I am standing to be the first Mayor of Sussex because devolution gives us a genuine chance to shape our own future. My priorities are clear. I want people to feel safe, I want local enterprise to grow without unnecessary barriers and I want homes built for the people who live and work here. Sussex has the talent and the potential to thrive. What it needs now is leadership that listens, acts and delivers. I am standing to provide that leadership and to make sure Sussex becomes a county that is safe, confident and fair for everyone who calls it home.
I grew up in West Yorkshire in the 1970s, when life was simpler but often harder. My circumstances were difficult, and I was living by myself just before my sixteenth birthday. Those years taught me resilience, discipline and the importance of taking responsibility. They shaped my belief that progress comes from effort, not privilege, and that people do best when they are free to build their own future.
I served with the Seventh Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, including a tour of the Falkland Islands (obviously not 1982 . . too young for that). In the early 90s I worked in El Paso, Texas with young people who were involved in gangs. When I returned to the UK I drove Routemaster buses in London before moving to Poland, where I spent more than four years lecturing in teacher training colleges and at the University in Poznan. That experience showed me that education has to connect with local employment needs if it is going to lead to stable futures.
When I returned home I set up the Croydon Auto and Bike Scheme, a youth crime diversion project that still runs today. I later joined the Police Service, where I qualified as a detective, passed my sergeants exams, and did a variety of roles such as being a tutor constable, a warrant officer, a response driver. I also led a cross-border operation cracking down on vehicle related crime. Whilst enjoying my career in the police, I also completed a PhD in Psychology.
My time in the police showed me that strong leadership, consistency and clear standards are the foundations for effective public protection.
After policing I built two successful businesses. One began as a risk management company and is now a web development firm. The other is a US based customer engagement and retention SaaS company that now serves more than 23 million members. These have honed my skills at managing resources well, making decisions at pace and delivering results that matter.
I stood for the County Council elections in 2021 for very personal reasons, and because I believe that if you want things to change, you have to be involved. Since being elected I have worked to make communities safer, reduce anti-social behaviour in my Division, tackle flooding issues and helped to deliver the replacement of the 'White Bridge', a vital route for residents and schoolchildren in Steyning, Bramber and Upper Beeding. The new bridge opens in November 2025 and was achieved only through strong community effort and close partnership working.
I chaired the Childrens Scrutiny Committee for over three years, I am Vice Chairman of the Corporate Parenting Panel and I sit on the appeals panels for staff and school transport. My focus has been improving SEND provision and strengthening children's social care. I also volunteer as a practice manager in a psychology service. My background in psychology supports my work in both public service and business, helping teams operate effectively and ensuring that systems support the people who rely on them.
At home I am married and a proud father of two daughters. I understand the pressures families face, from the cost of living, to the challenge of finding secure homes and opportunities for their children. I play the piano together with my youngest daughter, we have a small long-haired chihuahua. I also recently completed a 6,000 kilometre motorcycle trip to the Romanian mountains and back.