Our People
Mandy Rossi
MANDY ROSSI
Mandy is our Parliamentary Spokesperson and Co-Chair. She has represented Ashford Green Party as the Parliamentary Candidate in three General Elections including the most recent December 2019 General Election where we doubled our vote share. She has been key in raising the profile of the Green Party in Ashford, speaking at local schools and on the radio, and visiting many of Ashford’s local initiatives. Mandy is co-founder of the Wombles of Wilelsborough Community Litter Picking Group, regularly volunteers at The Retreat Animal Sanctuary in High Halden, and is an active campaigner on many issues including the Climate, the NHS, and cuts to Public Services.
Cllr. Steve Campkin
STEVE CAMPKIN
Steve is our KCC Councillor for Ashford East, Borough Councillor for Willesborough and Election Agent/Nominating Officer
Steve was elected in May 2021 to Kent County Council, representing Ashford East. He was elected in May 2019 to Ashford Borough Council as one of our first two Borough Councillors. Steve has always been concerned about the welfare of animals and the environment, winning an award at The North School for recycling the most aluminium cans in aid of protecting rainforest (to this day he believes he owns an acre of Brazil!) Since joining the Green Party in 2009 he has stood in many local elections, and also stood as the Parliamentary Candidate in 2010.
Cllr. Liz Wright
LIZ WRIGHT
Liz was elected as one of our first Ashford Borough Councillors in May 2019. She was formerly a Special Educational Needs teacher and nutrition therapist, and now spends her spare time volunteering at a variety of local organisations including FareShare and the Ashford Winter Night Shelter. She has also been very involved in helping to provide lunches for children during school holidays. Liz has campaigned for the Green Party for more than 20 years, and lives in Willesborough.
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Cllr.Geoff Meaden
GEOFF MEADEN
Geoff Meaden is the Councillor for Downs North and the Co-Chair of Ashford Green Party. Geoff lives in Old Wives Lees and is a well-known active member of the local community. Geoff is an expert in biogeography and coastal hazards and is Secretary for The Canterbury Society. He regularly provides expertise on environmental and transport issues. His main priorities include protecting our beautiful countryside, campaigning on issues such as affordable and social housing, and keeping environmental issues on the agenda at the council
Cllr. Dawnie Nilsson
DAWNIE NILSSON
Dawnie is our Highfield councillor. She has lived in Ashford for 14 years and works in healthcare.
Dawnie is passionate about our planet, and the effect we have on it, and feels compelled to use her voice to highlight to the importance of addressing climate change. Dawnie does whatever she can as an individual, she shops for local seasonal produce, drives an electric vehicle including for holidays in the UK and Europe and has recently replaced her gas boiler for a more efficient air sourced heating system, which uses electricity provided by an ethical provider. Dawnie is a regular Womble with Wombles of Willesborough Community Litter Picking Group and a member of the recently re-formed Willesborough WI.
Dave Higgins
DAVE HIGGINS
Dave is our Branch Press Officer and also our Repton Representative.
Dave stood in the local elections as our Repton Candidate in 2019 for the first time. He is married and has two young daughters both at Repton School.
As well as working in an IT role for Hotel.com, he is a keen cyclist and brewer of beer. He is also an excellent vocalist and was the front man of popular local band Horns High. He is currently teaching himself to play the guitar.
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Peter Morgan
PETER MORGAN
Peter is a former teacher who now works in the tourist industry. He has been a member of a various environmental organisations including the Green Party for many years. Peter is especially concerned about the need for an integrated national public transport scheme based on a re-nationalised railway network. He is the Ashford Green Party Treasurer.
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Thom Pizzey
THOM PIZZEY
Thom is one of our Ashford Young Greens Co-Ordinators and a key member of our Campaigns Team . He has stood in many local elections since joining the Green Party in 2012. Thom, has been a Stanhope resident his entire life, and works as a graphic designer, which is why our leaflets always look so good! An active campaigner against austerity, privatisation and corporate tax avoidance, Thom has organised and participated in local demonstrations within Ashford.
Al Arnold
AL ARNOLD
Al is one of our Ashford Young Greens Co-Ordinators and has been a member of the Green Party since the age 16. Al was our youngest candidate in the local elections in 2019 and strongly believes it is important to have better representation of young people on the council. Al has spoken out for youth involvement at grassroots level at various events for young people. He was also one of the co chairs for the young greens under 18 group. He lives in South Ashford, and works in the town centre in a catering role. He regularly helps out with Community Litter Picks and campaigns to safeguard our NHS from cuts and privatisation. Al is our fundraising officer for both Ashford Young Greens, and the main Ashford Greens branch, and writes the questions for our regular quiz nights and raffles his incredible hand baked cakes! Al is also our resident London Underground resident!
Guy Pullen
GUY PULLEN
Guy is our Biddenden Representative. Guy has served as the chair of the Board of Governors at the local school, and continues to be an active member of the community. He works as an Assistant Head Gardener and is committed to environmental issues.
Jo Gambling
JO GAMBLING
Jo is our Norman representative. She is a working Mum of two who is passionate about ensuring we strive towards a better future for our children. She has a strong belief in recycling, sustainability and eco-education for children.
Jo was born in Ashford but left to study a degree in English Literature and returned 10 years ago. She is a Financial Services professional working in the industry for 15 years. Recently she has trained as an Alzheimer’s Dementia Friend and volunteers twice a week to help battle the loneliness caused by the isolation of the illness and Covid.
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Katrina Giles
KATRINA GILES
Katrina is our Park Farm South Representative, and a Parish Councillor on Kingsnorth Parish Council.
Katrina was Co-Opted by Kingsnorth Parish Council in September 2021 as a Parish Councillor for Park Farm South. She brings fresh ideas to the council; one of which was highlighting the need for more disability play equipment and sensory play within the new plans for park farm’s moat park, which has been successfully incorporated. Katrina volunteers at Kingsnorth Parish Council events and is part of a working group to create positive strategies to reduce the parishes carbon footprint.
Kati Ramsden
KATI RAMSDEN
Kati is one of our Town Centre Representatives (Victoria).
She is originally from Tenterden and has lived in Birmingham, Sheffield and London before returning in 2015 to settle in Ashford. Having previously worked in HR and EDI, Kati now runs Bare Bazaar, our local eco and refill shop . She is passionate about sustainability, social enterprise and equality. She has two young children and is a Parent Governor and active PTFA committee member at their school. Kati is also a trustee on central Ashford Community Forum and is co-chair of Plastic Free Ashford. She is currently in the process of setting up a community fridge.
