Staff & Careers

Tom is a community development specialist who supports organisations, individuals, and community groups interested in planning, placemaking, and stewardship. Tom has led major research projects for public and private sector clients, including Oxfordshire County Council, Cherwell and Vale of White Horse District Councils, and Blenheim Estate. 

Emily has worked closely with Oxfordshire’s communities, supporting well-being and health-focused programmes like Well Together, Dementia Friendly Communities, Connected Communities Fund and placemaking projects in new developments, raising the profile and impact of community action on a strategic level. Emily is also a member of the Integrated Care Board VCSE Health Alliance and a member of the Oxford Strategic Partnership. 

Shahdia has worked as an office Manager in the past, her primary background has been in Life Sciences. Having benefitted from being a user of a community charity she is passionate about being part of the cogwheel that serves the community.

Tessa leads our support services for community buildings and shops. She worked for the Community Council for Berkshire for ten years, teaching and organising training sessions, managing funding for community projects, and facilitating consultation events

Lisa leads the organisation’s community-led planning and training services, providing ABCD-informed training to help strengthen social infrastructure for communities across Oxfordshire. Lisa has thirteen years of experience in international development and has worked with community groups in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.  

Fiona is a Rural Housing Enabler and leads our community-led housing support Hub -Collaborative Housing – and supports parish councils to provide affordable housing for their communities. With over thirty years of experience managing and delivering affordable housing through Housing Associations and Local Authorities, she is an accredited CLH Advisor through the Institute of Housing.

Stephen has worked in planning and development for over thirty years, on everything from major regeneration schemes to small community projects. As a qualified Chartered Town Planner and Chartered Surveyor, he has in-depth knowledge of the planning system. He is also an elected Borough Councillor in Surrey and serves on the Planning Committee. 

Kay supports parish councils to provide affordable housing for their communities. With over twenty-five years of experience working with communities and young people, Kay also supports grassroots theatre productions, local history exhibitions, intersocial art spaces and public art commissions. Kay has been an elected Parish Councillor for nine years and is an active member of Thame Community Land Trust.

Maryam leads on our social media and impact reporting, working to share the impressive range of activities that Community First Oxfordshire supports. She has been involved in community organising and volunteering in Oxford for the last year and is passionate about embedding inclusivity and sustainability in her work.

Clare supports community development projects that improve health and well-being and address health inequalities. She has years of experience in service delivery, strategic planning, research, and evaluation in public and third-sector organisations in Oxfordshire.

Jane supports the Well Together programme, which provides funding and support to community groups. She has worked in community development for twenty years, including in her own community in Florence Park, Oxford. Previously, she developed play services across Oxfordshire (with the Oxfordshire Play Association).

Assia has worked in community development for over seventeen years and is passionate about working with communities and grassroots charities. With a diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, Assia supports and advocates for a wide variety of cultural groups and communities, as well as supporting victims of abuse and racial discrimination.

Jackie retired from her work in Public Health in 2020 having worked in Oxford City Council, the Primary Care Trust and then Oxfordshire County Council for over 20 years.  A broad range of experience in her various roles had culminated in professional registration as a Public Health Specialist during that time and Jackie led much of the work on developing partnerships to tackle health inequalities in Oxfordshire.  

Chris is a Chartered Town Planner and a former Head of Planning and Highways Development Management Services at Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Buckinghamshire County Councils. He is currently the Vice Chairman of Community First Oxfordshire. A long-time resident of the county, Chris’ other interests include travelling, gardening, birdwatching, music and cricket!

With a background in Finance (ACCA qualified), Malcolm has worked in various positions in the UK, France, Taiwan and Japan. In July 2015, Malcolm returned to the UK after 6 years in Taiwan and 3 years in Japan (where he was the Foundry AsPac Business Control Director). At the end of 2016, Malcolm joined Community First Oxfordshire (CFO) as Treasurer Trustee. 

Emily was inclusive economy lead at Oxfordshire County Council, focusing on policy to tackle deprivation, economic and health inequalities. She spent 18 months developing and leading a programme of community wealth building actions. She now works at the Bristol City Council as a Senior Strategy Officer. 

Linda has a background in education but has spent most of her working career in international development and humanitarian work. She is currently the Head of Client Services at Refugee Resource. Her previous roles include CEO of SeeBeyondBorders, interim CEO of Kids Club Kampala, and Executive Director for SOS Sahel UK. 

Jon was a senior civil servant in UK Government until 2014. Roles included Director of Homelessness and Housing Support, Director of a Regional Government Office and Deputy Director of the Government’s Neighbourhood Renewal strategy. Since leaving the Civil Service, he has been CEO of both Community First Oxfordshire and Citizens Advice in Oxfordshire South and Vale.