Meet Zoë

People-led plans and decision making

People tell me that they are losing the things they love about Hackney and that life is getting harder.

I’m passionate about listening to people and making sure that the changes in the borough are what people want. I will stand up to corporations to protect our land and buildings, putting the views of residents first. I want to restore people’s faith in the council and work for you, through people and community plans for local areas – plans which are led by residents and community groups with you telling me what is needed so that we can create a better Hackney together. All residents should have ways to participate in local decision-making, including how their money is spent.

As a councillor, I’m deeply connected to the people in my ward and fiercely represent them, including over-policed delivery riders (“gig economy”) workers just looking for a safe place to rest, and residents struggling with the cost of living.

I want to hold regular, powerful and wide reaching Citizens’ Assemblies, as well as working towards a referendum on the too-powerful role of a directly elected Mayor in favour of a more democratic system.

Community-centred economy 

Hackney is facing growing inequality with an economy that is unfair.

I will put people first – ahead of developers and big business. I will focus on creating good jobs and safe and secure homes for local people. I will support charities, small businesses, artists, market traders and all other essential parts of our local economy to thrive.

Before getting elected, I was a member of the Save Ridley Road campaign which is supporting the artists, traders and small businesses and protecting the social and cultural heritage of Ridley Road.

As a councillor, I’ve supported many community-led campaigns and the locally-run night time economy.

Healthy planet, healthy people

I’m proud to have worked in the public and voluntary sector for over 10 years with senior roles in public health, adult social care and children and young people’s health services. I currently work for the NHS where I listen to residents and voluntary and community sector groups and tell senior decision makers how we should spend NHS budgets to meet people’s needs. I’m also leading work to address health inequalities experienced by LGBTIQA+ people. Using what I know about the health system, I’m committed to tackling inequalities and the root causes of issues, particularly those caused by the systems and structures in our society.

The impact we are having on our planet needs to be addressed urgently and needs to be considered in all we do. We can improve Hackney, help people, and play our part in tackling the climate emergency all at the same time. The climate emergency is a health emergency and the effects on people are being experienced unequally. It is also a housing emergency, with many people living in cold, bad and insecure housing. We need to address social injustice alongside the climate crisis and move to a sustainable way of living which is fair for everyone.

My work in the Green Party 

I have been a member of the Green Party since 2014 and I’ve volunteered in every election in this period. Most recently, I worked with Siân Berry on her manifesto for the London 2021 election and was the co-convenor of the Green Party’s Drug Policy Working Group. In 2019 I led a review, working with experts (people with lived experiences and researchers), which resulted in the Green Party adopting the most progressive drugs policy of any major party, pledging to decriminalise and regulate all drugs as part of an inclusive, supportive and just society.

At home 

I’m involved in my local residents association – we have wonderful community gardens and I enjoy looking after these with my neighbours.

I’m a private renter, I have lived in many places across Hackney – including Clissold, Homerton, Hackney Wick and I’m currently in Dalston. I live with my friend who is a hospital doctor and climate campaigner.