the Environment. Previously she has worked in Community Led housing (inc affordable housing), International Development, TV and Advertising Production so comes with a breadth of experience but finds the council environment a tricky one to manage when wanting to see urgent response while recognising the multiple complex challenges the council must resolve. She is mother to two girls aged 4 and 1
I became a councillor at South Oxfordshire District Council in May 2019 after a lifetime of environmental activism. It was very exciting to be one of six Greens to be elected to what had previously been an almost entirely Blue council. I run the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee, but it sits uneasily in a council which retains the cabinet structure and it has power only to make recommendations to the (Lib Dem-Green controlled) cabinet. I am surprised at how little influence I have over the format of the meetings, set out by officers.
The other big issue at our council is that we would seek to withdraw the Local Plan which plans for excessive housing, building for greed not need.
I am 61, married with four children, all of whom have left home (hurrah!). I went to Oxford University (PPE) and spent some years in the City and am qualified as a chartered accountant.
I left London 30 years ago and have been involved in setting up and running a number of small businesses in Norfolk.
These are self-managing (almost) and I have the time and experience to participate in the democratic process here in King's Lynn, West Norfolk.
Rachel is a music therapist with over ten years’ experience working in the field of music and health, specialising in dementia care, a practice she continues to develop alongside her work as an activist and elected representative.
Rachel was elected to Gloucestershire County Council in May 2017 to represent the Minchinhampton Division made up of three semi-rural parishes on the outskirts of Stroud. At the council, Rachel leads the Green Group and sits on Corporate Overview Scrutiny, Pensions, and Traffic Regulation committees, as well as the cycling group. Areas of advocacy include fossil fuel divestment, transparency, public participation, and decarbonising transport.
Rachel lives in Stroud with her husband Tim, and enjoys nature, camping and hiking, and recently completed the Wainwright Coast to Coast walk.
Sandra has been a borough councillor for over four years and a county councillor for two years. She’s a former company director and charity volunteer, who began her career in politics due to her experiences having two children with autism. Originally elected as a Conservative, Sandra has been independent for nearly two years. She is Leader of the Independent Group at Norfolk County Council and has been successful in bringing about many policy changes affecting the environment and continues to fight on behalf of disabled residents, especially regarding special educational needs. In her spare time, Sandra enjoys water sports, she has competed in ocean yacht races and is a member of a ladies rowing team due to row the Atlantic in 2020.
Caroline Topping 52. Mother of two children (22 and 20 years old) and married to Stephen. I joined Beccles Town Council in 2007, as I wanted to make an active difference in my community and champion those that need signposting to the assistance they need when they need it.
I was Mayor 2013-15, and I have been a town council Youth Champion and currently Chairman of Assets (three years) and the Eco Champion. I joined Waveney District Council in 2015 and was Deputy Chairman in 2016, got re-elected to the new East Suffolk Council in 2019 with over 3000 votes.
I studied criminal psychology with the Open University. I have chaired and been involved as a volunteer in my community continuously since the age of 18.
My name is Daniel Williamson and as of the 2 of May 2019 I am district councillor for Kirkby Cross and Portland at Ashfield District Council. I have had a long held passion for politics which was forged during my youth growing up in an area which had become neglected and left behind by politics since the closure of the mining industry.
This driving passion never left me throughout my journey at university where I gained a degree in International Politics and Relations, nor did it leave me during my subsequent battle with cancer. Both simply reinforced my desire to return home to represent the community I grew up in and provide better opportunities than had been available before.
I made the decision to stand with a group of like-minded independents to try to create positive change for Ashfield and was delighted in May to be elected with 73 per cent of the vote. I am currently the portfolio holder for community safety as well as the Vice-Chairman of a local parish council both of which allow me to create the positive changes my community deserves.
I first became a councillor after I won a by-election back in 2018. I won by 22 votes as an independent against the Conservatives and all the other major parties. I stood because I didn’t feel represented in the town I have lived my whole life. The composition of the council at that point was 51 Tories to three opposition. That year and a half before the next election was a real learning curve. I could only make my residents voices heard, but was unable to change anything. However in May of this year fighting for my residents paid off, as they returned me with the highest number of votes in Bournemouth – I won my election by over 1000.
