Civic Leader Award
Susan Broccoli
Susan Broccoli’s story begins after living on the Adriatic Coast in beautiful Italy – a photographer’s paradise around every corner. On returning to her hometown of Peterborough after 8 years in 2014, the bubble burst. Walking over town bridge into the city centre, just wasn’t the same!
Slightly depressed, Susan realised that others may have lost their love for the city too and launched We Love Peterborough. What started out as a simple idea to show positivity about the city evolved into letting people know that there was far more happening than they might realise.
Today, and single-handedly, Susan has grown that idea into one of the city’s largest local social media communities with more than 35,000 followers on Facebook and millions of social media views. She now promotes new ventures and events, as well as creating a directory website, blog and merchandise to promote the city and what it offers.
Matthew Bradbury
Matthew joined Nene Park Trust in 2015 and has overseen the significant growth of the organisation, both in ambition and charitable impact. He is passionate about the environment and culture, and the benefits they bring to everyone.
Matthew comes from a farming background and is a Fellow of the Landscape Institute. He holds Non-Executive Director roles with the University College of Peterborough, Peterborough Cultural Alliance and is also a Trustee of the Cathedral Preservation Trust and the National Literacy Trust.
Iain Crighton MBE
Iain Crighton is a Peterborough businessman and community leader whose decades of work have shaped the city’s business and sporting landscape. Previously the owner of a local garage and cycle shop, he built a reputation for civic engagement alongside his commercial career. He was part of the team that led the merger of the Peterborough and Cambridge Chambers of Commerce into the formation of the current Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce as Chairman for seven years before becoming Honorary President, championing local business growth. As Chair and founder of Living Sport, he expanded access to sport across Peterborough, including inclusive facilities for children with disabilities, now as Chair of local charity Little Miracles. He also chaired Inspire Peterborough and is currently working as a Business Start-Up Coach and Strategic Engagement Lead at Allia Future Business Centre in Peterborough, mentoring entrepreneurs. In 2012 he was one of the Olympic Games torch bearers in Peterborough and in 2016, he received an MBE for services to Sport in Peterborough, recognising a career devoted to strengthening the city’s business community and sporting opportunities alike.
Chris Dalliston
Colette Firth
Kez Hayes-Palmer
Kez Hayes Palmer is the Co Founder of Up The Garden Bath CIC and UNITY, an award winning community enterprise that is transforming lives through sustainability, education and community collaboration. Passionate about creating opportunities for others, Kez has helped build an organisation that has generated more than £1 million in sales for small independent businesses while providing free educational and creative activities for over 35,000 families. From promoting environmental sustainability through innovative upcycling projects to leading initiatives such as Goal2Grow, Kez is committed to making a lasting difference. Her dedication to bringing people together and creating inclusive opportunities continues to inspire positive change across Peterborough and beyond.
Jonathan Jelley MBE JP
Jonathan held senior executive roles with global financial institutions, leading strategic business development and major commercial partnerships across international markets. Alongside his career, he has dedicated more than 30 years to public service and voluntary leadership. He served the military charity SSAFA, rising to National Trustee and National Vice Chairman, leading its first strategic review in 130 years. Awarded an MBE in 2012 and SSAFA Honorary Life Membership in 2019, he also chaired the East of England Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee, advising government on veterans’ welfare. A Magistrate since 2006 and now a Presiding Justice, Jonathan is a Freeman of the City of London and CEO of Haemochromatosis UK. He chairs Peterborough Council for Voluntary Service, Healthwatch Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, and the Peterborough Cathedral Preservation Trust. He is also a Trustee of Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, a Towns Fund Board member, and inaugural Chair of Peterborough’s Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board.
Dilraj Kaur
Dilraj Kaur has spent the past six years building Peterborough Citizens into the city’s largest broad-based, people-powered alliance. Through community organising, she has trained hundreds of leaders—from senior executives to ordinary people—in the skills of building relationships, developing leadership, and creating lasting change. Her work has helped secure practical improvements across Peterborough, including increased covert CCTV in high-crime areas, stronger mental health services, better support for young people experiencing homelessness through improved school and local authority notification systems, and local and national action to end the use of hotels and B&Bs for homeless children. Peterborough Citizens also played a role in shaping changes to the Children’s Wellbeing Bill. Dilraj believes that meaningful change only happens when people work together across their differences, building the collective power needed to create a fairer society.
Rachel Nicholls
Rachel Nicholls is the Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Inspire Education Group (IEG), one of the region’s largest education and skills providers. She leads an organisation of around 1,300 colleagues, supporting more than 12,000 learners each year across Peterborough College, Stamford College, and University Centre Peterborough, while working with employers and partners to develop the skills needed for regional growth and opportunities.
