GPEx ELECTIONS 2021 - CANDIDATE STATEMENTS

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GPEx ELECTIONS 2021 - CANDIDATE STATEMENTS

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY COORDINATOR - 2 nominations received
Ashley Routh
I’m Ash, I’m trans, I’m the co-chair of LGBTIQA+ Greens, and I’m standing for the Equality &
Diversity coordinator because I believe we have major representational deficits, and I think
a committed and engaged E&D coordinator can and must address this.

We’ve run three digital conferences without meaningfully addressing the needs and
concerns of many of our disabled members, and others who have difficulty accessing or
engaging on our digital conference platforms. We are routinely seeing policy that directly
impacts our liberation groups put forward without real consultation with those groups. We
rarely make space, as a party, to hear about the discrimination that many of our members
face.
I’m standing for E&D coordinator to change the way that we hear the lesser heard voices in
the party by elevating them. I will push to allow non-GPEx liberation committee members to
speak at GPEx meetings to directly hold our executive committee to account on our
representational failures, and to say what needs to be heard. I will push to create a culture
of consultation through every avenue of our party governance and management. I will push
to make us a party where members from liberation backgrounds are heard, not just seen.
We need to change the culture of our party to be more collaborative in nature, truly
embodying ‘nothing about us without us’, by pressing policy proposers to ensure that they
are meaningfully and adequately discussing policy that impacts liberation groups to speak to
the relevant representative committees.
We need to change the culture of our party from one in which policy is written with a very
small audience, and major issues, errors and oversights aren’t addressed or raised until the
last possible moment on the conference floor, but rather much earlier in the drafting
process.
We need to become a party that actively tackles sexism, racism, ageism, ableism,
antisemitism, animal abuse, islamophobia, wealth inequality, and queerphobia, not just a
party that pretends we do.
I believe we can do little to promote and effect positive social change if our own
governance, management and policy is unrepresentative at heart. As Equality & Diversity
coordinator, I will fight for this change in our party culture.
A vote for me is a vote for:
1. Hearing voices from all liberation groups in GPEx meetings, as well as elsewhere within
the party’s management and governance.
2. Making conferences more accessible, ensuring that all of our members are able to attend,
to be heard, and to engage meaningfully on our conference platform.
3. Encouraging a culture change in policy writing, with greater consultation, and fewer
mistakes and oversights in policy proposals making it onto the agenda, and onto our
conference floor, before being addressed.

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4. Promoting the idea that policy that relates to marginalised groups should be written by
those groups, and where it is written ‘for’ those groups, that it does not harm them.
5. Speaking truth to power, even within our own party, no matter how uncomfortable the
truth.

Rashid Nix and Dzaier Neil
Rashid Nix Diversity is a team effort! Fortunately we have E&D team representing Disabled,
LGBT, Women, Seniors, Jewish and Greens of Colour. All inclusive! Creating a vibrant,
dynamic group brings new ideas to the table. Greens acknowledge the importance of
diversity in nature, but not politics? Therefore, we remain a "white-middle-class” party
criticised for being less diverse than UKIP! Embarrassing. It’s time to diversify the Green
agenda. We must take on board constructive criticism from members. As a progressive
party, we cannot grow by ignoring these experiences. Our policies are bold and visionary.
Our actions should reflect this. Climate change is our most pressing issue. However, within
GPEW an ideological split is tearing the party apart! Currently working with the Equality and
Human Rights Commission to ensure our party complies with anti-discrimination legislation.
GPEx-E&D requires empathy, integrity, political nous and a sense of humour! I was
honoured to be elected in 2019, if re-elected I will continue to serve GPEW to the best of my
ability.
Dzaier Neil As a disabled Black woman, former Paralympic athlete, and social worker
focusing on child protection I gained a Javelin World Record, 2 Gold, 2 Silver, & 2 Bronze
medals at the 1984 Paralympics, and competed in 2008 Paralympics. Greens of Colour was
dormant until we reinvigorated the group and I currently advise on the Deyika Fund,
supporting people of colour becoming elected.

Convening GPEW’s Disability Group, I added disability to our London Manifesto, and am
developing the disability manifesto for future GPEW elections. I established a committee
working together with GPEW Special Interest group chairs to find common ground on
diverse issues. I am passionate about social justice. We focus on elites but there is a gaping
Green-shaped hole in the political system for working class people. At some point we are all
likely to become disabled, either through very old age or through something happening to
us in our lives. Disability rights is finally gaining prominence in GPEW, and I am jointly
working to make our conference and governance accessible to all members.
Why job share?

