The Exec
Liberal Youth elects an Executive each year and they are there to represent you. By clicking through the tabs below you can find out a bit more about each Exec member, what their portfolio requires them to do and how to contact them.
At the beginning of their term of office each Exec member was asked to draw up an Annual Plan, you can also find them here too.
Chair - Tom Wood
About me
Since i joined the Liberal Democrats in the General Election in 2005,I have been very involved in youth politics. I studied politics and international relations at Coventry University, where I was active in the Students Union and elected its President for two years running.
After graduating I became Chair of Youth for Fair Trade, a community based organisation funded by DfID to train young people in campaigning and global trade issues. In 2010 I was elected to the Liberal Youth Executive as Vice Chair Finance and a year later was elected Chair of Liberal Youth. Work and Liberal Youth take up about 8 days a week, but when I get some free time I enjoy cooking, video games and reading in my favorite coffee shop.
What I do
I’m the Chief Spokesperson of Liberal Youth. I’m responsible for co-ordinating the party’s activities, taking managerial responsibility of the Executive and providing strategic direction for the organisation.
Contact me at tom.wood@liberalyouth.org
Vice Chair - Matthew Folker
About Me
Awaiting update
What I do
I support Tom (the Chair) in his work and deputise on executive management and strategy. I also act as the Chief Co-ordinator of our regional and State organisations.
Contact me at matthew.folker@liberalyouth.org
Campaigns - VACANT
About Us
Our job is to put together campaigns which recruit new members, reach out to young people and work towards getting Liberal Youth policies implemented in Government. This can mean anything from preparing freshers packs and standard campaigns materials to lobbying MPs. During our term we hope to focus on improving support for branches, ensuring we have strong societies accross the country.
Contact us at campaigns@liberalyouth.org
Communications - Bobby Dean
About Me
I’m 21, based in London and just recently graduated from Goldsmiths University with First Class Honours. I now work for a Political Communications company and when I’m not busy politicking I’m following my beloved Tottenham Hotspur FC.
What I do
I’m responsible for developing and running this website and all of the internal and external communications within our membership and with the media.
My Annual Plan: Communications Review
Contact me at bobby.dean@liberalyouth.org
Events - Harry Matthews
About Me
I’m 19 years old and currently studying Physics at Sheffield University. As well as serving as a General Executive Member in the last Executive, I’ve been the Member of Youth Parliament for Windsor and Maidenhead, where I represented young people and debated in the House of Commons.
Apart from Politics, I’m interested in debating & films. After University, I intend to become a Physics teacher. I’m also an avid tweeter (@hmatthews92)
What I do
I’m responsible for organising and running all Liberal Youth events as well as liaising with our partners when running joint events. I’m also Chair of the Conference Committee and am the point of contact for all things Conference related.
My Annual Plan: Jan12_Events Plan
Contact me at events@liberalyouth.org
Finance - Adam Curran
About Me
In my spare time I enjoy playing chess, videogames, reading, and keeping up with current affairs.
What I do
I’m responsible for the financial affairs of Liberal Youth. I manage the budget, plan fundraising and ensure the organisation remains viable.
Contact me at finance.officer@liberalyouth.org
Policy - Sarah Harding
About Me
I’m responsible for developing policy in between Conferences and advising the Executive and Branches on Liberal Youth Policy. I’m also Chair of the Policy Committee.
My Annual Plan: LY Annual Policy Plan
Contact me at sarah.harding@liberalyouth.org
International - Harriet Ainscough & Sam Fisk
About Us
Harriet and Sam share the role of International Officer, splitting their responsibilities so that Sam deals mainly with European Issues and LYMEC (European Liberal Youth), and Harriet deals with other International issues and IFLRY (the International Federation of Liberal Youth). Both local activists from Bedford, they are mostly consumed by politics and campaigning, whether for the Liberal Democrats at election time (and the rest of the year as well), or promoting international issues such as the European Union, and the Arab Spring. When not spending time on politics, their free time is spent trying to get degrees; Sam is studying Social and Political Sciences at York University, and Harriet reads Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Oxford University.
What we do
We are responsible for maintaining relations with sister parties, organisations and NGOs from around the world. We engage with Liberal Youth members that are not resident in the UK and co-ordinate our presence at International events.
Our Annual Plan: LYInternationalPlan_Update
Contact us at harriet.ainscough@liberalyouth.org / sam.fisk@liberalyouth.org
England Convenor - Vacant
About Me
This role is currently vacant.
What I do
I’m the Chief Spokesperson of the English regional parties and am responsible for representing them to the Liberal Youth Executive.
Contact me at england.convenor@liberalyouth.org
Scotland Convenor - Sophie Bridger
About Me
Sophie Bridger is the President of Liberal Youth Scotland, and the Scottish Convenor for Liberal Youth. She is particularly interested in issues of equality – having joined the party for their stance on civil liberties, she is now heading LYS’s campaign for equal marriage, Separate Isn’t Equal. Sophie stood in Maryhill & Springburn in the 2011 Scottish Parliament elections, as well as in the Inverclyde byelection. In her spare time, she is a psychology student at the University of Glasgow.
What I do
I’m the Chief Spokesperson and President of Liberal Youth Scotland. I am responsible for representing LYS to the Liberal Youth Executive.
My Annual Plan: Liberal Youth Scotland Annual Plan
Contact me at sophie.bridger@liberalyouth.org
Non-Portfolio - Robson Brown & Stuart Brown (Two NPOs)
About Robson
Robson is 21, seeking employment in Bristol, and a part-time mediation student at the University of Bradford: “I have an unhealthy relationship with graphic design & typography, but try and put this to best use making artwork and literature. Within the Liberal Democrats, I’m Liberal Youth’s Diversity Engagement and Training Taskforce liaison.” He has no life outside of politics and his family, but if he did it would probably involve fonts.
About Stuart
Stuart is 25, lives between Swindon and Oxford, and is currently employed full time in the food retail industry. After reading the preamble to the federal constitution, he joined the party in 2007 while in his final year of University. Stuart read Philosophy at the University of Birmingham, where he was not only involved with the Lib Dems on campus, but was an active member of the LGBTQ, Student Advice, and Food and cookery student groups. Recently Stuart’s main area of work has been the Liberal Youth Constitution, and he is also currently in his third term on the Liberal Youth conference Committee.
What we do
As non-portfolio officers, we support the rest of the executive with various tasks, and also pursue our own projects as mandated by our manifestos or by a Liberal Youth conference.
Contact us at npo@liberalyouth.org