I am standing to be selected as a Green Party councillor for Forest Gate North and Maryland because I believe local government should be rooted in care, justice and evidence, and because I want to help build neighbourhoods where people can live well, sustainably and with dignity.

Full statement

My professional life has been devoted to equality, inclusion and social justice. I currently work in senior leadership in education, overseeing strategy, governance and culture across large, diverse institutions. Over the past two decades I have led work on tackling exclusion, improving access to education and public services, and amplifying the voices of marginalised people, including disabled and neurodivergent people, LGBTQ+ communities, and communities facing structural racism. I worked for a London local authority for three years, supporting young people at risk or permanent exclusion from school, and I am also a qualified secondary school teacher, a trustee and a school governor, with extensive experience of accountability, scrutiny and collaborative decision-making.

Alongside my professional experience, I bring lived experience as a parent of four children, three of whom are autistic, and I have spent many years navigating education, health and support systems in London. That experience has given me a very practical understanding of how council decisions affect daily life, from SEND provision and housing stability, to transport, air quality and access to safe, inclusive public spaces.

I also bring formal training in counselling and mediation, which shapes how I approach leadership and public service. I have undertaken work focused on listening to and engaging with faith communities, particularly where values, identity and public policy come into tension. This has reinforced for me the importance of deep listening, respect, and the ability to hold difficult conversations constructively. I am committed to anti-racist practice as ongoing, reflective work, challenging structural inequalities, valuing lived experience, and ensuring that decision-making includes voices from Black and global majority communities.

Forest Gate North and Maryland are vibrant, diverse areas with a strong sense of community, but they also face real pressures. Residents are dealing with insecure and unaffordable housing, rising rents, overcrowding, and the impact of poor air quality along busy routes. There are also concerns about access to green space, safe walking and cycling, and whether regeneration genuinely benefits existing communities rather than displacing them. I care about ensuring that development, transport and environmental policy in these wards prioritises residents’ health, wellbeing and long-term sustainability.

I support the Green Party because it offers a values-led alternative to politics as usual. The Greens’ commitment to social justice, climate action, strong public services, inclusion and community power aligns closely with my own principles. At a time when climate action and equality work are increasingly under attack, I believe it is vital to have councillors who will stand firm, grounded in compassion, evidence and lived experience.

As a Green Party councillor for Forest Gate North and Maryland, I would aim to be a thoughtful, diligent and accessible representative. I would listen carefully to residents, work collaboratively with fellow councillors and officers, scrutinise decisions, and advocate for greener, fairer outcomes. I am motivated by public service, not personal advancement, and I would work hard to help build a Newham that is fairer, healthier and more liveable for current and future generations.