Dzaier: “Rashid is a fantastic speaker. He is able to inspire and motivate people through his
campaigning skills. His involvement with grassroots activism, communities, plus his
unbelievable knowledge of how history shapes our culture, makes him a great asset.”
Rashid: “Zi is no-nonsense and very straightforward. She is incredibly determined and once
she sets her mind to something she will achieve it. She is loyal, very strategic and is a
brilliant networker!”
Vision

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● Challenge the lack of understanding of E&D within leadership and members
● Support special interest groups to influence communications
● Reach members, not just through constant fundraising requests dominated by electronic
communications
● Support local parties and regionally focussed activism
● Challenge GPEW lack of representation across all protected characteristics
● Promoting affordable environmentalism ● Clear staff and membership diversity data
recording & reporting
● Together, ensuring GPEW compliance with Equality legislation

FINANCE COORDINATOR - 1 nomination received
Jon Nott
I was initially co-opted as Finance Co-ordinator in December 2018 and appointed as Party
Treasurer by joint decision of the Executive and the Regional Council in January 2019, before
being elected for a two-year term in September 2019. I offer myself for re-election at this
Annual Ballot.
*Finance & Fundraising Experience*
I have 20 years professional experience of finance and fundraising in democratic, member-
led, campaigning organisations, including CND, the Green Party, Woodcraft Folk and
Campaign Against Arms Trade. In 2019 I successfully completed the first stage of accrediting
this experience with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
*Governance Experience*
In addition to supporting boards in a professional capacity, I serve on a number of boards. I
currently chair the boards of Co-operative & Community Finance, Peace News Trustees, and
the Co-operative College. I hope this dual perspective enables me to be an effective
member of the Party Executive in wider discussions as well as putting the Party’s finances in
context.
*Green Party Experience*
I first joined the Party in 1989, re-joining in 2000 and becoming active – as a candidate,
election agent and campaign manager for successful target to win campaigns in Islington;
standing for the GLA in 2004 and for Islington North against Jeremy Corbyn in 2005; serving
on GPEx in 2006-7 as Publications Co-ordinator; acting as the London Elections Co-ordinator
and serial delegate to European Green Party Council; as the Party’s first Chief Exec
overseeing the leadership referendum and first leadership election, the 2008 London
elections, 2009 Euros and the run up to the election of our first MP in 2010.
Since stepping down as the Party’s Chief Executive in 2010, I served as the Party’s Electoral
Returning Officer for several years and as Chair of the Advisory Board to the Green MEPs

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until the UK’s departure from the European Union paused our representation in the
European Parliament.
*Incorporation*
As Vice-Chair of CND in the 1990s and as General Secretary of Woodcraft Folk in 2012, I
managed the incorporation of two democratic membership organisations and am familiar
with the challenges of balancing company law and complex internal democratic
requirements.

*A Sustainable Financial Strategy for the Green Party*
Brexit, the 2019 snap General Election and Covid have provided overlapping challenges
during the past two years, but we have stabilised the Party’s finances and made significant
investment in the infrastructure that supports the local voluntary efforts which are the
bedrock of the Party’s success.
If you re-elect me, I commit to continuing to prioritise sustainable growth and investment in
party development. We know from experience that we will only see continued growth of
our Councillor numbers and elect our second (and subsequent) MPs by focused investment
in Target to Win. Our purpose is to have a political impact – winning elections is the means
to that end. My role as Finance Co-ordinator is to make sure that all the resources we have
are aligned with that goal.
If you have any questions, please contact me on jon.nott@greenparty.org.uk

INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR - 2 nominations received
Alexander Sallons
Does it feel like the momentum died after 2010?
We gained a single MP in 2010, and despite brilliant breakthroughs in Local Elections in
2017 to 2021, in the decade since we’ve still not gained another MP. That’s what I want to
change. Let’s start winning elections and winning MPs.

My name is Alexander Sallons, I’m an activist in Brighton and Hove Green Party working on
our communications since 2018, and I want you to put me to work as your Internal
Communications Coordinator, organising the party to win more Councillors, Mayors and
most importantly MPs!

I’ll do this by harnessing our greatest asset, our Members and Activists!
By establishing a Skills Census, asking you what skills you can offer to our campaigns to
make them bigger, better and more successful. Some of us don’t have money to offer, but
we do have skills, talents and time. And I’ll provide the tools for local parties to better
organise their members.

