Candidate Leadership Programme

Participant Profiles Waliur Rahman Waliur Rahman is an experienced sent by the FCO to advise the community leader with years of governments of Bangladesh, the USA and experience supporting young people and the Maldives. Waliur is currently the disadvantaged communities. Waliur is the Operations Director of Aisco CIC, a social founder and now advisor of Bristol Active enterprise training, education and Youth Service (BAYS), the largest youth management consultancy. Waliur is a organisation run by young people for graduate of the Operation Black Vote young people in the South West of Councillor Shadowing Scheme and stood England. He is currently the Vice Chair of in a council seat in 2011. the Young Muslims Advisory Group (YMAG), a specialist think tank that advises a number of Whitehall Departments, and the Association of Chief of Police Officers (ACPO). He has been

Dawn Barnes Dawn Barnes is a communications set up a network of reading groups in professional and has worked in a number three cities across the UK, in addition to of sectors including regeneration, organising small literary events in London environment, housing, retail, business with smaller publishers and authors. advice and for a local council. Before moving to London, Dawn studied She is currently a Communications in France and taught in Japan. Dawn is a Manager at a charity that helps people hardworking campaigner and is the who are homeless, in prison, or misuse constituency candidate for Enfield and alcohol and other substances. Haringey in the 2012 GLA elections.

In 2010, Dawn stood for Parliament for Dawn’s policy interests include housing, the first time in the Witney constituency, the environment, young people and the where she doubled the Liberal Democrat pursuit of a better quality of life for all. lead over Labour and came second in the running. Dawn is an avid reader and has

Victoria Barby Victoria Barby is a chartered environment behaviour. As a longstanding active professional, who has previously worked member of her local party, Edinburgh in the aviation and transport industries, North East and Leith, Victoria campaigned helping them to reduce their for the Lib Dems in the general election, environmental impact. She currently council elections and was campaign works in the environment team for a manager for the recent Scottish elections. leading bank. Victoria’s background in Having a mother and a sister who are both environmental affairs has fuelled her teachers, Victoria will draw on this insight passion to protect the environment and, to ensure that the education system as part of her political career, she aims to allows every child to fulfil their full encourage positive environmental potential. Lib Dem Leadership Programme Chris Lucas Chris was born in Singapore, as his father Parliamentary candidate for Ealing North served in the RAF, and spent his childhood in the 2010 General Election. Chris was in a number of different countries before successfully elected as a Councillor in settling in the UK. Chris has always sought 2010 and now sits on several scrutiny to serve the interests of his community committees. and sat on the Pupil Council at school, was Student Union President at sixth form college and was Sabbatical Student Union President of Middlesex University. Chris has worked in many director level positions in the advertising and publishing industries, and is now founder/Managing Director of an online media sales & events management company. He is also the “at home parent” responsible for the daily care of his young son. Chris stood as the Belinda Brooks-Gordon Dr Belinda Brooks-Gordon left school at provision and saving an historic building sixteen years of age and worked as a for local people. Belinda stood for beautician. After an Access course in her parliament at the 2010 general election in twenties, she took a degree and then West Suffolk. Last decade Belinda was went to Cambridge where, as a single diagnosed with SLE (lupus) a disease of parent with two children, she studied the immune system. Her experience of while working two days a week. Belinda is the NHS made her a passionate patient now a leading academic in forensic advocate and she campaigns tirelessly for psychology at University of London. She disability rights. has led major campaigns to amend legislation to ensure social justice and to end violence against vulnerable women. A Councillor in Cambridgeshire, Belinda had a 15-year record of taking action in her community such as getting better nursery

