Norfolk and Suffolk Mayor – Green Party Candidate
Julian Thompson
Joolz Thompson has over 30 years’ experience across the private, public, and third sectors. Former Managing Director and Director of a PLC in land and property technology, he later joined Shared Assets to co-create Land Explorer, now part of the Digital Commons; to democratise access to data for community-led development.
A Suffolk smallholding native, and a Norfolk born and based entrepreneur, Joolz is a founding member of iFarm, a Community Benefit Society managing 10 acres in Norfolk and running The White Horse, community pub as a hub for community action. He co-developed the Community Climate Action programme, helping communities create climate action plans through participatory planning and deliberative democracy.
Joolz is a Parish Councillor for Hopton-cum-Knettishall, works with farmers transitioning to sustainable agriculture, and is a Director of The Great Collaboration, a digital toolkit for councils and communities to co-create effective climate action.
It’s a Team Effort.
The Mayoral Office is both a great challenge and a great opportunity. We need leadership that can bring communities together, create a thriving local economy, and deliver a fair, fast transition to a greener future. It will take a team, both to win the election and to deliver, once in office. You can see more about our advisory team below.
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Catherine Rowett
Advisor | Trade & International Relations
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Jamie Driscoll
Advisor | Policy & Delivery
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James Vaccaro
Advisor | Investment & Finance
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Saul Humphrey
Advisor | Housing & Built Environment
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George Marshall
Advisor | Communication & Engagement
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Carrie Lomas
Advisor | Sustainable Innovation & Growth
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Holden Cook
Advisor | Police & Crime
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Catherine is a former MEP and UEA professor. Advising on post-Brexit opportunities and challenges, improving trade opportunities and freedom of movement with European neighbours, energy strategy for the East of England, ethical values including shifting from growth and jobs to wellbeing and prosperity.
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Jamie is former North of Tyne Mayor, at the North of Tyne Combined Authority. As Mayor he delivered 92% of his manifesto pledges, including his promise to bring the region together into one single Mayoral Combined Authority.
Jamie went on to negotiate the £6.1b North East Devolution Deal, the best funded devolution deal in the country.
He now leads Majority, to rebuild our democratic institutions to serve the interests of the many.
The Majority recently helped campaign for a Green win in South Jesmond, Newcastle (formerly a Labour stronghold).
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James has been a catalyst, strategist and thought leader in sustainability and positive impact finance for over twenty years. He is an experienced senior manager in banking and equity investment. An advisor and board director across positive impact sectors, including renewable energy, sustainable food & agriculture, and social enterprise. Convenor of learning, development and innovation. Influential and dynamic speaker. James is committed to creating meaningful system change.
CEO, RePattern - supporting businesses and their stakeholders in effective ecosystem innovation.
Senior Associate of Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership.
Executive Director of Climate Safe Lending Network.
Senior Advisor to Club of Rome (Finance Impact Hub). -
Saul is Professor of Sustainable Construction at Anglia Ruskin University.
Saul is the Senior Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). He will become President in 2026. The Chartered Institute of Building is the world’s largest professional body for construction management and leadership, with 50,000 members in more than 100 countries. In 2024, Saul was awarded the Chartered Institute of Building’s National “Sustainability Award."
Saul is also Chair of Building Growth (the construction, housing and property development sector group covering Norfolk and Suffolk). Saul chairs the Institute of Directors in Norfolk and Suffolk.
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George is a consultant in the public communication of climate change, and the psychological obstacles to attitude and behaviour change. He specialises is the design of narratives and engagement strategies that can build a cross societal mandate for climate action, especially with mainstream, conservative and “non-green” audiences.
A co-founder of Climate Outreach, George’s partners and clients have included over 20 governments, trades unions, the BBC, the European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency, the World Bank and UNFCCC, and most major environmental organisations. -
Carrie is an Associate Fellow Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (former Interim Head of Dept, Executive Education), former Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Cities & Buildings Leader inc Healthcare, Transport, Retail, Manufacturing (Partner) at Intel.
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Holden is a former Independent Member of the Suffolk Police Authority, having served for nearly 6 years.
He is Managing Director at Sustainability Without Compromise, having delivered over 1,500 energy efficiency projects.