Joolz Thompson has over 25 years’ experience spanning the private, public, and third sectors. He served as Managing Director and Director of a PLC in the land and property technology sector before transitioning to purpose-driven work with Shared Assets, a think tank focused on common good land use. There, he co-created Land Explorer, a mapping tool & Platform Coop, which is now part of the Digital Commons supporting community-led development.

Born and raised on a smallholding in Suffolk, Joolz has deep roots in nature and a passion for systems change. He is a founding member of iFarm, a Community Benefit Society managing 10 acres of land in Norfolk, which also runs the local pub, The White Horse, as a hub for community-led action.

Joolz co-developed the Community Climate Action programme, funded by the National Lottery and incubated by the Climate Majority Project. His work focuses on participatory planning and deliberative democracy to help communities write and implement their own climate action plans.

Joolz serves as a Parish Councillor in Hopton-cum-Knettishall and works as a consultant, supporting communities in climate planning and farmers in transitioning to sustainable agriculture.

He is also a Director of The Great Collaboration, a digital toolkit enabling councils and communities to co-create effective climate action.

Bonny Williams grew up on organic farms in East Bergholt and Australia, an experience that shaped her lifelong commitment to nature, food systems, and biodiversity.

She holds a Business Management degree from King’s College London and a postgraduate qualification in digital marketing, which she now uses to support organisations and movements working toward environmental and social justice.

Her career spans a variety of roles, including Principal of Europe’s largest Chinese medicine college and Marketing Director at StrategiQ, a leading Suffolk-based agency. Bonny now works as a marketing strategist with sustainability-focused businesses and is a qualified facilitator with a passion for empowering people to create change through inclusive, creative group work.

Bonny returned to Manningtree in 2017, where she co-founded Practical Actions for Climate and the Environment (PACE) Manningtree and has since supported initiatives like Plastic Free Manningtree, the Manningtree Mermaids, and Community Climate Action.

She is a proud mum of two boys and currently serves as a trustee of PACE.

Alex began his journey in community climate action in 2007 as project lead for Cut Your Carbon, a £2.5 million behaviour change and innovation programme across the East of England, funded by EEDA. He supported diverse local projects from solar street lighting and thermal mapping to community renewables and eco-building initiatives.

With a background in corporate consulting, Alex has advised organisations including AstraZeneca, Shell, New Anglia LEP, and the Suffolk Climate Change Partnership on sustainability strategy, behaviour change, and visionary thinking. He has over 15 years of experience facilitating creative, collaborative workshops in businesses, charities, and grassroots communities.

Alex lives in Woodbridge, Suffolk, where he runs Unhurried Conversations, online story circles and a local improv group called “Here & Now People”, performing improvised theatre across the UK and internationally.

Alongside his wife Mel, he also co-founded Cupboard Love, a mobile refill shop bringing zero-waste, plastic-free products to Suffolk communities.

Born in South Africa, and growing up on Norfolk small holdings, shaped Tess’s passion for wild spaces, growing organic food, living simply on the earth and protecting what we love.

Her career as a Primary Teacher has spanned 23 years. She led art and design technology and created an Early Years team based on the principles of Continuous Provision, a creative, learning through play approach.

Tess led the Sustainability Team, which included projects such as rewilding swathes of the school estate, creating wildflower meadows, large-scale tree planting, building ponds and community food growing. Co-leading campaigns such as Meat Free Mondays and Waste Free Wednesdays, and her school was awarded a silver Eco School award.

With a background in Primary Education, she is a trained Climate Fresk facilitator, is water and carbon literate and works with Community Climate Action in our Education Team.

Tess is also the Ministry of Eco Education Coordinator for the East of England, where she works training teachers in how to green their curriculum and embed climate education into the whole of school life.

She lives in South Norfolk and works with her community building nature corridors to make her parish more nature-friendly. Her mission there is to see pollinating insects, birds, wild plants and animals thriving!

Tess is a low-carbon events organiser on her beautiful, rural small-holding.