The Tories have since lost control of the newly amalgamated Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, and I am now in a position to affect change after being made the Deputy Leader and portfolio holder for Housing.
Outside of politics, I enjoy sport, reading and the occasional night out! I’m looking forward to learning here at the next generation programme.
Your facilitators
Successfully re-elected four times, Marianne has overseen the Independent Group grow significantly in numbers and influence. The group is now the third largest in number, with over 2,000 well-informed and effective councillors, focused on getting the best for their residents.
Marianne is particularly active on environmental issues, health and social care and education. She is currently on the Planning Committee of both her councils and a past chairman. Her local election votes are among the highest in Lincolnshire and she is well known for her community engagement and determination to represent people directly, regardless of party politics.
After her science degree and postgraduate with the University of London, Marianne taught to A Level and went on to a second business career organising and running challenging expeditions for personal development through biodiversity research and helping with anti-poaching patrols in remote parts of Africa. Marianne served as a governor of the University of Lincoln and Vice Chairman of the primary care trust (PCT) Board responsible for health across the county and a £1 billion budget. First fighting successfully for a bypass, Marianne was elected to council in 1995. Marianne has served successfully at all levels of local government, both in coalition control and currently as Leader of the Opposition on her council. Marianne has brought colleagues to succeed in what used to be solid Blue areas, and polled a personal landslide at the county council elections this year, winning against the odds.
Her long running and extensive experience in a range of fields and professions has given her a background of sound communication in education, scientific training and practices that helps in analysing data, experience in management of organisations with substantial budgets, voluntary organisations and small business, as well as an excellent awareness of the fundamental needs of communities. Marianne is a passionate advocate for women in government and was awarded a Fellow of the University of Lincoln and then the MBE in 2015 for Services to the Community.
With a Masters degree from UCL in International Public Policy and a diploma in Public Relations, Sarah is a passionate advocate of social justice having spent the last 15 years influencing policy across issues of health, social care, housing, welfare and justice.
Sarah joined the LGA in August 2016 from the voluntary sector where she led the policy, parliamentary and press activity for a large health and social care organisation. During this time she wrote a number of parliamentary speeches, responded to government consultations and gave evidence to select committees. She also published a number of articles and led successful media campaigns.
Sarah also acted as Clerk to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Complex Needs, undertook a secondment to the Department of Health to co-write the Coalition Government’s mental health strategy and assisted NHS England with their mental health parity of esteem programme. She also contributed to the Independent Commission on Mental Health and Policing and the London Fairness Commission.
Prior to joining the voluntary sector, Sarah worked for Kent County Council, Gravesham Borough Council, Dartford Borough Council and ‘Global Justice Now’, a small international development NGO.
Mike has been a district councillor at Teignbridge (South Devon) since 1987. During the 90s he was Chair of Planning and of the council, and was also Chair of the Local Government Partnership Committee (1998-2003). From 2003 to 2007 he was Chair of Planning (Development Control) and from 2007 to May 2011 he was Executive Portfolio Holder for Planning. He was also Chair of the Teign Estuary Partnership, Chair of the member group (10 authorities) for the South Devon and Dorset Shoreline Management Plan and Chair of the Devon Building Control Partnership. He is currently Leader of the Teignbridge Independent Group and Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Since 2003 Mike has been involved with the LGA, he was Deputy Chair of the LGA Environment Board (2005-2011) and Deputy Chair of the LGA Economy and Transport Board (2011-2014). He was also Chair of the National Planning Forum (2009-2011) and chaired the LGA’s Inland Flood Risk Management Group. He is currently the LGA Independent Group National Lead Peer.
His previous occupation was as a teacher/FE lecturer of geography and environmental science from the mid-70s until 2002.
Other interests include; parish councillor (since 1983), primary school governor, and chair of a village hall. He has five children and six grandchildren.