Our candidates for the 2026 Southwark Council elections.

On Thursday 7th May 2026, you have the opportunity to elect Green councillors to Southwark Council. There are Green candidates standing in each of Southwark's 23 wards, and here you can find their biographies and photos. 

Borough and Bankside

Samuel Aurelius

I have lived in Borough my whole life and I grew up seeing suffering around me I find unacceptable like homelessness right next to skyscrapers that are held up as signs of progress or how it is now normal for secondary schools to collect food for food-banks. How have we let things fall this far? I have spent my whole life driven by a desire to improve the world and wish to leave it better than I found it. Having the honour of representing Borough & Bankside would allow me to pursue this goal of helping people and making hope normal again. 

Sam Hills

I have lived in Southwark for 35 years, and after a varied career in education, as a childminder and early years specialist, I now work as an Educational Officer for the London Wildlife Trust. Working with and for families I know how important it is that we ensure that all have the opportunities our great Borough can offer. We need to work hard to make Borough and Bankside a safe and accessible space for all who work and live in this historic ward.

Alastair John Ritchie

Alastair has lived in London most of his life and over 3 years in Borough. Having finished a sales career and child care responsibilities; he qualified as an Adviser for Citizens Advice in 2012 managing welfare, debt, money and energy issues. He volunteers with Citizens Advice Southwark helping local residents with digital support. Alastair stands for social justice and a fairer, greener borough.

Camberwell Green

Joe Campbell

I've lived in Camberwell for nearly 10 years. I work as a teacher and promote Camberwell in my free time. I have been involved in environmental campaigns my whole life but I'm keen to make real changes to reflect the green transition that many of us aspire to.

Southwark Council's repair team is failing its suffering residents. I will prioritise fixing this before helping suit Southwark to 2030s' London. I'll be more transparent with council activity for all residents to work towards both private- and borough-owned renewable energy, e.g. from food waste and on new council buildings.

Lola Garratt

Freddy Kinsella

Champion Hill

Michael R Millar

I am a retired NHS doctor and have lived (with my wife) in Camberwell for 25 years. I have been a long-standing Green Party member. We have four children and 10 grandchildren, and I believe that it is imperative that we protect future generations from the ravages of climate change.

Cato Sandford

Chaucer

Felix Hamer

Felix has lived in Elephant and Castle for a decade and been active in residents' associations. In his career, he has focused on global climate policy with WWF, decarbonisation with BCG, and community impact with HX Expeditions. Felix is standing to make Chaucer and Southwark greener, fairer, and better run.

Pascale Mitchell

Pascale is a mother, carer, and school librarian who has lived in social housing in Southwark for over 30 years. She has organised to defend local estates through campaigns including  Fill Empty Homes and Yes to Fair Redevelopment. She supports rent controls, decent repairs, SEN provision, disability rights, and full divestment from companies complicit in the genocide in Gaza.

Suzanne Wise

Suzanne has lived in Chaucer for over 4 years. She has worked as a business leader as a lawyer and sustainability expert. She chairs a London environmental charity and sits on the board of a large Essex based social housing provider. She is passionate about London's green spaces and decent homes for all.

Dulwich Hill

Simon Heap

Janice White

Janice has lived in Southwark for 30 years after growing up in Greater Manchester. She runs a small communications business based locally, working with arts, culture, heritage and community organisations to help them connect with people and tell their stories. With experience as a charity trustee, she has a practical understanding of good governance and how community organisations operate day to day. Janice wants to see a fairer borough for all residents, support vibrant local culture, and protect the green spaces that make Southwark special.

Dulwich Village

Philip Collins

Vincent Matley

I have lived in the Dulwich area for most of my life and attended local schools. I am well acquainted with the environmental and other problems of Dulwich residents, and if elected will work hard to ensure that all of them, whatever their circumstances or origin, benefit from living and working in this beautiful part of London.  

Dulwich Wood

Anna Crowley

Anna Crowley has 20 years’ experience in the social justice sector internationally, advocating for access to education, criminal justice reform, decent work and humane migration and asylum policies. She founded a consultancy practice that provides strategy advice to funders and charities and offers pro bono services to community-based organizations. A leader in the London softball community, she is committed to functional green spaces and inclusive recreation opportunities. Anna settled in Dulwich 6 years ago and is eager to put her passion and policy know-how to work for her neighbours in Southwark. 

