I was first co-opted as Hebden Royd Town Councillor in November 2022 and in May 2023 I was re-elected to represent West End ward.
I have lived in Hebden Bridge for seven years, although I have been visiting the town for more than three decades. What drew me to this place is its vibrant spirit, quirkiness, outstanding beauty, and the warmth of the community. I have not been disappointed.
I moved here as somewhere to make my life after my long career as a university academic (with a five year stint as a tax inspector in between). My last job was as a professor in Tampere University in Finland, but I have worked all across the UK, from Manchester to London, Bristol and Cardiff. But my time in Finland, officially the UN’s World’s Happiest Country for the last five years, taught me that the job of government, from the national to the local, is quite simply to make everyone’s life better. That can be achieved by sound policies, careful and skilled administration, and a culture of caring for and respecting all.
In terms of skills and interests – I’ve worked at a high level in a number of universities as a leader, I’ve had a legal and an accountancy training, and my real area of expertise is in researching policies such as education, welfare and tax. At heart, my professional life was about working out how things work, and how to make them to work better.
I joined the council because I simply want to help make Hebden Royd an even better place to live – for everyone. I’m committed to working with everyone here so that we can, collectively, do just that. Please do drop me a line if you think I can help in any way.
