Chair of the EC
Alun Michael
alun@thecsm.org.uk

The Rt Hon Alun Michael MP has been Labour & Co-operative MP for Cardiff South & Penarth since 1987. He was previously a journalist, a youth worker, a city councillor and Chair of the Cardiff Juvenile Bench.

Brought up as a Welsh Presbyterian, he became an Anglican at university and is a strong supporter of ecumenism.

A former Cabinet Minister, he served as Deputy Home Secretary, Secretary of State for Wales, was the first First Minister of the Welsh Assembly.  Subsequently he became Minister for Rural Affairs and then Minister of State for Industry and the Regions. 

Before the 1997 general election he undertook a major review of the Government’s relationship with the Voluntary & Community Sector, and introduced the 'Compact' process to Government as Deputy Home Secretary.

Currently, he chairs the Third Sector Network, works with Volunteering England on employee volunteering, and is working on issues of internet governance and cutting e-crime. He represents Wales on the National Executive of the Co-operative Party.

He is married with five children, enjoys mountain walking, running and opera, and sings in the Parliamentary Choir.

Vice-chair
Helen Dennis
helen@thecsm.org.uk

Helen works as Policy & Parliamentary Officer for YMCA England, with a particular focus on Youth Affairs and Youth Homelessness. Prior to this, she worked for Stephen Timms MP and is an active member of her local church in Peckham, South-East London. Helen was elected to the CSM Executive Committee in 2006 and became Vice-Chair in 2007.  

Vice-chair:

Kerron Cross
kerron@thecsm.org.uk

Kerron has worked since January 1999 as a Parliamentary Assistant to Andy Reed MP. He is a District Councillor in SW Herts and was a Parliamentary Candidate at the 2005 General Election. He is currently Chair of the Herts & Home Counties Co-operative Party. As a local government spokesperson on Housing & the Environment, Kerron has a particular passion for regeneration and those affected by poverty. Kerron was elected to the CSM Executive Committee in 2004 and became Vice-Chair in 2007. Kerron is also well known for his writing – his blog <http://kerroncross.blogspot.com/> is currently one of the best read political blogs.

Publications Officer:
Andy Flannagan
sophie@thecsm.org.uk

Andy is an Irish singer songwriter who was previously a hospital doctor, but his proudest moment as an Irishman was captaining England’s Barmy Army during the Ashes in Australia.

His audiences have ranged from MPs at Westminster to Young Offenders’ institutions, to ski-ers in the Alps to Gordon Brown at the Labour Party Conference.

Treasurer:
Chris Ostrowski
chris@thecsm.org.uk

Chris is a member of Mitcham and Morden Labour Party and has been active in the CSM and the Labour Party for many years. He currently works for the John Lewis Partnership, and worships at Morden Baptist Church in London. He was elected onto the CSM Executive in 2007 as Treasurer.

Secretary:
David Canning
david@thecsm.org.uk

David was elected to the CSM National Executive in March 2004, elected as Secretary in 2005 and re-elected in 2007. He is also currently Chair of Christians in Politics - the cross party group that aims to promote democratic engagement in Christian communities. A keen musician, David leads worship at Colchester Area Community Church in Essex. David was formerly a Borough Councillor in Colchester and for several years a contituency party chair and election agent. He now works in the Ministry of Justice where he is responsible for introducing innovation and change into the UK electoral system.