Our team
SERA is a member-led organisation, supported by staff, an Executive Committee and a parliamentary group of 100 MPs.
Laura Clarke, National Organiser
Laura works with the Executive Committee to set SERA’s strategy and oversee its operation. Laura is committed to ensuring SERA members can have their say and contribute to SERA policy and advocacy priorities and activities. She has over twenty years’ experience delivering research, policy and advocacy for the labour movement, charities and social research institutes in the UK, Europe and Australia.
Executive Committee
Elected every three years by SERA members, the Executive Committee provides strategic input into all of our work.
Lisa Trickett
SERA Co-ChairLisa is a Birmingham City Councillor and co-founder of Places in Common. Through her political, professional, and campaigning work with SERA, she focuses on securing delivery of a fair and just transition and embedding environmental justice in local and national policy.
Bill Eyres
SERA Co-ChairBill is an experienced sustainability, corporate affairs, and marketing professional who has worked with major organisations including The Crown Estate, O2, The Co-operative Bank, and The Body Shop International. His focus is on strengthening sustainability performance, maximising shared value, and placing people at the heart of positive social change.
Rachel Eden
SERA TreasurerRachel is Treasurer of SERA and has been a councillor for Whitley in Reading since 2010. She is currently Lead Councillor for Public Health and Education, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, founder of Holy Brook Accountants, and a director of Reading Community Energy Society.
Matthew Crighton
Co-Chair SERA ScotlandMatthew is Sustainable Economy Adviser at Friends of the Earth Scotland and Secretary of the Just Transition Partnership, bringing together trade unions and climate campaigners. His work focuses on green economy policy, collaboration across the environmental sector, and ensuring a just transition for workers and communities.
Phillip Fenton
Executive Committee MemberPhil champions the circular economy and resource efficiency. He has previously supported the Shadow Labour DEFRA team on resources and waste policy and is a former National Organiser for SERA, bringing long-standing movement knowledge and policy experience.
Christian Fuller
Youth RepresentativeChristian is SERA’s Youth Representative and a legal professional specialising in international environmental law. He brings experience in UK politics and campaigning, alongside a strong focus on youth voice and environmental justice.
Jessie Jacobs
Executive Committee MemberJessie is a campaigner and social entrepreneur with over 20 years’ experience in leadership, advocacy, and community development. A former Director of the UK Democracy Network, she has led national campaigns, raised significant funding for grassroots action, and now works on local regeneration initiatives in Cornwall. A passionate surfer, she is committed to protecting the UK’s coastline and oceans.
Sandy Martin
Executive Committee MemberSandy has served on SERA’s Executive Committee since 2020 and leads on membership growth and support for local groups. He previously served as Shadow Minister for Waste and Recycling from 2018 to 2019 and brings extensive experience of Labour politics and environmental campaigning.
Melanie Smallman
Executive Committee MemberMelanie represents the Socialist Societies on Labour’s National Policy Forum, providing a direct link between SERA and Labour’s policymaking process. Involved with SERA since 2006, she has previously served as a Labour councillor, advised DEFRA, and is now a Professor at UCL.
Pete Wood
Co-Chair SERA ScotlandPete is a researcher focused on environmental and social sciences and an Associate Lecturer at The Open University. He is Co-Chair of SERA Scotland. He brings academic expertise and experience supporting Labour-aligned environmental policy and debate.
Starling Wilkie
Executive Committee Member, Wales RepresentativeStarling represents Wales on SERA’s Executive Committee and lives and works in Cardiff. She is Board Secretary of the Co-operative Party, having previously served for many years as Deputy General Secretary. With a background in local government, policy, and strategic planning, Starling has been a Labour activist for over 40 years and brings deep experience of organisation-building and Welsh politics, alongside a lifelong love of the environment.
Leonie Cooper AM
Executive Committee MemberLeonie was elected as a London Assembly Member in 2016, re-elected 2021 & 2024. She has served as either Chair or Deputy Chair of London’s Environment Committee since then. Leonie has set the Committee’s agenda & produced her own reports, ensuring biodiversity net gain and the urban greening factor went into the London Plan 2021.
Mike Reader MP
Parliamentary RepresentativeMike is MP for Northampton South. Prior to his election, Mike was a senior leader at Mace, the global consultancy and construction firm. He specialised in major and giga programmes, with a portfolio of project experience that includes work in the US, Canada, Peru, Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Mike is a representative of UK Parliament on the Council of Europe and a member of the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee.
Ajai Ahluwalia
Executive Committee MemberAjai is Head of Supply Chain, RenewableUK.
With over 15 years in the offshore wind industry, Ajai has a broad commercial and deep technical experience, having worked across the Development, Engineering, Construction and Operations phases on various projects for several organisations which include Equinor and ScottishPower Renewables. An engineer by background, he has played key roles in major offshore wind developments.
Rishi Madlani
Executive Committee MemberMadlani is UK Head of Sustainability for Investec, leading Investec’s approach to climate and sustainable finance, driving delivery on their Net Zero commitments and overseeing their CSR activities. He is Head of Sustainable Finance and Just Transition at NatWest Group and leads on Climate and Sustainable Finance. Rishi is Global Chair of the LGBT+ staff group. He was a councillor in Camden for 12 years until losing his seat.