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Jane Mackenzie

Born in Coventry, Jane is a Consultant Speech and Language Therapist and Art Therapist with over 25 years experience working for the NHS. She has travelled extensively, including the Middle East, Israel and Africa. With a Scottish heritage, she lived in Aberdeen for four years before moving to St Albans to study Art Therapy when she was in her twenties. In 1985, she moved with her husband, Peter, and two young daughters to Aberdyfi on the Welsh coast, where they lived for fifteen years, and she learned to speak Welsh in order to carry out her NHS job effectively.

After this, she made her home in Shrewsbury, and became the honorary secretary of the National Labour Finance and Industry Group. In this role, she brought together business leaders, ministers and senior civil servants, in order to develop Government policy for the Financial and Business sector in England and Wales.

Following this, she was appointed as England Policy Officer for the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, and keeping her home in Shrewsbury, travelled down to London each week for seven years. She worked within Westminster and Whitehall and led national campaigns to raise awareness about communication disability. Whilst in this role she established an All Party Parliamentary Group in Speech and Language Difficulties, which is still active in The House of Commons.

Back in Shrewsbury, Jane became an Independent Director on the Board of Shropshire NHS Community Trust, a role she carried out for four years until March this year. Over the years, she has fallen in love with her adopted town, delighting in its historic heritage, and enjoying the beautiful surroundings. This led to a desire to serve the local community, and she was elected as both a town and unitary Labour Councillor for Column ward in 2013

Jane still volunteers locally and in her spare time enjoys the Arts, walking, gardening and travel. She is happy that all four of her children and her two wonderful grandchildren, still live in Shrewsbury and is honoured to have been given the opportunity to serve as Mayor in this historic and unique town.

Recently she became engaged to her partner, Councillor Tony Parsons, and they are planning to get married later this year.