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The role exists to represent the members and to further the achievement of the Green Party’s objectives generally and specifically through supporting the development of Policy through members and Conference. The role holder will convene the Policy Development Committee.
The Policy Development Co-ordinator ensures that the policy process including the work of the policy working groups adheres to the Party constitution and standing orders.
The Candidates
Anne Gayfer
I’ve been the Policy Development Coordinator for 2 years. Prior to that, I supported the Coordinator as critical friend, as I was elected to the Regional Council. I am standing a second time for election to continue to build on the improvements I have achieved. Also, it is an exciting time to be involved in policy as we have dedicated staff support for policy development for the first time. My experience places me in a unique position to be able to help with the integration of these staff roles with the dedicated volunteers who work on policy.
I have worked hard during the last 2 years to lead and motivate the Policy Development Committee (PDC) and the policy community. Together, we have achieved a huge amount. The policy function had not been properly resourced and we have brought it back to health. One problem had been lack of continuity between PDCs. In line with the Party’s constitution, I have written PDC standing orders, a handbook and processes to deliver continuity in future. I have written documents and guidance to support policy working groups. We now have a well-supported and healthy policy community; the PDC has a structured role with an annual work-plan that supports the conference process, the documents needed to do this are kept up to date and I have proved I am able to lead a PDC that enjoys working together and is effective.
The Policies for a Sustainable Society (PSS) had not been properly updated since 2018. I have led a team of dedicated volunteers who have checked every policy passed at conference and that it has been properly recorded in the PSS. It goes without saying that we need to know what our policy is! But we didn’t! We rely on an accurate PSS to build further policy changes and to write our manifestos. I am confident we now have this.
In the absence of a spring conference, PDC has provided extended Policy Fests to support policy motions coming to conference and deliver training. The last in-person Policy Fest in Birmingham, which I largely developed and led on the back of feedback from the community, was well received.
I have started work developing better communications and raising the profile of policy across the Party. In particular, I attended the Association of Green Councils AGM and ran the last Policy Fest with a focus on councillors. My aim is to better engage them so that we write policy that is useful to them and to help them access our policy to support their day-to-day role.
I take my role on GPEx very seriously and contribute to discussions, reports and decisions.
And last but not least, I have made an effort to build relationships within the Party, so that PDC can access the support it needs and we can help others too. Policy is an integral part of the Party and I have worked hard to raise its profile and make it relevant.
Hannah Tucker McLellan
Hannah Tucker McLellan for Policy Development Coordinator
Policy is power. It shapes how we campaign, how we govern, and how we respond to crises. But for too many members, the Green Party’s policy process feels inaccessible, unclear, or overwhelming.
I’m standing for Policy Development Coordinator because I believe our policy process should be transparent, participatory, and effective. I want to empower more members to take part and ensure those already doing the work are well supported.
I have served as a co-opted member of the national Policy Development Committee (PDC) for over a year and have been active in my local party, as well as national liberation and special interest groups. I’ve spent many years working across tech, accessibility, and grassroots organising – work that has always been people-centred, inclusive, and collaborative.
My vision: a policy process that works for all
We are in a crucial moment. The Green Party is gaining councillors at pace, and we expect to elect more MPs. We need clear, confident, community-led policy to meet that moment and we need to ensure the people who develop that policy have the right tools and support.
That means:
1. Accessible information and clear pathways
Many members want to contribute but don’t know how. As a PDC team, we must ensure:
- Space for learning, onboarding, and collaboration
- Plain English guidance that demystifies policy-making — from idea to accreditation
- Visual roadmaps, checklists, and tools to make timelines and decisions clearer
2. Support and structure for working groups
Policy Working Groups (PWGs) do vital, often invisible work. Convenors and Secretaries take on a huge amount of labour.
We need to:
- Improve onboarding, clarity, and support for elected officers and contributors
- Manage participation at key moments — keeping groups open but reducing disruption near deadlines
- Promote collaboration between PWGs, councillors, MPs, and campaigners
- Recognise and support the skills PWGs already hold – from facilitation to subject knowledge – and help them connect with others when needed
3. Policy that’s connected and grounded
Policy should support our activists and inform our elected councillors and MPs.
Together, we can:
- Make existing policy more visible and searchable so it’s easier to use locally
- Encourage stronger links between councillors, MPs, and Policy Working Groups, so policy can better support local and national action.
- Strengthen consultation processes, continuing to draw on lived experience and professional expertise
- Support fast, responsive policy-making – while maintaining good process
My approach
I believe in structure without gatekeeping. I design and build systems that are effective and empowering. I’ve lived through barriers faced by underrepresented groups. Having to self-advocate is one reason I care so deeply about building something better.
To the convenors, secretaries, facilitators, and policy champions already doing this work: I see you. You’re holding so much together — I want to stand with you and make the work more sustainable.
Let’s build a stronger, clearer, and more collaborative policy process
If elected, I will:
- Be a transparent and collaborative coordinator
- Centre accessibility, accountability, and trust
- Strengthen the systems and culture that help Green Party policy thrive