I became a County Councillor in May 2017, having lived in Suffolk for nearly 30 years with my husband Martin and our four children. It is my pleasure to represent Thingoe South Division. The Division includes 20 hamlets/villages south of Bury St Edmunds.

I was elected Leader of Suffolk County Council in May 2018, having served for the previous three years as Cabinet Member for Environment, Public Protection and Broadband.

My family and I have lived in Suffolk for over 40 years and have always been involved in the communities in which we have lived. In 2017, I was elected as the County Councillor for the Tower Division in Bury St Edmunds, which covers the Town Centre of Bury St Edmunds.

I moved to Ipswich in December 1985. I have been involved in politics since 1979 and soon became the Chairman of the local branch in a village in Essex. I am married with three children, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

My wife, who has family from Suffolk, and I moved to make our permanent home here in 2011. I have worked in charitable and private sector organisations.  I believe that good local government is important and plays a vital role in supporting sustainable communities.

I was brought up in Suffolk and have lived here permanently with my wife, Clare, and three children since 1990. After 30 years in investment banking and financial services, I became a local business owner in 2010.