Our elected Executive Committee.
Our elected Executive Committee is a selection of local people, passionate about improving our area.
Our committee features individuals from all walks of life, from Students to Accountants; our team is as proudly diverse as the community we serve.
Our current committee was elected at the AGM of September 2024.
James Vessey-Miller
Coordinator/Chair/PPERA Second Officer
coordinator@seessex.greenparty.org.uk
James Vessey-Miller is the South East Essex Green Party Coordinator and is passionate about growing the Green Party in South East Essex.
As well as being a local Publican he is actively engaged in many communities throughout South East Essex, working with many Southend-based community arts organisations, and previously working as the Vice-Chair of Southend Pride.
As well as regularly taking part in many local and national demonstrations, James has been a long-standing campaigner for Social Justice, better town planning, and transparent government.
Peter Walker
Treasurer
Peter Walker is the South East Essex Green Party Treasurer.
A retired schoolteacher, Peter, with his wife Janet, has spent much of the past 20 years caring for elderly relatives.
He is a keen cyclist and enjoys long walks on which he photographs wildlife; is an avid cross-county cyclist; and spends a lot of time making music as a pianist and as a member of the Southend Bach Choir.
Peter has long been involved in environmental conservation and the local Green Party, and he was also the Green candidate in Chalkwell in 2015, Blenheim in 2019, & Belfairs in 2021 and 2022.
Fiona Clapperton
Secretary
Fiona Clapperton is our Branch Secretary.
Simon Gittus
Election Agent & Press Officer
Simon Gittus is our Election Agent and Press Officer
Vida Guildford
Membership Secretary
Vida Guildford is our Membership Secretary.
RJ Learmouth
Equality & Diversity Officer
RJ Learmouth is one of the South East Essex Green Party Equality & Diversity Officers.
They are an avid environmental activist and is regularly found at Green Action events, actively working to improve the open spaces around Southend.
A Medical Professional by trade, RJ is also an accomplished musician, and can often be found at all manner of live music gigs.
RJ is a passionate advocate for Women’s Rights, is a proud member of the LGBTIQA+ community, and is also a keen cyclist.
RJ has been in Southend since 2008 and believes strongly in echoing the voices of the minority, ensuring equality and justice for all.
Lauren Ekins
Equality & Diversity Officer
Lauren Ekins is one of our Equality & Diversity Officers, and also sits on our Fundraising Subcommittee.
Eva Mansfield
Communications Officer & Young Greens Officer
Eva Mansfield is our Communications Officer, and is also our Young Greens representative.
Jon Mullett
Non-Portfolio Officer
Jon Mullett is a Non-Portfolio officer on the South East Essex Green Party Committee.
He has stood for the Green Party many times in Leigh Ward but has recently moved to Prittlewell, where he now stands as our representative.
Jon cares deeply for the conservation of natural spaces and is a regular participant in local community cleanup events, such as various Green Action events.
Jon is well known for previously being the Leigh Green Party Candidate in 2015, 2016, & 2018 Local Elections and in Shoeburyness in 2019.
AJ Sutherland
Non-Portfolio Officer
AJ has lived in Southend all his life, apart from a brief departure to study an MGeol in Applied & Environmental Geology in Leicester. He works in a local community pharmacy.
As a proud member of the LGBTIQA+ community, AJ is an outspoken advocate for equal rights across all marginalised communities.
AJ is passionate about holding governments and news outlets accountable for their role in climate change and has taken part in grassroots campaigning with the Climate Genocide Act Now group. AJ says his aim is to leave a positive impact on the world.
AJ has been the Green candidate for Blenheim Park since 2021.
What We Do
The Executive Committee of the South East Essex Green Party is the team of volunteers responsible for the local party’s operation.
Elected at General Meetings, the Committee is made up of passionate local people who work hard to continue the party’s work and campaigns. In our official capacity, the committee meets twice a month to discuss local party operations.
At these meetings, topics discussed ranges from local planning applications, to large-scale national issues.
The committee is responsible for the day-to-day running of the local party. A lot of hard work goes into careful and studious research for campaigns, and we work hard to ensure that our events are well-planned and organised.
We pride ourselves in that our literature is always well-researched and accurate, whilst also being easily understandable and clear.
Several members of our Committee also have roles within the Green Party external to the local Party. We have officers that sit on regional Disputes Resolution Committees and we’re even on the LGBTIQA+ Committee of the National Green Party.
Many of our officers also attend National and Regional Conferences, and we’re always seen at local community meetings.
We strive to ensure that our representatives are always present at every Council meeting, and we also participate in most of the Council’s open-table events and consultations.
We’re not just comfortable desk-workers keen on meetings either, we are all actively involved in the care of our communities, and we undertake direct action community schemes (such as litter picking events), and canvassing sessions year-round.
~ Unlike the majority of Parties locally, we’re not seen just at election time. ~
It’s a lot of hard work being on the committee, but not one of our officers rests easy on their laurels.
We’re well known for being some of the hardest workers in local politics, and it’s a title we wear with pride.
Join The Committee
There are many roles within the Committee of the local Party, some of which are available.
We are always looking for passionate individuals that might be able to help us with events, campaigns, fundraising, and even research.
Whatever skills or time you might be able to offer us will always be gratefully received.
You must be a member of the Green Party to be eligible to be elected as an officer.
If you are a member and would like to join the committee, please contact us.