David Buxton David Buxton is currently CEO of the candidate in British history. He also stood British Deaf Association. His previous roles as a candidate for the 2000 GLA elections. include Regional Operations Manager for David’s interests include disability, Scope Adult Services, London Borough education, social care and community Council Senior Strategic Commissioning activities. He is married and has a nine- Manager for Disabilities and HIV/AIDS, year-old son with mild CHARGE syndrome. and Regional Director for a national He enjoys working towards providing charity. In 1990, David became the first accessible services to vulnerable children, ever born Deaf BSL user in the UK to be adults and older people. elected as a Borough Councillor. He has stood for Parliament twice in Lewisham East, making him the first ever Deaf BSL Lib Dem Leadership Programme Daisy Cooper Daisy is currently the Director of the University, a Certificate in Psychotherapy Commonwealth Advisory Bureau (CA/B), and Counselling and is also an SPC an independent think tank and advisory Accredited Mediator. She was the service for the modern Commonwealth. Parliamentary Candidate for Suffolk Prior to this Daisy was the Strategic Coastal at the 2010 General Election and a Planning Officer at the Commonwealth member of the party’s 2010 Policy Group Secretariat and worked for CA/B as a on International Development. Daisy Project Officer. She has also been the believes passionately in fighting strategic and technical advisor to two inequality between men and women and Commonwealth high-level groups. Daisy is is an active member of the Fawcett also a Director and Editorial Advisory Society. Board member of Britain’s oldest journal, the ‘Round Table’. Daisy holds an LLM in Public International Law from Nottingham University, an LLB Hons in Law from Leeds

Phillip Ling Philip grew up in Warwick, before the Liberal Democrat’s parliamentary studying Economics at the University of candidate for the Bromsgrove Bath. As part of his course he spent a year constituency. During his campaigning working as an Assistant Economist at the experience, Phillip gained a great interest Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit. After in youth services and mental health after graduating, he has worked for a variety of witnessing the huge impact they had in companies including BT, LTSB and society. His general policy interests also lie currently for a Marketing and Strategy in economics, environment and transport. Consultancy firm. Philip joined the Liberal Democrats at university, and became an activist member of the party in 2007. In the 2010 General Elections, Philip stood as

Katy Gordon Katy Gordon studied French and Swedish presented UNISON’s submission to the at Aberdeen University, taught for a year Scottish Parliament. Katy’s interest in in Paris, then studied for her postgraduate political campaigning was harnessed when qualification in Careers Guidance before she helped Jo Swinson MP win her seat in finally settling in Glasgow. Over 16 years 2005. Since then Katy has campaigned in the careers service Katy has extensively in Glasgow and went on to accumulated a breadth of experience stand as a Westminster candidate for from helping school leavers apply for jobs, Glasgow North in 2010 and as a candidate college and university courses to running for the Scottish Parliament in Glasgow million pound national projects that help Region in 2011. Katy is committed to people back into work. As an experienced helping people succeed despite their senior steward for UNISON she advocated background and believes education is key for the fair treatment of employees and to this. Lib Dem Leadership Programme Wera Hobhouse Wera Hobhouse moved to Britain from Rochdale MBC. Wera is currently studying Germany in 1990 and became a British for a PGCE (for modern foreign languages). citizen in 2007. She lives in Rochdale with She believes her ability to build effective her husband and they have 4 children. campaign teams is one of her key strengths Wera has been a local councillor since and it is essential to winning elections. 2004 and her key interests are the environment, education and Europe. While the Liberal Democrats were running Rochdale Council she held several senior positions including Cabinet Member for the Environment for three years. In 2010 she stood as a parliamentary candidate in the Heywood and Middleton constituency increasing the Lib Dem vote from 7,500 to 10,500. In 2011 she became the leader of the Liberal Democrat Council Group in

Marie Jenkins Marie grew up in South Devon. She Marie was named by The Municipal completed her first degree in Journalism Journal as one of the “40 Under 40 to at the University for the Creative Arts in Watch in Local Government”. Her Surrey then proceeded to a Masters interests lie in education, the degree in Radio. Marie represented the environment and local government. She is UK at the Forum for European Journalism a supporter of Amnesty International and Students’ annual conference in Helsinki. the Fawcett Society. Marie has worked for a Westminster think tank including organising high- profile events in Westminster. Marie currently works for Nick Harvey MP and is a member of Newton Abbot Town Council. She served on Teignbridge District Council from 2007 to 2011 and was also the Portfolio Holder for Communities and Regulation. In 2008

