Our people
Core team
Andy is a Luton-based Irish singer-songwriter who was previously Director of Christians on the Left and before that was a hospital doctor.
Andy has long been a driving force behind the work of Christians in Politics, and in November 2017, Andy was appointed as the first Executive Director.
A key driving passion of Andy's is to see a just rewiring of the global economic system.
He continues to juggle his work in politics with a music career.
Andy Flannagan
Executive Director
Stephanie is a graduate of History and English and passionate about using a career to pursue God’s heart for justice, facilitate social good and to inspire Christians to be salt and light in the public sphere.
Stephanie also works part time for a Christian international development organisation. She has a background in working with grassroots NGOs and churches in East Africa to transform their communities.
She is a leader at a girls’ group at her local church and enjoys spending lots of time outdoors.
Stephanie Higgins
Intern & Young Christians in Politics Coordinator
Helen is a local councillor for Thornbury, a market town north of Bristol.
Helen works for an overseas development agency, and is an active member of Thornbury Baptist Church.
She is also chair of trustees for a local charity, and in her spare time enjoys triathlons and 'baking to bless others.
Helen Harrison
Volunteer Councillor Prayer Network Coordinator
Jack first joined CiPol in August 2018, when he took over the role of Volunteer Coordinator for the Young Christians in Politics network. Jack is currently in his final year at Kingston University.
He is also an Executive Member of the Executive Committee for the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum and has previously stood as a local council candidate.
Jack Moore
Volunteer Young Christians in Politics Coordinator
Leadership team
(+ Andy Flannagan & Benita Hussain)
Louise is the Director of Christians on the Left which exists to be a prophetic voice to left-sided politics and the Church.
Prior to leading CoTL, Louise gained a wealth of experience and political contacts by standing as a candidate, and working for a Shadow Minister, and Chairing her local Sheffield Heeley CLP.
Louise was also previously on the Senior Leadership Team of her church in Sheffield.
Louise Davies
Executive Director, Christians on the Left (CotL)
Israel joined the Conservative Christian Fellowship team in 2018 and manages CCF events and is also the leader of their Impact, Leadership in Public life course.
Israel is passionate about Christian involvement in politics and supports both elected politicians and those seeking election to navigate this space.
Israel has been involved in politics since 2012 and served as a borough councillor since 2015. Israel has held a number of additional member responsibilities in the areas of housing, planning, finance and policing.
Prior to joining the CCF, Israel worked internationally in the creative industries.
Israel Imarni
Events & Impact Leadership Course Manager, Conservative Christian Fellowship (CCF)
Elizabeth is the interim Director for the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum. She sees involvement in mainstream politics as a good way of using the channels that already exist to improve people's lives and to bring God's kingdom to earth. She’s probably best known as the creator of the policy to raise the income tax threshold and campaigning to get it onto the front cover of the Lib Dem manifesto in 2010. Her policy was enacted by the Coalition government and has taken the lowest paid people in Britain out of paying income tax.
She also owns Grace Tea Room in a poor area of Ellesmere Port which she seeks to be a place for good food and a place to find God. Elizabeth attends St Peter's at the Cross, leads the team of intercessors for Night Church Chester and has written a book on her experience of prayer.
Elizabeth Jewkes
Interim Director, Liberal Democrat Christian Forum (LDCF)
CiPol Advisory Board
(+ Andy Flannagan)
Celia Apeagyei-Collins is the Founder and President of the Rehoboth Foundation, a cutting edge Equipping Organisation offering Leadership/Vision Development Consultancy, Motivational and Mentoring programmes and Executive Coaching. In addition, she comes alongside pastoral leaders to help strengthen ministries and equip them for community transformations.
An award-winning leader, Celia has been listed as one of the top ten most influential black Christian women in the UK. An excellent international speaker, her work is in ever increasing global demand extending to over 40 countries. Celia broadcasts on TBNUK as the host of trending show TAKE THE LEAD.
She is convicted everyone has a specific gifting as well as a sphere of influence within which to effect spiritual change, social reform and economic development.
Reverend Celia Apeagyei-Collins
Board Member
David Canning is a senior Civil Servant and has been involved with Christians in Politics since its early days.
A passionate advocate for the theological basis for democracy, David believes that the Christian Church has a vital role to play in building peace between communities and good government through partnering with, and positively influencing, the institutions of politics and law.
David Canning
Board Treasurer
Amy first joined CiPol as a volunteer coordinator for the Young Christians in Politics network in August 2017. In 2018 she was invited to join the CiPol Board as the first Youth Representative.
