Stronger Together: Unlocking the power of collaboration

Jacob Hall

Project manager, Centre for Sustainable Energy

Jacob Hall is a project manager at the Centre for Sustainable Energy, an independent UK charity working to tackle the climate emergency and address fuel poverty by supporting people and organisations to create a fairer, low‑carbon energy system. He has worked on Centre for Sustainable Energy’s Future Energy Landscapes project, an innovative, community-led approach to planning renewable energy that gives local people the time, information and space to shape how and where energy projects are developed. 

Sharon Smith

Clerk, Saxmundham Town Council

Sharon Smith works at Saxmundham Town Council and brings many years of experience working with parish and town councils, alongside a professional background in the finance sector as a compliance and risk officer, both onshore and offshore. Sharon holds a BA (Hons) in Commerce, is a Chartered Company Secretary, and is currently studying for an MA in Public Leadership.

She is a qualified clerk and internal auditor for the Suffolk Association of Local Councils. Since joining Saxmundham Town Council in 2022, Sharon has been responsible for corporate governance and finance, and has also provided strategic leadership to support the delivery of the council’s vision, strategy and policies. She serves as clerk to the town council and several of its committees and working groups.

Cllr David Stripp

Kingston St Mary Parish Council

Cllr David Stripp is a parish councillor at Kingston St Mary Parish Council in Somerset, with practical experience of leading community-level collaboration to deliver statutory planning and governance outcomes. He served as the project manager for Kingston St Mary’s Neighbourhood Plan, coordinating councillors, community volunteers, planning officers and professional advisers to develop a plan grounded entirely in local engagement. Through structured surveys, public meetings, and stakeholder collaboration, the parish council secured a shared community vision, endorsed by 93% of residents. The adopted plan now forms part of Somerset Council’s planning framework and plays an active role in shaping local development.