Leeds North East
Wards Covered
- Alwoodley
- Chapel Allerton
- Moortown
- Roundhay
Meet Professor Louise
I’m Professor Louise Jennings; I grew up in the outskirts of Birmingham, in a working class family, and was educated at the local mixed comprehensive school. On leaving school I found employment on a Year in Industry scheme, at a local manufacturer of electrical installation equipment.
I was the first generation of my family to attend university, gaining a First Class honours in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sussex. I continued to work for several years in manufacturing before coming to Leeds, now 25 years ago, to study for a PhD in Medical Engineering at the University of Leeds. I’ve taken a somewhat unconventional route to becoming a Professor, having predominantly focused on research, and building a research portfolio largely sponsored by industry. I moved to Alwoodley 11 years ago, where I live with my husband, our 13 year old child, and 2 cats.
Through academia, I have developed a range of transferable skills in leadership, management, and collaboration; and take a systematic engineering approach to tackling problems. I have also taken on a number of roles that contribute to the wider community. For example, I am a recognised leader within the international and national standards community, leading experts to reach consensus, and I am the Deputy Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for the largest Faculty at the University.
There has been a thread of environmental activism running throughout my life. I’ve been an advocate for the environment since my youth – I still have copies of letters I wrote objecting to the Birmingham Northern Relief Road prior to the decision being taken in 1991 to build this new privately funded motorway.
At the university I took on a role as an Environmental Coordinator for my department nearly 20 years ago, where we piloted the first recycling scheme that was subsequently rolled out across the university, as well as creating active travel infrastructure such as secure parking for cycles.
Louise’s Vision: General Election 2024
I joined the party 7 years ago, when the Women’s Equality Party was founded. I was motivated to join because I was tired of the way other political parties have failed to address one of the most glaringly obvious inequalities in society – the fact that women, despite making up 52% of the UK population, are underrepresented at every level, paid less, taken less seriously and valued less. I have since stood in local council elections, in the Headingley & Hyde Park ward in 2018, and in the Alwoodley ward in 2019, 2021 and 2022, giving me insight into local political processes.
Without a habitable planet there will be no gender equality: Irreversible climate change has already happened in our patriarchal system, which values profit and growth over the wellbeing of people and the planet. This is why I joined the Green Party, and why I have put myself forward as a potential candidate for Leeds North East, to be part of the movement that will create a just, equitable and sustainable society.
Contact Louise
