Our team

President: Sarah Olney MP

Sarah was first elected as a Liberal Democrat in 2016 and, since 2020, has played a vital role on our frontbench team. She is currently the party's spokesperson for the Cabinet Office.

She is a member of the recently launched APPG for Fair Elections and in December 2024 presented and won a “Ten Minute Rule” bill on Proportional Representation. This is the first vote in favour of electoral reform ever to be passed in Parliament.
 

Chair: Sarah Lewis

Sarah Lewis was elected Chair of LDER in the 2024 AGM. She is also chair of the Lambeth Liberal Democrats and is the Parliamentary Spokesperson for Vauxhall, having stood as the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the constituency in the 2019 General Election. Professionally, Sarah works in strategy, communications and campaigns, focused on multi-sector action towards a healthier, greener, more equitable world.

Membership Secretary: Helen Parker

Helen is a member of South Edinburgh Liberal Democrats, and joined the LDER exec in 2013. She began campaigning for electoral reform after first voting in the 1983 general election, in one of the safest seats in the country. She has since voted in more closely contested constituencies, but is still impatiently waiting for her vote to count in a Westminster election.She joined the party in 1997, and co-convened Edinburgh's cross-party Yes! to fairer votes campaign for the 2011 AV referendum. Professionally, Helen works as a lecturer in Japanese Studies, specialising in traditional theatre. In 2018 she worked with the Fusae Ichikawa Centre for Women and Governance to coordinate a "UK vote 100" study tour for a group of Japanese women politicians.

Treasurer: Kay Kirkham

Kay lives in West Yorkshire and is a member of the Shipley & Keighley Local Party. She came to party as an original member of the SDP and has been, variously, a primary school teacher, county, district and parish councillor, a PPC , an agent at all levels, a constituency manager for two MPs, secretary of ALDC, a local party and regional exec. member and a political assistant to two Lib Dem council groups. She is also the treasurer of HSLD following eight years as secretary. She joined LDER quite recently but has long been a supporter of electoral reform particularly at local level.

Hina Bokhari, London Assembly Member

Hina Bokhari is a Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member having been elected to the body in 2021 and also serves as a councillor in Merton. On the London Assembly Hina sits on the Economy Committee in addition to the Environment Committee and the Fire, Resilience and Emergency Planning (FREP) Committee.

Prior to becoming politically active, Hina worked as a teacher for 20 years in some of the most deprived parts of London and also helped found two youth-focused charities. Hina is passionate about introducing proportional representation across the UK. Having been elected to the London Assembly by its proportional top-up list, Hina firmly believes a fair voting system is a key step in increasing diversity in politics and encourages more politicians from varied cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. 

Hazel Fell-Rayner

Hazel Fell-Rayner joined the LDER Executive in 2020 and is Acting Chair of Make Votes Matter Lewes. A psychologist by background, Hazel is interested in how electoral reform can transform politics and empower citizens and communities to the benefit of their well-being. Hazel is a strong advocate for creative, inclusive and compassionate forms of campaigning.

Keith Sharp

Keith was LDER Chair from 2022 to 2024. He joined the LDER executive in 2014 and has previously been its Secretary and Vice Chair. He has served a total of twenty years, in different stints, on the Council of the Electoral Reform Society; and is a member of the Make Votes Matter Alliance as well as MVMs north London branch. His belief in the need for an equal, proportionate voting system predates his joining the party (SDP in 1981, Liberal Democrats since 1988). He has been a party parliamentary candidate and a local councillor (both in Islington, north London). Keith lives in London. His professional career has been in commercial communications, branding and public affairs. He has also been Chair of Trustees for a local community centre charity; and was for three years on the management board of the Industry and Parliament Trust.

Kathryn Sturgeon

Kathryn is a former lawyer and has now worked for four years in Westminster for Wendy Chamberlain MP our Chief Whip and former LDER President. Her background includes a period interning at the Constitution Unit, a Masters Degree specialising in gendered institutions in modern British politics, and helping author Centenary Action Group research into enacting section 106 of the Equalities Act on gender reporting in candidate selection.