Greg Judge Greg was born and grew up in Coventry. the Liberal Youth Executive which He went on to study Deaf Studies at the coincided with his interests in student University of Bristol where he graduated politics. He is also a member of the party’s with a First Class Honours in 2011. He has Disability Association which monitors the achieved this despite the difficulties of developments between the UK’s disabled being paralysed and a permanent community and the Coalition wheelchair user due to undergoing Government. Greg has stood in local surgery at the age of 7. His experiences as elections in Coventry and will stand again a disabled person have led him to become in 2012. His interests include science and involved with organisations such as the the environment as well as Health and Spinal Injuries Association where he was Education policy, as these are both elected to serve as a Trustee in 2009. equally important for positive social Within the party Greg has spent time on mobility. Lib Dem Leadership Programme Heather Kidd Heather Kidd was born and brought up in and Transport Board from 2006 to 2011. rural West Sussex. She attended Queen She was also an Agent for Worthen in Mary College where she received her BSc 2003, Parliamentary candidate for Ludlow in Biology and her PGCE in Science in 2010 and currently serves on Ludlow’s Education. For 15 years Heather was a Constituency Executive. Heather is Science teacher and child-minder. Her married and has four daughters. For political interests lie in education, rural Heather becoming an MP would give her affairs and housing. Heather has the opportunity to continue to help local significant experience within the Lib people. Dems. She was elected onto the South Shropshire District Council in 1998 where she chaired the Health and Housing committee. She is a former Chairman of a constituency party and she was Lib Dem member of National LGA Regeneration

Yahaya Kiyingi Yahaya was born in Uganda and his family people’s lives. Yahaya shadowed the local moved over to Britain when he was 5 parliamentary candidate in the 2010 years old. He has developed numerous elections and was promoted to sit on the projects in his community which include executive committee of the local Lib Dem being vice-chairman of a local charity group. He completed the parliamentary called NUTMEG, running and editing his approval process at the age of 17 and he own local magazine and radio show, has also interned for Sarah Teather MP working with the local council on special and been mentored by numerous committees, organising various councillors around London. community events and serving on the local party executive. He has a love for literature, and runs a local book club with the aim to bring people in his communities together. Yahaya is passionate about making a difference in

Emily Davey Emily was educated at Durham and social behaviour and access to health Oxford Universities before qualifying as a services. Emily trains people in tackling solicitor specialising in housing. She has anti-social behaviour and she is worked in Legal Aid representing tenants particularly interested and successful in and in private practice for private using non-court orientated ways of landlords. She currently works in social changing behaviour. Emily has led housing and is a trainer for the Chartered campaigns concerning access to health Institute of Housing and Central Law care and continues to do so on a disability Training and a member of the Liberal panel in Kingston. Emily is married with a Democrat Housing Policy Forum. Emily four-year-old son. has wanted to be an MP since she was 16 and has stood for Parliament four times. Emily’s key areas of interest are housing (both social and private), tackling anti- Lib Dem Leadership Programme Jane Brophy Jane Brophy has 12 years experience as a has been an elected member of the Lib councillor in Trafford Metropolitan Dem Federal Policy and Conference Borough. She enjoys working in the public Committees, Chair of the Animal health field and currently works for the Protection Group, Chair of her local party NHS as a manager and trainer in Health and is currently Secretary of the North Exercise Nutrition for the Really Young West Regional Lib Dems. Jane also stood programme. Previously she worked as a as a parliamentary candidate in Eccles in Development Co-ordinator and Sure Start 2005 and in Altrincham & Sale West in Dietitian, a Campaign Co-ordinator of the 2010. She is married and has three NHS “5 A DAY” campaign, Chief Officer for teenage children. Her oldest child, who is South Manchester’s Community Health now at University, has significant special Council and Nutritionist/Researcher for needs. The Vegetarian Society. Jane is passionate about the environment and is an active member of Green Liberal Democrats. She