Ralph James Smyth

Faraday

David Rupert Battersby

I was born and raised in South London and now live on the Brandon estate in Southwark. My day job is in careers and skills development, and I volunteer as a teaching assistant. I see the anxiety our children and young people have about the future, and in Southwark we have a real chance to give the next generation a borough with cleaner air, better opportunities, and secure, affordable housing. 

Giancarlo Durante

Although I was born in Mexico and I am a proud immigrant, I have called London, especially South East London, home for the past 9 years. I want to give back to Southwark what it has given me: a home, culture, and an overall good experience. My main goal is to serve Faraday residents by understanding their experiences and listening to their feedback to identify their specific needs and concerns. I understand it will be a challenge, but I do not have any ulterior motives besides preserving the good things Faraday has and addressing its issues. 

Suzy Gillett

Suzy has lived in Southwark for over twenty years and raised her family here. She loves our diverse neighbourhoods, home to old-timers and newcomers alike — that is Southwark's unique strength, worth celebrating and fighting for.

She supports well-built and cared-for social housing that genuinely serves local residents. Safer streets for children. Cleaner pavements and vibrant green spaces. Opportunities for young people. She aims to be an effective and transparent communicator between council and residents — for a greener, better-run Southwark that delivers what people deserve and are paying for.

Goose Green

George Grime

George loves East Dulwich where he has lived for 45 years. He was an active member of the Labour party all his adult life - until it became clear that Labour no longer stood for progress – and he joined the Green Party in 2023.

George is a member of the UVW trade union and is particularly passionate to promote the ideals of good quality affordable housing for all and solidarity with Palestine - and to play a part in defeating the politics of division and hate being promoted by Reform and Labour.

George retired recently from a lifetime working in social housing, mostly in Southwark. He volunteers on the residents’ board running a Southwark Council estate and was a school governor at Heber Primary School for 18 years. His son attended Heber and Charter schools. 

Councillor James McAsh

James has been the councillor for Goose Green, in East Dulwich, since 2018. He is hardworking and responsive, with one of the best records on casework in the whole borough. Until recently, he was the Cabinet member for Clean Air, Streets and Waste and under his leadership, Southwark had the highest recycling rate in inner London. He is a primary school teacher, trade unionist and socialist.

Eloise Waldon-Day

Eloise is a long-time passionate local campaigner. She helped push Southwark Council to declare a climate emergency, shaped their climate plans, and founded the Southwark Climate Justice Coalition, uniting 15+ local groups to drive community climate action. 

She's Head of Strategic Partnerships at C40 Cities, a global network of mayors united in tackling the climate crisis, and brings global climate solutions back to Southwark. Her career has spanned supporting women's leadership in Rwanda, and advancing sexual and reproductive health access worldwide with MSI and ActionAid. 

Eloise can be found with her two dogs on Peckham Rye, playing sport, and volunteering at her local youth club. 

London Bridge & West Bermondsey

Emily Ward

Jon Woolhouse

I’m a self-employed digital marketing consultant and have lived in London since starting my career before the pandemic. Throughout that time I’ve almost exclusively lived in council houses turned right-to-buy private rentals, and have seen friends born in this city slowly get priced out as rent and cost of living rises, all while the social fabric has frayed.

Newington

Kevin Chuah

I first moved to Southwark in 2008 and love our diverse community. Until 2016, I worked in the finance industry and saw firsthand how the system has prioritised profits over people. Since leaving the industry, my research and campaigning has pushed for a fairer financial system that puts climate, living wages, and community health at its core. These are the same issues that I will work on as a councillor.

Nicola Hearn

Joel Resare

I am a retired psychologist and have lived around Elephant and Castle for the past 10 years, after moving to the UK from Sweden. I care deeply about the right to decent housing, the cost of living and ensuring residents feel heard. I am committed to fair and equal opportunities for everyone in Newington. I am standing to represent our area with empathy, integrity, and a strong commitment to community.

North Bermondsey

Amer Alic

Susi Arnott

Born in London, I moved back in 1979 and have lived in Southwark since 2000. A biologist and film-maker, community science projects and adult literacy coaching keep me busy in retirement. The climate and nature emergencies have such strong links with social justice that the Green Party is my natural home.

Seb Newsam 

North Walworth

Rebecca Corn

Rebecca Corn is a human rights and protection specialist with nearly two decades of local and international experience working with children, young people and vulnerable adults, and communities affected by violence, conflict and disaster. She has served with United Nations Peace Operations in Sudan and South Sudan and with the UN Human Rights Office on Afghanistan. She has also served with UN and NGOs in Kosovo, Rwanda, Cambodia and on Colombia, Syria, Yemen and Palestine. She has worked with NGOs in the UK including Amnesty International, Crisis, Rape Crisis and most recently with Barnardo's as Lead Advocate for care leavers and asylum seeking young people in Southwark.

