Richard Mallender is 42 and lives in West Bridgford near Nottingham. He is a member of Rushcliffe Borough Council, is married to a fellow Green Party councillor and has two step-daughters. Mallender works for Nottingham City Council and has a background in telecommunications and with the Red Cross. He is a busy community campaigner, active in the Lady Bay Community Association, Friends of Bridgford Park, Friends of the Hook, the West Bridgford Local Area Forum and is chair of Nottingham Green Party. Mallender was chair of the national Green Party (2005-2008) and a former member of Brighton and Hove City Council.