Abdul Malik Abdul Malik was born in Bristol. His father local law students and a business came to the UK from Pakistan in the 60s mentoring surgery helping local talented and he is one of 8 children. After young people into business. He was experiencing how difficult it was for his elected as Bristol’s first ever Asian/Muslim family members to find a job, Abdul councillor in 2005. He was one of the first decided to set up a business when he was councillors to gain a BTEC in Local 17 and now owns a successful chain of Governance and was a mentor for the Halal butchers. In addition to his ‘Operation Black Vote’ Scheme. numerous awards for his work as a business and community leader, Abdul holds a permanent surgery that helps local people in a variety of ways. He recently won Bristol’s Evening Post’s ‘Social Responsibility Award 2011’ for his work projects, including a local ‘Law Clinic’ giving free advice to locals by recruiting

Robin Meltzer Robin Meltzer was born in Hammersmith. teams all over London and in local and He attended Shenfield High Parliamentary elections and by-elections. comprehensive school and read English at One by-election won the ‘Campaign of the Selwyn College, Cambridge. As a former Year’ award from the Association of BBC television producer he has worked on Liberal Democrat Councillors and Robin programmes in over thirty countries was presented with another award in worldwide. Robin is currently working as a recognition of his work on the campaign. tutor teaching English to students aged 8 Robin’s particular areas of policy interest to 18. Robin is an experienced campaigner include air quality and the environment, for the Liberal Democrats. As Vice Chair of housing and civil liberties. the London party he has helped local

Lib Dem Leadership Programme Clare Mills Clare lives in Northumberland with her the pupil premium for children from husband Paul and teenage daughter and military families who often face a works for local MP Sir Alan Beith as his disrupted education because of postings. researcher. Her experience as a local Clare has a deep interest in mental health councillor gave her a taste of representing issues as a consequence of personal a local community and she relishes the experience and was elected as Public challenge of being a champion for a Governor for Northumberland on the local Parliamentary constituency. A school mental health trust in 2009. She has also governor herself Clare is working enjoyed the challenge of running her own alongside Alan Beith MP with local business. schools, the County Council and senior DfE officials, to secure funds for new school buildings in Alnwick. Clare was a ‘military wife’ for 20 years so knows the difficulties and pressures service families face. She welcomes the introduction of

Layla Moran Layla Moran is a secondary school Physics cooperation at an international level teacher and Head of Year at an made her want to be a Liberal Democrat international school in London. She is also MP. Layla has run a major campaign to the Model United Nations director and save a community centre in Ealing and school outreach coordinator. As part of a stood as a Parliamentary Candidate in EU diplomatic family Layla has an Battersea in 2010. She is currently Deputy international background and has lived in Chair of the Parliamentary Candidates’ many countries including Ethiopia, Association and on the Party’s Jamaica and Jordan. Growing up in these International Relations Committee. countries and seeing how global decisions have local consequences shapes her politics and gives her a strong sense of social justice. She first became party politicised while doing her MA in Comparative Education and her belief in Maajid Nawaz Maajid Nawaz is Co-Founder and extremism consultant and has spoken Chairman of a think tank called Quilliam from various platforms internationally, and Founder of Khudi, a Pakistan-based from universities across Pakistan to social movement campaigning to entrench addressing the US Senate. As a British- democratic culture among the nation’s Pakistani born in Essex, Maajid speaks youth. His work is informed by years spent English, Arabic and Urdu. He holds a BA in in his youth as a leadership member of a Arabic and Law and an MSc in Political global Islamist group and his gradual Theory from the London School of transformation towards liberal democratic Economics (LSE). He is a proud father to values. Having served four years as an his young son. Amnesty International adopted ‘prisoner of conscience’ in Egypt Maajid now encourages inclusive citizenship-based participation of Muslims in the West. He has become a prominent counter- Lib Dem Leadership Programme Julie Pörksen Julie Pörksen grew up in rural and Uganda. She is also an elected parent Northumberland and was educated governor at her two sons’ primary school. locally. She studied Agricultural Economics She provides research and policy at Oxford and then taught at the Scottish development support on public transport Agricultural College in Aberdeen. Moving to Liberal Democrat parliamentarians and to Peru, she worked with a local campaigns regularly in her local area. community organisation fighting for the rights of agricultural workers. Back in the UK Julie worked in business before returning to international development, helping a charity bring quality health services to poor communities all over the world. Since 2009 she has been a trustee and committee Chair of the charity Build Africa, improving educational opportunities for young people in Kenya