After serving overseas she is very happy to be back home serving her community. Rebecca lives locally in social housing, was born just down the road in Bromley, and brings both professional expertise and lived experience of navigating public services and disability support. She is actively involved in local organising and volunteering, including at Walworth Garden, and is founder of an arts and research organisation working with survivors of violence through community-based projects.

Rebecca is committed to practical, sustainable, community-led change.

Councillor Sam Foster

As a councillor, I've seen Labour failures first hand on the Aylesbury Estate regeneration, where residents Labour claims to serve have been left in limbo for years. I joined the Greens because they fight for a borough we can afford, where people can live in dignity, freedom and security.

Vanessa Threadgold

Nunhead & Queens Road

Catherine Dawkins

Catherine, works for a South London charity and cycles on Queens Road almost every day. She is passionate about making local roads and streets safe for all. She has organised local litter picks and has been working with local groups to understand how best the streets can serve residents of Nunhead and Queens Road.

Claire Sheppard

Claire is a community campaigner, Se15 small business owner and mum. She co-founded Nunhead Knocks during Covid, which pivoted to giving micro grants for food and fuel until 2023. Claire is passionate about improving life in Southwark and serving her community.

Richard Taylor

Richard works in architecture and as a result is always looking for ways housing and the built environment can be improved for residents. He loves helping out local ventures, such as the many community gardens in the area and at the Nunhead Repair Shop. He also participates in the local policing panel to make sure local views are heard.

Old Kent Road

Alexandra Austin

Christopher Payne

Chris has spent the last 10 years advocating for children's rights and now campaigns for the protection of the environment. He currently is a public campaigner for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) where he regularly works together with community groups at the local level to help raise awareness of the importance of nature. He has lived in Southwark for 5 years and is excited to have the opportunity to make a positive difference in people's lives. 

Peckham

Dean Peters

Dean Peters is a BACP-registered talking therapist, having run his own practice in Southwark for six years. He's passionate about reducing the individual and public health burdens of drug use, and volunteers for national charities in this field. He's grateful for the chance to fight for the residents of Peckham, where he has lived for four years.

Ryan Cox

Ryan has over 14 years of experience in the environmental sector, with tackling the climate emergency as his core motivation. A dedicated trade unionist, he campaigns for improved social housing, rent controls, and an end to harmful council cuts. As a long-term Southwark resident, Ryan believes the Green Party can bring real change to the borough.

Störm Poorun

Peckham Rye

Francisca Mayambala

Francisca is a researcher working for a social impact organisation, supporting charities and public services to improve how they address social problems and deliver change. Working directly with communities in their local area, she focuses on understanding their needs and making sure that their voices are represented in decision-making. She is well-versed in working with and alongside a wide variety of people. Fran also has over four years of experience delivering at-home care to children and adults. Shaped by her experiences and led by her empathy, she is committed to making sure people feel included in the processes and decisions that affect them, building trust and actively listening to residents to improve their experiences in Southwark.

Steven Sheppard

Steve has run his own Sports Massage business, based on Rye Lane for the last decade and is an active member of the business community in Peckham.

He has been a resident of Peckham Rye since 2007 and is also a dad. Steve is interested in improving the health and wellbeing of the community, along with promoting biodiversity and access to nature. He runs ultra-marathons, teaches Natural Fitness classes and enjoys spending time at his allotment.

Rotherhithe

Colin Boyle

Colin moved to Rotherhithe in 2002 and is committed to protecting Rotherhithe’s distinctive history and character, and its strong, diverse and inclusive local community.  A project manager in the NHS, Colin joined the Green Party in 2013, and campaigns for greener, healthier and better place to live for all in Southwark.

Aadi Venkatesh

I have lived in and loved Rotherhithe for more than a decade. I am passionate about addressing the affordability crisis and fighting for real change, not small compromises. We need a local government that listens to and respects residents' concerns, and that's exactly what I intend to deliver if elected. 

Councillor Kath Whittam

Past Mayor of Southwark Cllr Kath Whittam has a long record as a community activist. From serving as Chair of her Safer Neighbourhood Ward Panel, private residents’ representative on the Canada Water Campaign Forum, and Chair of the Rotherhithe Under 5’s Group at Time and Talents as her earlier involvement in the community she has lived in since 1987.

