I was born in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire in 1970. My Father was a miner who worked his way up to deputy pit manager before becoming a lecturer.

I went to Moorside High School and Stoke On Trent 6th Form College and then read Economics and Geography at UCL. After UCL I managed to hitch on board the Greenpeace ship the M.V Sirius and  carried out a number of direct actions around the Med., dolphin and whale surveys and Greenpeaces first visit to Istanbul. I was trained as an inflatable boat driver, and managed to sink one boat during training crossing the Messina Straits.  

I completed my MPhil. in Environment and Development at Cambridge University in 1993. My thesis was on "The Impact of Climate Change on the Insurance Industry", and in those days although I was convinced of the evidence I interviewed many sceptics in the business world who certainly were not convinced. Tom and I did our first challenging mountaineering expeditions in Kenya and Uganda, we managed to summit the Ruwenzori's (17,000 feet) without guides or porters and Tom wore Lord John Hunts old boots to inspire him.

 I worked as an Economist for Enviromental Resources Management, based in London. My work involved a range of social and economic impact assessments. Studies such as the economic impact of the University of the Highlands and Islands led me to understand the benefits of education to society and the value of other public goods such as health, education and the environment. 

I won a place on the Department For International Developments (DFID) professional officer scheme and was posted to New Delhi, India as an economist specialising in water and rural livelihoods. I worked closely with Indian government staff and NGO's to help ensure British aid money was spent wisely providing water and sanitation in hundreds of villages around Mumbai and integrating rural livelihoods with sustainable forest management in Karnataka.

I also managed to win the Ladies Delhi Wimbledon singles at tennis, which sounds grander than it really is. After two great years I worked independently for Prof. Anil Markandya a fantastic environmental economist who along with David Pearce wrote the hugely influential "Blueprint for a Green Economy" back in the 1980's. I worked in Russia for the World Bank on forests, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Nigeria evaluating and designing water supply schemes and Malaysia assessing the environmental and economic impact of hydro-electricity dams built over 20 years ago.

In 2002 I had my first daughter, Zara, followed by Freya (2004) and Zak (2007) and since moving back to Staffordshire became increasingly active in Labour Party politics, standing as County Councillor for Stone Rural in 2005 and campaigning against the BNP in the general election. My Uncle and two grandparents were long serving Labour Councillors and on my husbands side Great Uncle Josh Wedgwood served in Ramsay MacDonalds first Labour Cabinet and was an MP for Newcastle Under Lyme from 1919 to 1942.

My work on public sector projects in the UK and in developing countries has influenced my desire to be an MP. Having witnessed such extreme poverty, seen some fantastic solutions to the poverty and some terrible projects that waste millions of pounds, I feel passionate about getting things done - done efficiently, equitably and sustainably without messing around with reports and waffle. Bad governments cause despair throughout the world - and because I love Britain I want the chance to be part of a successful British  government - and to hold that government to account if mistakes are made!