Anuja Prashar

Anuja Prashar is a Kenya-born British being Sub-Postmistress of a Post Office. citizen and mother of four daughters. She Anuja has a vast background in civic holds a BA in Economics, an MSc in Race & participation and interfaith and race Ethnic Relations and an Mphil/PhD from relations work. She has held senior Goldsmith’s College, University of London. positions in national and international Currently Anuja teaches Global Hindu organizations. She is currently Management, Business Ethics, Political Chairperson for the Beckenham Liberal Identity & Cross Cultural Communication Democratic Party and recently stood as a at HULT International Business School. candidate in a local by-election. She writes regularly for Indialink International magazine on issues of business, religion and political Identity. Her past work experience includes working at the Internal Government Ministry at the Home Office, owning a retail business chain of petrol stations and Justine Baker Justine works for her local party and MP, She is married and has two children. After Jeremy Browne. She was elected as a her son nearly died after contracting GBSS District Councillor in May 2011, and since on his birth in 2008, Justine has become a then has been involved in many great supporter of the charity GBSS, which campaigns, such as road safety, helping a campaigns for all pregnant women to be local sight charity and the local theatre. routinely tested for the infection. Prior to becoming a Councillor, Justine Justine is determined to become an MP as was a senior manager at the British Red she enjoys helping, listening and meeting Cross and has a background in PR. people and is passionate about Liberal values and fairness for all. Justine studied at the University of Portsmouth and the Guildford School of Acting where she studied Stage management. Lib Dem Leadership Programme Chris Richards Chris Richards grew up in Bromley in manufacturing. He previously worked in a South East London and currently lives in similar role dealing with skills and Camden. He has recently completed an employment issues. Chris is passionate MSc at Birkbeck College where he studied about creating a fairer society and is a European Public Policy. Chris is active in strong advocate of the education system his local community and is a governor at as a way to enhance social mobility. Hawley Infants School in Camden Town. He has campaigned locally on social housing and transport issues and, in 2010, was a council candidate for Primrose Hill ward in Camden Town. In his professional career, Chris works to develop engineering based policy solutions on challenges such as decarbonising transport and developing sustainable

Terry Stacey Through 20 years experience in the Housing board. He helped found the first Housing & Regeneration sector, Terry has UK supported-housing provider for those combined his interests in housing and suffering with HIV/Aids. He is also a social issues with active involvement as a founder-member of both the Tower Councillor and public sector leader. He Hamlets and Islington Credit Unions. Terry has been a councillor for over 15 years was awarded an MBE for services to and is now leader of the Liberal Democrat Housing in 2011. Terry has a 22 year old Opposition on Islington Council. A social son and is in a civil partnership with his housing tenant himself, he became the long-term partner. first tenant to be appointed to the board of the National Housing Federation and is a director of the Independent Housing Ombudsman. He chairs a community based Housing Association and is a former member of the Mayor of London’s

Shas Sheehan Shas Sheehan spent her early years in with the local Liberal Democrats after South London, where her parents a career break from having her son. settled after their arrival from She became Head of Office for Susan Pakistan. She graduated with a degree Kramer MP, during which time she in Chemistry and spent a year was also elected as a councillor. In the teaching Chemistry part-time, whilst 2010 General Election Shas fought a working full time as an auxiliary nurse very successful campaign in at New Cross Hospital. She then had a Wimbledon, and she is currently a career in advertising, where she rose candidate for the London Assembly. to Head of Broadcast Media, before She is an Executive member of London studying for an MA in Environmental Region and Chair of the London Technology. Shas became involved Region Fundraising Taskforce. Lib Dem Leadership Programme Lisa Smart Lisa Smart’s professional career has been Her passion for education can also be in financial services and she is currently seen through her role as trustee of a small Director of Client Relationships for an charity that raises funds for education and international asset management firm. health projects in Latin America. She leads a team working with some of Lisa studied part-time for an MBA from the world’s largest pension funds, London Business School whilst working charities and foundations on their full time. She has a undergraduate degree investments. in Maths. Lisa lives in London and is the As the first member of her family to go to Liberal Democrat candidate for the university Lisa has a particularly strong Merton & Wandsworth constituency in belief in the power of education. She is the 2012 London elections. currently a governor of two local schools, chairing the standards committee of one.

