You are in : Our Team

Our Team 

We will be standing for office as a team in the City elections. All of us have extensive experience of the Ward and the City and understand and value the economic importance of the Square Mile to London and the UK economy.

This is a key time for the City, as our businesses still face the continuing economic challenges of recovery from the pandemic. We believe that City stakeholders are best served by an authority where the elected members can represent the interests of their constituents, rather than any particular political party or pressure group, and stand as independents, and we pledge to work constructively as a team with whoever else is elected as a member to represent the Ward. 

 

Mary Durcan

Mary has lived in the City for 20 years. She worked as a Senior Manager in the NHS and was a magistrate for 30 years (chairing the Family Panel and Licensing Committee) She was also involved in the Scout movement and a Women’s Refuge and was a school governor.

Mary was elected as a City Common Councillor in 2017 and is the Chair of the Port Health & Environmental Services Committee. On this committee her special interest is in recycling, waste collection, street cleansing and noise and pollution issues as these impact on residents and workers.

Mary is also Chair of the Health & Well-being Board where members (from political, clinical, professional and community organisations) join to improve the health and well-being of their local population and reduce health inequalities. She also serves on the City’s Licencing, Children’s Services, Planning and many other committees.

Mary is a trustee of a local community centre which provides services and activities for local residents. 

Mary regards it as a privilege to serve as a Castle Baynard councillor as it enables her to meet, help and support residents and businesses and to use all her energy, skills and experience on their behalf.

John Griffiths

John is a founding director of research consultants Rocket Science UK Ltd, est. 2001 and based just outside the City. His current work for the Greater London Authority, London Boroughs and various Business Improvement Districts focuses on the design, funding and evaluation of programmes which tackle social inequality.

John is a former Councillor in Tower Hamlets, leading the successful campaign to keep open the famous York Hall boxing venue and leisure centre. John’s committees include Culture Heritage & Libraries (Deputy Chair), the Education Board (Deputy Chair) and the City Bridge Foundation Board. He is passionate about promoting the City as a “force for good”, engaging employers in the Ward to offer opportunities which enhance social mobility.

See this video on LinkedIn to find out more about John.

John is a Non-Executive Director of the City of London Academy Trust; a member of the Haberdashers’ Company Charities’ Committee and a board member of the Dr Johnson House for which he has successfully lobbied to become an official cultural partner of the City of London Corporation.

Michael Hudson

Michael Hudson was re-elected as a Common Councillor for the Ward in March 2023 after a by-election. Michael had  previously been a Member of Common Council for Castle Baynard Ward between 2007 and 2022.

During his previous time as a member Michael had served on numerous City Committees and prior to the election in 2022 was current Chairman of the Health & Social Care Scrutiny Committee, Deputy Chairman of the Freemen’s School and a past Chair of the Barbican Residential Committee. Following his election Michael will represent the Ward on the Finance Committee before seeking appointments on other Committees.

Michael is a trustee of three charities which help young people, is also a Painter-Stainer liveryman, a Past Chairman of the Castle Baynard Ward Club, a Past President of the City Livery Club and a member of several other organisations.

Graham Packham

Graham has lived in the Ward since 2003 and was elected as a Common Councillor in 2013. He is passionate about the City and takes a particular interest in Planning, Policing and Licensing issues which impact residents and businesses. Graham’s committees include; City of London Police Authority Board (PAB), Economic & Cyber Crime (PAB), Planning & Transportation (Deputy Chairman), Streets & Walkways (Chairman), Licensing and the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama where he has just stepped down after serving a 3-year term as Chair of the Board.

Graham is an IT specialist who spent most of his working career in international roles at Mars and PwC. Graham has a degree in Physics, is a keen cruciverbalist and his interests include current affairs, astronomy, music (all genres), watching most sports and geriatric golf. Graham is an active member of the Castle Baynard Ward Club, is a past Chairman and the current Club’s Public Relations Officer. 

Henrika Priest

Originally from Sweden, Henrika has lived in the UK since 1988 and in the Ward since 1997. She spent over 20 years in the City working in the financial services sector before moving from her last position with the New York Stock Exchange to her current role as Senior Manager of EMEA Events at Jones Lang LaSalle, a property advisory firm. Henrika has served the residents and businesses in the Ward as a Common Councilman for 15 years and having lived in the City for over 25 years, she’s has always taken a keen interest in the local neighbourhood and the issues affecting its constituents. In particular, she’s represented Ward residents’ views on numerous licensing and planning applications, as well as working on other Ward issues such as rough sleeping, noise pollution and cleansing.

Henrika’s current committees include Port Health & Environmental Services, Thames21, Community & Children’s Services and the Homelessness & Rough Sleepers Sub Committee. She’s passionate about the environment likes to spend her spare time on the Kent coast where she participates in regular beach cleans, and back in London Henrika sometimes gets to use her Thames Foreshore Permit for the odd spot of mud larking.