MEET THE TEAM
KATHERINE CHESSON
Director
Katherine joined CAG Oxfordshire in January 2022. Most recently, she supported a multi-disciplinary net zero research initiative at the University of Oxford as programme manager. Prior to that, she spent ten years at the US-based National Park Foundation supporting programs and partnerships that engaged people with their national parks. As part of the senior leadership team, Katherine provided strategic direction focused on creating equitable access to public lands for historically excluded communities.
Katherine leads the CAG Oxfordshire staff team, overseeing strategy, network facilitation, funding and offering development support to groups in the network.
ANAÏS BOZETINE
Community Wealth Building/Network Support Coordinator
Anaïs joined the CAG team in 2018, and has been involved in climate and social justice activism for over a decade. Prior to joining CAG, Anaïs ran an Oxfordshire-based community garden, supporting local people to strengthen their connection to the land and learn how to grow their own food. Prior to this, she worked as an English language teacher in France, Spain, Italy and Germany. Anaïs has a BSc. in Psychology from University College London.
Anaïs provides support to network members and coordinates Owned by Oxford, a project set up by CAG and partners using community wealth building to address Oxford’s wealth problem.
Email: anais@cagoxfordshire.org.uk
ALICE WILLIAMS
Communications Co-ordinator
Alice joined CAG Oxfordshire in July 2021. She comes to the organisation with over 13 years experience in marketing, communications and development in various third sector roles including social enterprise development and grassroots community enterprise and charity support with the Social Enterprise Network in Lancashire and the Community Foundations for Merseyside and Lancashire. Recently she has supported the development of the Homeshare sector across the UK. Originally from Oxford, she is now back living locally and keen to re-connect with the community action groups and use her skills and experience to raise awareness, spread positive news and inspire action.
Email: alice@cagoxfordshire.org.uk
MARYAM GOHARI
NETWORK SUPPORT CO-ORDINATOR
I'm passionate about social justice and women's health but also deeply care about the environment and believe that all our struggles are interlinked and to move forward and make progress, we need to unite as one.
My background is in landscape architecture and so, enjoy designing spaces but also try to be creative and crafty as much as possible in my free time.
I'm from Oxford and after living and studying at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales, decided to bring back some of the skills and knowledge on environment and community to help strengthen the community we have in Oxfordshire.
JO MILTON
Project Co-ordinator
Jo joined CAG Oxfordshire in August 2021 as the Operations Coordinator, managing core operations and contributing to funding applications.
In December 2022, Jo took on the role of Replenish Project Coordinator. ‘Replenish‘ supports Oxfordshire residents to cook and grow their own healthy food, with as little wastage as possible. Jo has a degree in nutrition and dietetics and a doctorate in nutrition and is excited to be working on a project that promotes eating well alongside wasting less.
Jo also helps facilitate the CAG trees and nature’s recovery collaborate groups.
Jo is passionate about the environment, conservation and sustainability and is a keen gardener. She's involved in a number of community projects, including Greening Jericho and the Marston Forest Garden, part of Marston Community Gardening as well her own garden, focusing on plants for pollinators and wildlife gardening and growing organic fruit and vegetables.
JABU NALA-HARTLEY
Community Advocate
Jabu initially joined CAG Oxfordshire to support the delivery of the Owned by Oxford, Community Wealth Building project. She lives and is an Oxford City Councillor for the Barton area of Oxford. Originally from South Africa and growing up under the Apartheid system has fueled her sense of fighting for Social justice. She has been involved in a number of campaigns in the city including the Why Vaccinate event which drew hundreds of people in January 2021. She is also Chair of the Oxford living Wage campaign and a member of the SHA central committee as well as co- chair of my ODLP and the founder of M4JU which focuses on the criminal justice system.
Acting as an ambassador for Community Wealth Building , Jabu's role focuses on relationship building, advocacy and support for grassroots and community initiatives across the City with a particular focus on the Barton area.
OUR BOARD MEMBERS
We have a highly committed and effective board of directors (who can also be called our trustees). Our board is made up of three elected representatives of CAGs, as well as up to two staff representatives (the current Director, and one other elected staff member not described below) and two other co-opted members (Billy and Ruthi).
EMMA GORDON
Emma Gordon is an administrator with a keen eye for detail, with both project and financial management experience. As manager she turned an idea for Bicester Green into a thriving business, and moved on to coordinate Makespace Oxford, forging this too into a successful enterprise. Emma combines her management and practical design skills with her desire to encourage self-reliance by focusing on projects that promote waste reduction and sustainable lifestyles. She is deeply embedded in the Oxfordshire community action scene - currently treasurer of CAG Oxfordshire, fundraising for the Orinoco Scrapstore, a member of Transition by Design, and participating in the Children's Allotment project, all of which are Community Action Groups.
BILLY MAXWELL
Chair
Billy joined CAG as the Chair in the spring of 2023.
He started out studying Community Development at Manchester in the early 1990s. After qualifying, his first job was managing a furniture recycling centre and community café In Hulme.
He went on to work for several local authorities in the North West including Blackpool (where he opened several community hubs) and Blackburn where he headed the Neighbourhood Management Service. In Liverpool Billy moved into recycling. In the nine years he was there he launched multiple initiatives in the city to increase the capture of recyclate, often working with the universities and local communities on social and environmental initiatives. In 2021 he moved to Oxford to work with South and Vale District Councils.
CAG is a natural fit, combining his community development history, his insight into waste management and his keen interest in the environment. His hobbies include paragliding and riding his motorcycle (electric, of course). He is a member of The Friends of Longbridge’s Nature Reserve and has an allotment at Cowmead.
NICOLA SCHAFER
Nicola is a founding member and Chair of Watlington Climate Action Group (WCAG). The group runs projects aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the parish through a programme of projects and community awareness events.
For the past 5 years she has undertaken a photographic and documentary project about the people that make up her local community. "Watlington Folk" has been published in a book and the portraits exhibited in Autumn 2020.
Following time spent in marketing and product management roles, Nicola re-trained as a portrait and event photographer, and then more recently as a film-maker. She now makes documentary films with a community and environmental focus.
Nicola lives in Watlington with her partner Gerald, their two children and three chickens. She grows fruit and veg on the family allotment, and in her remaining free time enjoys local countryside walks and mountain hikes around the UK.
RUTHI BRANDT
Treasurer
Ruthi started campaigning on conservation and environmental issues over 25 years ago, and has been continuing to do so - off and on - ever since (expanding into climate and environmental justice). Along the way she founded the now-defunct Oxford University Roots & Shoots society, worked for the indigineous-solidarity organisation UK Tar Sands Network and sat on the board of Green Course, the national student environmental organisation in her native Israel. She also spent four years as an Oxford city councillor. She is currently the chair of the management committee for the East Oxford Farmers and Community Market, and is a member of Low Carbon East Oxford - both are members of the CAG Network. She has several degrees in biology and behavioural ecology, and has recently completed an MSc in Sustainability and Adaptation Planning at the Centre for Alternative Technology, focusing on urban green spaces and urban nature.
PHILIP MOUSLEY
Secretary
Philip works as a research scientist on the Harwell campus at the Diamond Light Source synchrotron. In 2019 Phil was made secretary for the CAG member Sustainable Didcot, and in 2020 he became co-chair. Phil now oversees its community projects such as repair cafes, a community allotment, and incredible edible beds in town. Recently he led organising the solar streets project in Didcot, liaising with Didcot town council to obtain their support for the scheme.