Her lifelong interest in the natural environment saw her become a Friend of Lavender Pond and Russia Dock Woodland, and she was the manager of Surrey docks farm. She has also been a very active member of The Amicable Society working with other members on the conservation of the two historic statues standing proud above the old Free School in Rotherhithe to restore their paintwork and brighten their traditional ‘bluecoats’. Meanwhile her commitment to education after teaching science for 16 years, has continued in her role as School Governor first at Redriff School, Bacons College as parent governor and now Albion Primary School. Since 2014 she has been an elected councillor for Rotherhithe Ward.

Rye Lane

Rouge Hawk

Rouge Hawk is student and hospitality worker in Rye Lane, born and raised in Peckham. She is also a housing campaigner, active with Aylesham Community Action. Rouge understands the challenges young people face, like balancing the demands of pursuing a University degree, while working to live. With 8 years’ experience in customer service, she is ready to deliver for Rye Lane.

Danny Lester

I'm standing as a council candidate for the Green Party and have lived on Rye Lane for over a decade. Living with hidden disabilities has given me first-hand experience of how policies affecting support like Personal Independence Payment impact people's lives. I've worked on zero-hours contracts building my career in security, so I understand the pressures of insecure work within the cost-of-living crisis.

I'm also a musician involved in community venues and grassroots spaces, and I've seen too many close locally. I want to stand up for residents, protect local culture, and build a greener, fairer Peckham where everyone can thrive.

Councillor Reginald Popoola

Cllr Reginald Popoola has been a hardworking local councillor since 2022. Raised in Peckham, he works in the charity sector supporting residents with welfare benefits, housing, and employment enquiries. He is fighting for funding to make Peckham Rye Station accessible and against the lack of truly affordable homes at the Aylesham Centre development.

South Bermondsey

Sandra Lane

Sandra has lived and worked in Southwark for 32 years, first as a journalist and photographer and currently as an artist. She has been a member of the Green party for over 30 years and is committed to travelling only by public transport and avoiding flying to keep her carbon footprint down. She would like to see more public green spaces, better air quality, high streets without empty shops and believes everyone who needs it should have access to truly affordable housing.

Peter Reder

Timothy Wright

St George's

Ruben David Gonzalez Rojas

Nita Patel Woods

Nita has spent the majority of the last 20 years living in Southwark - East Dulwich, Camberwell, Queens Road Peckham, where she lives today.

Alongside a 20-year career in corporate sustainability fighting for climate action, equality and social justice, she's built real community roots. Selected from over 2,000 applicants, she brought a Penguin Books x Little Book Stop, a free lending library, to Woods Road SE15. She's a seasoned entrepreneur who knows the challenges of running a small local business as she ran a coffee and cowork space on Coldharbour Lane for nearly eight years. All because she knows the power of providing great spaces where local people can gather, talk and belong.

What draws her to the Greens isn't policy, it's behaviour: showing up, listening, treating people like adults. She's here to bring those politics to Southwark.

St Giles

Callum Fowler

Andy Higson

Rachael Penny

Rachael is an active member of the Friends of St Giles Church and Camberwell Community Choir who has lived in Southwark for 19 years. She is passionate about protecting local venues and green spaces and believes everyone should have safe and affordable housing. As a councillor she would listen to residents and advocate for people in Camberwell.

Surrey Docks

Francesca Corscadden

Francesca has lived in Southwark for 18 years and loves the diversity and history of this area. She is a proud first generation immigrant whose parents emigrated from Ireland at a time of ‘no dogs, no blacks, no Irish’ so has an understanding of how difficult it can be to live in a hostile environment. Francesca believes in inclusion and equality for all and that hope and togetherness must rise against the hate and division which is destroying this country. Decent, affordable housing for young people is an urgent priority.

Danny Lee Draper

I’m from Bermondsey, Uni aside I have always lived in Southwark and now live in Rotherhithe. Currently training to be a teacher.

Vote Green to send a message to those in Westminster, vote Green to send a message to the system. I was previously Labour. I left once I saw the party was no longer democratic and no longer in any way for the people. Politically homeless for a while I’ve been a Green for over three years.

I will fight for working people on all the key issues such as housing, social care and transport.

As a person that believes and practices personal fitness I want to see our outdoor gyms upgraded to the point where they are exciting to use particularly for young men. The current gyms are largely unchallenging. I want to see more of them across the ward and the borough. I think they provide space for people of all different backgrounds and ethnicities to come together, thus providing a community anchor against the division tactics of the far-right.

Omnya Elzubier Ahmed