I will establish an Apptivist Programme, in our campaigns we rely heavily on paper
resources, and we work that media so well, with campaigns priding themselves on their
delivery, but on social media the party has problems cutting through. We don’t have the

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money for huge advertising spends, but we do have members and supporters! I will work to
create the tools to provide the party with more organic and organised reach, for better
social media campaigns, getting the Green message to a bigger and wider audience.

And I will work to overhaul the Party’s websites, with a focus on campaign organising, for
better and more connected election campaigns, working with our members and securing
funds from GPEx I want to work to get a better and more accessible member’s website, and
work to create a better online experience for our members new and old, as well as people
new to the party.
This is just the start, please visit alexandersallons.com for a full manifesto!
Please vote for Alexander Sallons for Internal Communications Coordinator for GPEx!

Zoe Hatch
Hi, my name is Zoe Hatch and I’m standing for the role of Internal Communications
Coordinator.
Effective communication within our party is vital to creating a truly joined-up and integrated
organisation. A party that speaks articulately to its members and listens compassionately to
all perspectives will create a more powerful impact. Inspiring members through regular,
meaningful and persuasive communications will pave the way for stronger social and
environmental change.
We have the opportunity to develop our internal communications systems as powerful tools
for campaigning, policy development, and ultimately election wins. Delivering membership
engagement that inspires connection, change and commitment will help members feel part
of the Green family, strengthening the party tenfold with a committed team that feels it
truly belongs. Recent success at the local elections shows that we’re on the right track but
there’s still so much further to go!

As Internal Communications Coordinator I will:
*Improve and upgrade the party website, especially the member spaces, to support us on
the next stage of our growth as a party.
*Utilise impactful and simple communications to the membership to inspire and engage
beyond asking for donations.
*Regularly help members join the dots between different wings of the party. A better
informed membership is a more empowered and engaged membership.
*Promote tolerance of different views within the party to improve upon our wonderful track
record of inclusivity. Listening to differing perspectives allows us to reach better solutions
and deeper understanding.
*Put openness and transparency at the heart of all our communications.
*Cut through the noise of digital media taking members right to the heart of the party with
a simplified and powerful message.
*Revise systems of internal consultation to allow policy groups and working parties to take

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members on a ‘journey of discovery’. Advocating for the use of storytelling and consultation
as powerful tools for engagement.
About me: I’ve been actively involved in environmental and social justice issues from an
early age and worked as a Parliamentary Researcher in my 20’s alongside my friend Jo Cox.
Like Jo, I have always believed that our common ground as humans far outweighs our
differences. With the difficulties our party is facing as we grow and transform, I’ll work hard
to build on that common ground - advocating for tolerance of differing views within our
diverse membership.
As a home educator, I founded a local education charity when my two children were
younger. I now run my own part-time Health and Well-being business alongside studying
Law.

When I joined the Green Party I was won over by its values of fairness, deeply held
democratic processes, integrity, and equality along with radical and necessary approaches
to environmental and social justice. For me this felt like a homecoming that was long
overdue.
If elected it will be my absolute honour to connect us more deeply across the party -
empowering us to build our Green future together.

• Twitter user name: @GreenZoeHatch
• Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/greenzoehatch

LOCAL PARTY SUPPORT COORDINATOR - 4 nominations received
Daniel Laycock and Lyndsay McAteer
We are Lyndsay McAteer and Daniel Laycock. Lyndsay’s the current Chair of Warrington and
Halton Green Party and has been a member since 2005. She has stood in many local
elections and as Green Party candidate for Parliament. Before living back in the UK, Lyndsay
worked in Aotearoa/New Zealand Parliament and saw the first past the post system
replaced with Proportional Representation.
Daniel Laycock currently sits as the Chair/Coordinator of the Eastern Green Party. Previously
Daniel was Deputy Coordinator and Fundraising Officer on the regional committee and is
also the Elections & Campaigns Officer for Huntingdonshire, having ran the local party as
Coordinator and relaunched his local party in 2018 due to the local party being inactive.

We’re standing on a job-share, as we are fully aware that local parties need the support
they deserve and to see all local parties are working effectively with their campaign teams
and within each party, so they’re election ready at all times. Ensuring that support and
infrastructure meets the needs of local parties is an essential first step in making this
happen.

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Our local parties are the backbone of our party. They work tirelessly for us to win on local
councils - campaign on local issues that help and change people’s lives for the better and
stand up to social and environmental injustices, all the time.

