Debby brings a wealth of diverse experience to her role on the Parish Council, having worked across retail, early years education, further education, and the NHS. She became a parish councillor in October 2024, following a move to Treviscoe in July 2023, and was elected to continue serving in May 2025.
She currently sits on the Human Resources Committee and is Vice Chair of the Property and Services Committee. She also contributes to the Century of Change Working Party and represents St Stephen-in-Brannel on the St Dennis Education Bursary Committee, where she serves as Vice Chair. Her early career began in retail, where she gained qualifications and hands-on experience in bookselling, audio and TV merchandising, and direct sales.
Her passion for community-led services emerged when she chaired a Parents’ Committee to take over and successfully integrate a private pre-school into a local primary school. This led to her becoming a qualified pre-school manager, opening and running a wraparound care facility in Horndean, Hampshire, and managing a team of staff in a busy parish community setting. During this time, she was also co-opted as a trustee and served on the HR committee of the community group. Debby has a long-standing commitment to education, having served as a school governor for six years – two of which were as Chair of the Governing Body. She led initiatives including a successful OFSTED inspection, opposing an amalgamation of schools, and improving road safety outside school premises.
She later moved into further education, becoming a lecturer and eventually a staff governor at Highbury College in Portsmouth, where she sat on the Curriculum and SEN committees. Her work focused on planning for the future of the college, staff wellbeing, and prioritising financial sustainability. Debby’s career continued in the NHS, joining South Central Ambulance Service and rising to the position of Team Leader. Here she developed key skills in leadership, HR, and trauma support. She became a TRiM counsellor (providing support to staff affected by trauma) and a mentor for Emergency Care Assistant apprentices. She also undertook the NHS Leadership qualification and ACAS training in employment law.
Beyond her professional life, Debby is deeply committed to personal wellbeing and community involvement. She enjoys growing her own fruit and vegetables, is an active member of a local sea swimming group, and swims year-round at least three times a week. She also rides a 600cc motorcycle.