Sue McGuire Sue McGuire is married with two children. cancer in 2009, Sue is an active fundraiser After graduating with a BSc in Biology Sue for the charity Breakthrough Breast worked in the treasury team of Sumitomo Cancer and has raised over £18,000 for Corporation in London. the charity. Sue moved from the City into IT, working She is also a keen local road safety for 4 years at a computer software campaigner after sustaining serious injury company, before starting her own award- in a road traffic accident at the age of 16. winning computer company. For the last 3 years Sue has been Chair of Sue is a local councillor in Southport the North West Liberal Democrats and is where she has focused on local health currently Treasurer of her local party. care provision. Together with John Pugh MP she has led the campaign for a return of children's and maternity services to Southport. Having lost her brother to

Zuffar Haq Zuffar was born and brought up in of pound shops and built this up to several Leicester and he is married with three retail discount outlets all over the East children. His family has had in Leicester Midlands. Zuffar has received several since 1919 when his grandfather first awards for his charitable efforts. In 2001 moved there. He is a former Chair of the he founded a charity which obtains used Patients’ Group and continuously fights medical equipment and delivers it to for better rights and services for patients hospitals in need all over the world. Zuffar in the area. Zuffar was also a Co-Chair of first stood for the Liberal Democrats in the Leicester Link and has been the Vice Chair 2005 general election in Leicester West, of Leicestershire Crime Stoppers for 14 then in Harborough in May 2010 and years. He is also a successful businessman most recently in the Leicester South by- having built a mixed property portfolio. election in May 2011. Zuffar initially started out with a number Lib Dem Leadership Programme Sheila Thomson Sheila was born and educated in worked for Aberdeen Enterprise Trust as a Aberdeen and has lived in Aberdeenshire business advisor after running her own for the past 18 years. She has two grown software development business in both up children. Sheila returned to full-time the financial and the oil and gas sectors. education in 2003, graduating with an MA Since 2007 Sheila has worked for Sir in Politics and Women’s Studies two Robert Smith, MP for West Aberdeenshire months after being elected to & Kincardine, as his Constituency Aberdeenshire Council. Sheila then served Assistant. She is presently Vice- Convenor as Vice-Convenor of Aberdeenshire of Aberdeen South & North Kincardine Council’s Housing and Social Work Liberal Democrats and a member of the Committee from 2003 to 2007. Prior to Party’s Scottish Executive and Conference being elected Sheila was chief executive of Committee. Sheila stood as a candidate a social enterprise, chaired the Scottish for Aberdeen Central in the 2011 Scottish Community Transport Association and elections. was vice-chair of the UK Community Transport Association. She has also

Dorothy Thornhill Dorothy Thornhill was first elected Mayor for politics at the age of 13, after losing of Watford Borough Council in 2002 and her job as papergirl because local by-laws was subsequently re-elected in 2006 and prohibited female newspaper deliverers. 2010. Prior to being elected as Mayor By taking her case to the local Council, Dorothy worked as a teacher for over 25 Dorothy argued for the by-laws to be years. She also served as a Lib Dem changed and succeeded, and was soon councillor on Watford Borough Council for reinstated. Dorothy has been married for 10 years. In 1998/99 Dorothy was the first 13 years and has two adult children. ever Lib Dem Civic Mayor of Watford. She was elected as the Deputy Chair of the Local Government Association, the LGA Leadership Board and the Local Government Group Executive for 2011/12. Dorothy discovered her passion

