A scientist by education, a busineswoman by career, Therese Coffey grew up in the North West and after graduating from UCL with a PhD in Chemistry, joined the international company Mars. Qualified as a chartered management accountant, Therese covered various roles in Mars, the most recent as Finance Director for Mars Drinks UK.
Leaving in early 2009, Therese was a full-time European candidate and later in the year, joined the BBC as a Property Finance manager. Therese lives in the Suffolk Coastal constituency.
Inspired by Derek Hatton and Margaret Thatcher to join the Conservatives in 1988, Therese has been active ever since. She has previously contested a parliamentary seat in 2005 and has fought the European elections in 2004 and 2009. Her political interests include rural affairs including agriculture, business and enterprise and international development.
Outside politics, Therese has been a speaker for the charity Water Aid, she enjoys watching England play (West End Level 1 is her favourite Wembley section), she is a pub quizzer, a CAMRA member and enjoys going to concerts, especially Muse.
Therese is usually accompanied on her campaigning by her rescue dog Rizzo (from the Dogs Trust). Rizzo enjoys dragging Therese for walks and receives far more attention than the candidate does when out campaigning.
Campaigning in Suffolk Coastal
Therese's priorities for Suffolk Coastal include preventing coastal and estuary erosion, improving the NHS experience for her constituents by keeping key cardiac and cancer services at the local hospitals and a better out of hours care provision and better broadband provision to encourage local businesses. Therese will be a champion of the living, working countryside and keeping Suffolk special.