Zoe has lived in Gosport all of her life, attended the local schools and married to Darren for 23 years with 2 sons. Her sons, now adults work in the hospitality and engineering industries and are courageous, conscientious and compassionate young men with a great sense of humour, normally at the expense of their mum!
Zoe has a strong track record of empowering people in the public, private and third sectors to raise their performance. With 20 years experience in the further education sector, she is dedicated and passionate about raising standards in education and the green agenda. Taking her experience beyond the classroom into her roles as a Mayor, Councillor, College Governor and Chair.
Zoe has accomplished two degrees, one in Teaching and the other in Management, however, originally qualifying as a Sports Therapist and started working in the sports and fitness industry. Then in 2000, she started her career in education, teaching at a local College and later moved into education management at a Hampshire College acting as Deputy Head of Faculty. Leaving a career in formal education in 2006 for a short period, Zoe worked for a well-established environmental charity for 3 years, founding skills in the third sector and supporting local communities with their green spaces and sustainability education.
With over 20years of experience in post 16 education, more recently Zoe has worked as Head of Saints Learning, she has been pivotal in bringing elite athlete development principles and psychology into meaningful learning programmes and apprenticeships. Supporting a real impact on commercial business cultures, mental health, wellbeing and performance.
In December 2017 Zoe became a voluntary local Governor at St Vincent College, becoming chair of the local board in 2019. Zoe has chaired this forum since its inaugural meeting and has been consistent in applying the principles of good governance throughout her leadership. In 2021 Zoe become Chair of the Lighthouse Learning Trust, which houses St Vincent Colleges and works with the new CEO in support of local quality education.
Zoe is also active in the business world and feels strongly about supporting local businesses and the local economy. Taking an active part as Chair of Workforce South, an action group of Business South as well as Non-Executive Director.
In 2016 Zoe was elected to the ward of Privett as a Gosport Borough Councillor and then in 2021 was elected as Hampshire County Councillor for the Division of Leesland and Town covering the Wards Leesland & Newtown, Harbour and Town, Anglesey, Alverstoke and part of Privett and Brockhurst.
In 2019, Zoe was elected as Deputy Mayor working closely with the Mayor Kathleen Jones and volunteering in the open doors project. In June 2020 Zoe was voted in as Mayor of Gosport, which she said was an honour and her approach during this time of uncertainty has been to focus on critical services, as well as supporting both the community and business. Zoe also volunteered during the first part of the pandemic as a first responder and with GVA delivering food and prescriptions to those in isolation.
Zoe continues this work as Deputy Mayor in 2021/22 and she continues to chair the Gosport Food Partnership.
Zoe believes her experience of local issues and helping people will stand her in good stead to support the residents of Alvertsoke and Gosport alongside the Conservative team. Since being elected in 2016, Zoe has been an active member of the GBC Economic Development and Community boards as well as Vice-Chair in 2018 of the Community Board and the Chair of Climate Change in 2021/22.
Zoe is proud of Gosport as well as working to help constituents with individual problems, Zoe has also been very involved with local issues ranging from green spaces in Gomer, reducing plastic, education, and friends of stokes bay. Zoe is devoted and passionate about developing a workforce’s capability through education and improving well-being through clean and green.
