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Nicola in a Nutshell
Nicola was born in 1979 in Johannesburg, South
Africa, but moved to Oxford at just two months old
after her father had angered the apartheid
government by speaking out for the rights of the
black community to proper healthcare. Now, Nicola
has many interests in both politics and the real
world! Before entering politics she trained as a
singer and is still an enthusiastic amateur. She
tries to keep up with film and literature, but
usually makes do with Vogue, or on a more serious
note, The Economist. Apart from her humanitarian
work, her opportunities to indulge her love of
travel are now sadly restricted mainly to the M4
corridor!
Nicola in Oxford
Nicola has a lifelong connection to Oxford - Her
parents met working at the Radcliffe Infirmary,
Jericho, just moments from her home in Summertown.
Both her parents worked in the Oxfordshire NHS for
many years and Nicola’s education from GCSE to the
D.Phil. thesis in musicology which she is now trying
to finish has been Oxford based (except for a brief
excursion to Emmanuel College, Cambridge for her
M.Phil.).
Nicola is particularly proud of her academic
achievements having battled with serious illness
throughout her late school and early university
years. It is no surprise therefore, that Oxfordshire
education and health provision are well known to
her, not just as the local Parliamentary candidate
but from personal experience. Though Nicola has been
asked to advise the Conservative Party on developing
community projects across the country, Oxford will
always be her home community – and her refuge from
the big smoke.
Nicola in Politics
Following in the Blackwood tradition, Nicola’s
background is primarily in community and human
rights work. Nicola has worked with aid
organisations in such far flung corners of the globe
as Mozambique, Rwanda and Israel. In addition to
advising Shadow Secretary of State for International
Development, Andrew Mitchell MP, she is also a
leading member of the Conservative Party Human
Rights Commission, which advises the Rt Hon. William
Hague MP on the promotion of human rights in foreign
policy.
On
the domestic front Nicola has been involved in
campaigning at both national and local levels. More
recently she has found her place in the political
sphere as a key player in developing the
Conservative Party’s groundbreaking Social Action
Project. Nicola and the Social Action Team work with
local activists across the country to develop
grassroots projects addressing social problems in
and between local communities. Nicola says “It’s so
refreshing to be on the ground, making a difference
for local communities. But everyday I see the
benefit goes both ways. Local politicians and
activists are becoming better representatives
because of what they learn from being in real
situations with real people. Politics will only work
when our politicians are closer to the people.” |