Karen Hamilton Karen Hamilton has been a Birmingham accountant by profession. Karen has a City councillor, representing Perry Barr love of athletics and has worked as an ward, since 2004. From 2009/2010 she assistant throwing coach at Tipton was the chair of the Transportation and Harriers and is currently helping at Street Services committee and is currently Birchfield Harriers. the chair of the Children and Education scrutiny committee. She has also served on the Audit, Leisure and Finance committee. Karen stood as a parliamentary candidate for Perry Barr constituency in 2010. She is an Lib Dem Leadership Programme Munira Wilson A former Richmond borough councillor, up in London and has been living in the Munira has established a strong local Twickenham area with her husband for record of success on road safety and local the last six years. She studied Modern environmental improvements. She stood Languages at Cambridge University. She is as a parliamentary candidate in 2010 for an active member of St Stephen’s Church the constituency of Feltham & Heston and in East Twickenham. will be contesting the South West London GLA constituency in May 2012. She is also Vice Chair of Twickenham & Richmond Liberal Democrats and governor at a local junior school. A healthcare policy and communications professional currently working for a multinational company, Munira previously worked in the third sector for a cancer charity and Save the Children. Munira was born and brought

Sarah Yong Sarah was born in Edinburgh to a Scottish from customer services to digital mother and a Chinese Malaysian father, marketing. During this time Sarah joined and her family moved to Somerset when her local Liberal Democrat party and she was three years old. Sarah attended became a key member of Tessa Munt's local state schools before graduating with General Election campaign team. After the a BA in Politics and History. Upon leaving Liberal Democrats succeeded in Wells university, Sarah embarked on a military Sarah became the Head of Office for Tessa career and attended The Royal Military Munt MP. Outside politics Sarah has Leadership Academy for Officer training in undertaken many voluntary roles, 2007. Unfortunately Sarah's career path in including youth work and teaching abroad the military was cut short when she and at home. sustained a back injury. Sarah went to work at Clarks International in early 2008 where she undertook a variety of roles

Lucy Hurds Lucy is married with four grown up now works with local authorities children and two young grandsons. She volunteer organisations and businesses to has built a career, using her knowledge of increase youth training, volunteering and business and accounting, helping people apprenticeship opportunities. She also to set up and run thriving small businesses continues to support many young people and enterprises, from craft workshops to who set up their own business and is taxi companies. From an early age Lucy working to ensure that Jobcentres do has been actively involved with providing more to help those looking to become support and services for young people. self-employed. Lucy was the Whilst at school she helped to run a local Parliamentary candidate for North youth club and later helped run an Herefordshire in the 2010 General education charity in Herefordshire. She Election. Lib Dem Leadership Programme Anna Pascoe Anna Pascoe was born in Cornwall and Camborne. Anna was awarded a place on attended school locally. Politically active the Leadership Centre for Local from a young age, Anna graduated with a Government’s Next Generation Politics and German degree. Whilst at programme. Anna now works in hotel university Anna also worked as a Nightline management and has won several awards counsellor, a volunteer at an HIV support for environmental excellence and training centre and as Anti-Racism Officer on the and people development. Anna first stood Students’ Union council. After graduating for Parliament in 2010, in South West she began volunteering for the local Devon, and loved meeting many Liberal Democrats and she was elected for inspirational individuals and community the first time in 2007 as a town and groups. district councillor in her hometown of

Christine Tinker After Christine Tinker’s successful career committee. She is also a member of the as an army officer she became Chief War Widows Association of Great Britain. Executive of the Shropshire Youth Originally from Liverpool, her home is Association and then Executive Director of currently in South Shropshire where she is the British Tennis Coaches’ Association. involved with the local community, She is now a freelance tennis coach. She is founded the Youth Forum and is Chair of an experienced campaigner, candidate trustees of the parish charity. She is also and agent and stood at the last general chair of the Shropshire Churches Tourism election in Stone, Staffordshire. Christine Group. Christine was married to a Naval supports the Royal British Legion and is a Officer but is widowed and has no founder committee member of Lib Dem children. She has a degree in Politics from Friends of the Armed Forces. She is Warwick University. currently Policy Officer on the national

Lib Dem Leadership Programme