Our local parties range from the smallest to the largest. From the most urban to the
incredibly large rural areas, with members that have years of experience to ones that have
only just joined And from local parties that are financially stable to ones that are struggling
right across England and Wales.

Local parties desperately need vital support. They’ve been ignored too much, for far too
long. They need two people to stand up for them, that will work with them and champion
the work they do, every single day, fighting to put their local parties, councillors and
campaigners on the map in their communities.

We need to work with local parties who need critical support, providing training, sharing of
experience and knowledge from the Association of Green Councillors, experienced
Councillors and campaigners, Target to Win, Regional Parties, and all our local parties right
across the country.
If you want two people that will help out local parties to grow and win,
Vote McAteer and Laycock from 1st August and let’s build our local parties for future
success.
Duncan Kerr
Professional qualifications and experience in Social Work, Environmental Health and
Housing Management.
• 20 Years experience of managing public services including 5 as a local authority Chief
Executive.
• First Green Party Councillor to be elected in Derbyshire (Bolsover District in 2011)

• First Green Party Councillor to be elected to Shropshire Unitary Council (2016)
• First Green Party Councillor to be elected to Oswestry Town Council (2013). In the
subsequent two elections (2017 and 2021) we grew the Green Group to 5 out of 18 in 2017
and in 2021 took complete control of the Council with 12 out of the 18 seats. Every single
seat was won against Tory opposition.
• Have held practically all positions in local parties since joining in 2009 and being
instrumental in breathing new life into a dormant branch.
• Good understanding of the organisational, motivational, practical, strategic and technical
issues that local groups face.

• Considerable experiences at building local groups in rural/semi-urban areas that have
never considered themselves “Green”.

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My perception is that there has never been a more exciting time to be involved in green
politics. But it would be all to easy to miss this opportunity if we do not provide appropriate
support and clarity for local groups so that they can maximise the opportunities they have.

I am a strong advocate for equalities and diversity and wish to see under-represented
groups given proper encouragement and assistance to take on key roles for the party in, and
beyond, local groups.
Beyond that I am still learning how local groups relate to communities, environmental
pressure groups and elected Green Party Councillors, it’s a complex dance!

Taymar Pitman
As a target ward candidate, I know how vital this role is. Our Field Officers are our unsung
heroes; they do a tremendous job of supporting our local parties through every stage of
their campaigns, including provision of training, resources and anything else that’s needed.
To help them to carry out their roles most effectively, they need a strong, reliable Local
Party Support Co-ordinator (LPS Co-ordinator) to provide strategic direction and ensure they
get the necessary resources and support from the Executive Committee (GPEx).
I became Co-Membership Officer for my local party in 2015 and am also our Climate Action
Officer. I’ve stood in several local elections and the 2019 General Election. I know the issues
that local parties face, especially with regard to membership recruitment, engagement and
retention, and similarly all the aspects of running target ward campaigns. Living in the North
East, I appreciate the London-centric nature of current politics and I am keen that no parties
feel forgotten about.
The remit of the LPS Co-ordinator is to facilitate local parties, to listen to their needs and to
provide the support with which they need to thrive. Strong local parties are more likely to
get elected councillors which in turn improve our prospects for national electoral success. I
plan to survey all our local parties to produce a map displaying the general health and
strength of them all. This will enable us to encourage the more successful ones to help and
support nearby parties that aren’t yet thriving, and to foster networking and best practise.
The map would identify areas lacking local parties and I’ll attempt to initiate new start-up
until the whole country is covered.

We’re facing a climate and ecological emergency and the Greens are the only party who
truly offer the solutions that are really needed; getting more Greens elected at all levels is
critical in avoiding the tipping point.
My experiences as a Party member, local Officer and electoral candidate leave me well
equipped for this role. I am a good communicator and people find it very easy to talk to me.
I’m equally good at seeing the big picture as well as analysing issues to find solutions.
Currently, I’m a stay-at-home mum, but I’ve spent the majority of my working life in IT as a
developer, working for a local authority, the NHS and the CQC.

I’m a trustee at a community swimming pool and leisure centre which I fought to reopen
after its closure by the local council. With a considerable turnover and around 30 staff

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members, there’s a great deal of scrutiny involved in this role. I’m a life-long
environmentalist but I evolved into an activist after the birth of my children, compelled by
the lack of governmental action on climate change.

If we’re to turn the climate crisis around, we need more Greens. It’s as simple as that. The
Local Party Support Co-ordinator can play a key role in making that happen and I’m willing
to give it my all.