She has been an active member of the Liberal Democrats since joining at 17. She has now given two conference speeches, stood for council and has spent the last year developing her preaching by interning at her local church in Bath.
She looks forward to graduating next summer from Politics and International Relations at Bath before pursing her passion in human rights.
Amy Fortnum
Board Youth & Student Representative
Claire is a civil servant and has previously worked for Parliamentarians, Christians in Politics and in finance.
She is passionate about the need for strong communities and is involved in local community work through her church in South London.
cLAIRE maTHYS
Board Member
The Rt Hon Stephen Timms is currently the Member of Parliament for East Ham. He is also the Labour Party's Faith Envoy. He was the Shadow Minister for Employment from 2010 until September 2015 and currently Chairs the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee.
Stephen entered Parliament in 1994 and held a number of ministerial posts under the previous Labour Government including Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Financial Secretary to the Treasury. Before entering Parliament, Stephen worked in the telecommunications industry for fifteen years, first for Logica and then for Ovum. He managed Ovum's telecommunications reports business until his election in 1994.
Stephen is also a member of the Ramblers Association and the former Chair of Christians on the Left.
The rt Hon sTEPHEN tIMMS mP
Board Member
Baroness Berridge has been a Conservative Peer since January 2011.
She currently holds the Government posts of Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education), and Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for International Trade) (Minister for Women).
Prior to being in Parliament, she worked as a barrister and was Executive Director for the Conservative Christian Fellowship.
Baroness Elizabeth Berridge
Board Member
A former town councillor, Andrew has a background as an entrepreneur in the health sector and is also a poet whose appeared on national radio and TV.
He has served with Christians in Politics since 2013 and has been involved with several high profile faith projects, including circumnavigating the UK under sail and walking a 12ft cross from Malmesbury to York, during Lent 2019.
Andrew Carnegie
Board Secretary
Revd Mark Harris is Chaplain to the Christians in Parliament APPG. In support of the Speaker’s Chaplain, his role is to support all Members and staff in their work, through one-to-one meetings, Bible study groups, chapel services and written resources and events that examine the personal and public relevance of the Christian faith.
Mark holds Masters degrees in Theology from the University of Oxford and in Philosophy from King’s College London and is ordained in the Church of England.
rEVEREND maRK hARRIS
Board Member
Andy was the Labour & Cooperative MP for Loughborough for 13 years until 2010. Andy sat on multiple APPGs with a focus on sport and finance as well as working with the Parliamentary Christian Trust .
Since then, Andy has been the director of Saje Impact an organisation providing advice to sports bodies, NGBs, social enterprises and faith charities in communications and policy.
Andy is a keen sportsman and in 2012 was awarded an OBE for his contribution to sport and the Community.
anDY rEED OBE
Board Member
Baroness Brinton has been a Liberal Democrat Peer since February 2011 and was elected as President of the Liberal Democrat Party in December 2014.
Prior to being in Parliament, she worked in the education sector for twenty years, including as Bursar for two Cambridge University colleges, and was the Director of the Association of the Universities in the East of England.
She has also worked in television and finance.
Baroness Sal Brinton
Board Member
Marsha de Cordova has been the Labour MP for Battersea since 2017. In April 2020, she was named Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities.
Before entering Parliament she worked in the charity sector for over 10 years, campaigning on the issue of social security. She is also a trade unionist and a member of Unite the Union where she represented disabled workers on the London & Eastern Regional Committee and the National Disabled Members Committee. She is the Vice Chair of Disability Labour.
Marsha is also a Vice Chair of Christians in Parliament, Christians in Politics’ sister organisation.
Marsha De Cordova MP
Board Member
Born in Kenya and raised in London, Njoki studied Politics and International Relations at the University of Aberdeen before going on to work at the UK parliament, the UK Joint Delegation to NATO in Brussels and as the Events & Marketing Manager at a Christian think-tank in Cambridge.
Following two years in Salford working for the BBC - first in TV Production Management and later in the press office - Njoki is now a media and comms professional working at the heart of local government in London.
nJOKI mAHIAINI
Board Member
Sir Gary Streeter is the Chair of Christians in Politics and its sister organisation Christians in Parliament.
He is the Conservative MP for South West Devon and has been an MP since 1992, serving as a Minister in John Major's Government and specialising in International Development.
He is committed to supporting Christians across all parties in living out their faith in their work in Parliament.
Sir Gary Streeter MP
Board Chair