I am 44 and have lived in the Merley & Bearwood ward for over 20 years. I lived in Bearwood until getting married in 2011 at Canford Parish Church, and now live with my wife Carole in Merley.

I am an approved foster carer for Poole Social Services and have fostered 50 children and teenagers since 1993.

After gaining my degree in Financial Services and Diploma in Marketing at Bournemouth University, I had a successful career in the local Financial Services industry for 15 years, working as a Business Analyst and Market Research Analyst. I now work part-time as a freelance researcher for a Social Research organisation.

My interests include walking and cycling in the countryside. I took part the Trailwalker sponsored walk for Oxfam in July 2007 and walked 55 miles across the South Downs in 30 hours. I am also a football fan – now just as a spectator, supporting Reading FC as I was born in Reading, but I do follow the Cherries as well.

My favourite activities in the ward are walking my dog over the heathland behind Canford Arena, cycling the Castleman Trailway through Merley and going to Wednesday Coffee Mornings at Bearwood Community Centre (because I help run them!)

I have been involved in local charity and community projects for many years and currently spend much of my time working voluntarily as the Vice Chair of Bearwood Community Centre. One of my biggest achievements has been working as a central part of the team of volunteers that has turned around Bearwood Community Centre in the past 5 years by raising and investing over £100,000 on refurbishment which now means there are new activities on offer for the people of Bearwood, such as Youth Club, Guides, Dance Classes, Pilates, Slimming World, Weight Watchers, Coffee Mornings and Short Mat Bowls with Poole U3A.

My ambition as a ward councillor is to ensure that Merley and Bearwood get more support from Poole Council rather than being the forgotten outskirts of the town.

Why the Liberal Democrats?
I became a Liberal supporter as a student. I am a liberal at heart and believe that everyone should have the opportunity to achieve their potential based on merit and not their ability to pay. My twin brother has been a Lib Dem Councillor in Reading and my older brother is an active Lib Dem in Perth, Scotland, so you could say Liberal Democracy is in the blood.

I believe that the Council Tax should be abolished in favour of a tax based on the ability to pay and that environmental sustainability should be a consideration in everything the Government and local councils do.