Rosie Rawle
Hi, I’m Rosie. Having been an active member of the party in the last five years, and with nine
years of professional experience in campaigns, activist training, and movement building, I
believe I have the experience and skills to deliver in the role of Local Party Support
Coordinator and help grow our powerful network of local parties.

Experience within the Green Party: -

   •   Active member of GPEx for 2+ years (2018 - present)
   •   Target candidate in winning ward in Oxford’s 2021 local elections
   •   Executive Committee member of Oxfordshire Green Party (2019 – 2021)
   •   Committee member of South East Green Party (2017 – 2018)
   •   Young Greens Co-chair for three terms (2018 – present)

Professional experience in activist training and movement building: -

   •   Campaigns Manager at Oxfam GB (2016 – 2018)
   •   National Organiser at The People’s Assembly Against Austerity (2014 – 2015)
   •   Staff member for Norwich Green Party (2016)

Experience on organisational governing bodies: -

   •   Member of the Council at the University of East Anglia (2013 – 2014)
   •   Chair of Trustee Board for the Union of UEA Students (2013 – 2014)
   •   Trustee Board member of People & Planet (2012 – 2014)

Recently, we’ve seen record breaking election results for the Greens and there’s good
reason why. While the covid crisis has revealed the deep flaws in our current political
economic system, more and more people are looking for an alternative – voting Green for a
future that is truly just, sustainable and radically democratic. The political context alone
however will not be enough to again double our number of elected councillors in the
coming year, nor win more crucial voices in the corridors of Parliament. We need to
continue building the capacity, skills and talents of our grassroots organisers and local party
election machines.
If elected as Local Party Support Coordinator, I will deliver on three priorities to help us
achieve this:

Bespoke training and support packages for all local parties: Let’s deliver a comprehensive
mapping of local party capacity and devise multiple effective local party training and

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support packages. This means mentoring, training and resource programmes that support
target seats to win, help smaller local parties get a foot on the ladder, and provide those
already in administration with the tools to deliver greater transformative change in their
communities.
Development of national and local activist training programmes: Our national Campaign
School and Campaign Academy have proven to be immensely valuable, building election
organisers that go out to win time and time again. If elected, I would work to help grow and
strengthen these programmes, working with regional and local parties to facilitate similar
projects at these levels.
Building an engaged and empowered membership: The strength of our success as a party
has so much to do with the passion, dedication and power of our party’s activists. If elected,
I will work with our Development team to deliver a strategy on membership recruitment,
engagement and retention. This will include plans to build the capacity of our liberation
groups and increase the diversity of our membership.

POLICY DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR - 1 nomination received

Vix Lowthion
One year on from the privilege of being elected for an interim one year term as your Policy
Development Coordinator on the Green Party Executive (thank you!) I am under no illusions
about the significant challenges ahead of us.
Yes, we are proud to be members of a national political party where everyone is welcome to
propose, debate and decide upon our policy – and long may this continue. It is at the heart
of our philosophy, it can bring us together – and often it can lead to honest divisions and
lively discussions.
However, since working as your PDC in the last few months – with a wonderful committee
of experienced and enthusiastic campaigners, and a diverse and varied set of Policy Working
Groups – it’s clear that our party’s policy development is facing significant challenges. Not
just the difficulties with supporting members, framing proposals and navigating the
unwieldly policy process, but the missed opportunities which are resulting due to our lack of
a comprehensive ‘Policy Strategy’.
I am asking for your support to continue the work that we have only just begun, and to put
policy development as key to improving our party, our communities and to get more Greens
elected at all levels.
My priorities for the next two years if elected onto GPEX as your Policy Development
Coordinator:

   1. Continue the process of developing a clear, targeted ‘Policy Strategy’ for the party: a
      3-5 year plan to develop the best quality and most transformative policies for our
      elected Greens, our spokespeople and our communities.

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   2. Increase participation of members via our Conferences, by aiding our Policy Working
      Groups and through expanding events such as the popular ‘Policy Fest’ – both in
      person and online.
   3. Maximising the use of communication and organisation technologies to support the
      policy development process, including discussion, drafting and accreditation.
   4. Get more Greens elected at all levels and ensure that our policies are tough enough
      to get implemented and tackle the social and environmental challenges we face.

The energy and enthusiasm in our party for transformation and change is contagious! But
we will miss the opportunities offered in this period of political and historic change if we do
not offer the right policies to voters. I hope that you can support my priorities to get the
right strategies in place.

PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR - 2 nominations received
Julia Lagoutte
Hello! I was elected last year on a 1-year term - and I'm running for publications coordinator
again to maximise the potential of our publications, such as Green World, and ensure that
the party works in a democratic and efficient way.
I’ve worked at the Green European Journal, written for publications such as Green World,
Green European Journal and Open Democracy, produced green politics podcasts, worked
freelance as a editor, worked for a Green MEP, and have been volunteering within the
Green Party of England and Wales for almost a decade now in various roles. I currently work
in campaigning and communications - and want to keep bringing my experience and energy
to the role.

I was elected last year on the promise of expanding Green World’s social media outreach
and establishing a podcast showcasing the best of its articles - and I’m proud that in this
short year this has happened. Reviving our print edition, my other pledge, is an ambition I
will continue to push for. One of my main priorities has been increasing awareness of Green
World amongst the membership - and that’s something I will continue to do.
I’ve hugely enjoyed getting to know the brilliant editorial board and staff and working with
them to put in place development plans and actions to maximise the potential of Green
World to be a space for inspiring and informing members internally, and for showcasing
Green politics and the green perspective externally. I’ve also commissioned, interviewed
and written for Green World, helped foster a fruitful relationship with the Green European
Journal, and put in place better systems of communication between Green World and the
central party. There is even more potential for Green World to foster community, facilitate
useful conversation, spread Green analyses and ideas, and uplift our own activists and
marginalised groups.
As a member of GPEx I’ve attended every meeting, as well as sub-committee meetings. My
priority is to bring member perspectives to meetings and hold the party to account - always
in a constructive and productive spirit. I was recently elected co-deputy chair of GPEx
alongside campaigns co-ordinator Britta Goodman, and in this role have supported the

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Chair, chaired a GPEx meeting, and am working with all GPEx members to develop ways to
improve processes and democracy.
I would love to continue this work over the next two years. I have the skills, knowledge and
determination to show members that our party is open and democratic, and build public
credibility that we are the party of justice and action that people and planet need.

Kathryn Bristow and Rachel Collinson
When was the last time you read Green World? The Green Party spends over £20k a year on
this magazine website. Yet, many members don’t know it exists, and few read it regularly.
Also, duplicates work on Green Living Room, which hosts similar content.
We wish to solve this problem together. These limited resources need to be concentrated
towards fulfilling the stated aim of the party’s publications and Green World, which is to aid
in the retention of members.
If elected, we would:
1. Take a strategic approach. We’d start by analysing visits to Green World and Green Living
Room to understand how they contribute to retaining members.
2. Review the contract with Resource Media, who maintain and create content on the Green
World website, costing £20,520 per year.
3. Connect the Green World Editorial Board with other groups in the party, such as the
Association of Green Councillors, Greens of Colour and Young Greens, among others. To
reflect our grassroots and provide valuable voices from across the party.
4. Work to improve relationships between Green Party Executive, Green Party staff, and the
Green World Editorial Board.
5. Look at using any financial savings to improve party accessibility and participation. In
particular, we’d love to help create a better experience for disabled members or those who
struggle with using our internal membership sites like Green Spaces (which, to be fair, might
well be most of us!).
Who are Kathryn and Rachel?
Kathryn Bristow (Fae/Faer)
Kathryn has worked in management, ensuring smooth day to day operations, overseeing the
work of employees and volunteers. Fae excels in facilitating different elements of
organisations to collaborate, rather than having parallel efforts that contribute to wasted
resources. With Rachel’s complementary expertise, Kathryn would bring together what
works well with the party’s publications and build on the party’s successes. Kathryn is the
chair of Green Party Women and has had key roles in Bristol Green Party, South West Green
Party, Greens of Colour, and LGBTIQA+ Greens, giving faer insight into the party’s
operations. Kathryn has a lot of dedication for the Green Party and worked tirelessly in
Bristol target campaigns for the last few years.

Rachel Collinson (She/Her)
Rachel works as a digital consultant for non-profits. For over 20 years, she has helped
improve digital publications of charities worldwide, including Greenpeace International and

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Friends of the Earth. This knowledge and experience mean she can work with Kathryn to
fulfil the aims of the party’s publications while investing party members’ donations wisely.
Rachel has been a member of the party for over six years. Her passion for the Green
movement has led her to give thousands of hours of volunteer work time. She served as
London representative on the Green Party Regional Council and contributed to the national
Fundraising Committee; this has given her a deep understanding of how the party works
and what makes our members tick.

Vote to see an exciting new Green World.
Vote Kathryn and Rachel first for Publications Co-ordinator.

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