Rachel began her career in further education in 2001 and has held senior leadership roles across eight colleges before becoming CEO of IEG. Alongside her role at IEG, she is a Director of the Lincolnshire Institute of Technology, Vice Chair of the Peterborough Towns Fund, Co-Chair of Peterborough Citizens, Vice Chair of the Youth Guarantee Programme Board, and a Trustee of Peterborough Council for Voluntary Service (PCVS). She is passionate about creating opportunities through education, strengthening communities, and working collaboratively to support economic growth across the region.
Shabina Qayyum
Dr Councillor Shabina Asad Qayyum is Leader of Peterborough City Council, a practising NHS GP, and a dedicated public servant whose career spans healthcare, local government, community leadership, and public service reform. She made history as the first female Muslim Asian Labour Leader elected to Peterborough City Council and serves as the Labour Eastern Regional Representative on the Local Government Association. In 2021, she was recognised among the Top 100 Doctors in the NHS for her contribution to healthcare. Throughout her career, she has championed community cohesion, anti-racism, interfaith dialogue, and inclusion, including serving as a National Trustee of Nisa-Nashim, the Jewish-Muslim women’s organisation supported by the Jo Cox Foundation. A former Mayoress and long-serving East Ward councillor, she is known for her commitment to improving lives, supporting vulnerable residents, and creating opportunities for communities to thrive.
Lee B. Rayment
Lee B. Rayment is the Editor and Founder of Charity Today, one of the UK’s leading dedicated charity news platforms. Born and based in Peterborough, Lee has devoted his career to championing charitable work, strengthening public engagement and ensuring that organisations and individuals creating positive change receive the recognition they deserve.
He is also the Founder of UK Charity Week and the National Charity Today Awards™, two national initiatives that celebrate and promote the contributions of charities, volunteers and community leaders across the country. Over the years, these initiatives have helped raise millions of pounds for good causes.
Through journalism, campaigning, events and sector partnerships, Lee has built an influential platform connecting charities with the public, businesses and decision-makers. His work combines a deep commitment to social impact with an ambitious vision for stronger charity media and greater recognition of the voluntary sector, both locally and nationally.
Dorota Trajdos
Dorota Trajdos is recognised for combining artistic excellence with community leadership. A British–Polish polymath, multidisciplinary artist, poet, and photographer with a background in psychology, her work bridges creativity and wellbeing through painting, photography, thread-painting embroidery, and the rare Japanese art of Kinusaiga. Press Representative and Committee Member of the Peterborough Art Society. She actively exhibits her work, and her photography has received international recognition through licensing by Reuters.
In 2026, she received the Peterborough Civic Award for Contribution to Arts and Culture for her impact on the city’s cultural life. Her achievements include founding Peterborough Together Project, Wild Art, Peterborough Embroidery Society, and Community Clickers social photography walks. In 2025, she organised and coordinated a public petition to help protect Peterborough Museum, libraries, and the Lido. Her work is driven by a belief that art can strengthen communities, promote mental and physical wellbeing, and inspire positive social change.
Dean Watson
Dean Watson is committed to improving opportunities for young people across Peterborough. As Youth Employment Hub Manager at Peterborough United Foundation, he leads an inclusive third space at Weston Homes Stadium where young people aged 16–24 can access one-to-one careers guidance, training and wellbeing support. With a background in sports development, youth development and employability, Dean has dedicated his career to helping young people build confidence, develop skills and access meaningful education and employment. He has led initiatives that bring together schools, employers, local authorities and community organisations to create lasting opportunities for the next generation. Dean also empowers his team to lead with empathy, ambition and high expectations. Passionate about collaboration, wellbeing and social impact, he believes that investing in people strengthens communities and is proud to help make Peterborough a place where every young person can succeed.
Faustina Yang
Faustina Yang is an award-winning community leader, Chartered CIPD professional, and founder of several influential community organisations across Peterborough and Stamford. Passionate about social harmony, inclusion, and equality, she has spent more than a decade building bridges between diverse communities and public services, reaching over 25,000 people each year through her voluntary and professional work.
Faustina founded the Chinese Community in Peterborough, Chinese Women in Peterborough, Peterborough Mums UK, Hampton Tiddlers, and the Community Champions Alliance, creating opportunities for connection, wellbeing, volunteering, and community participation. Her organisations have received both the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Alongside her leadership roles within health, research, and community governance, Faustina is a passionate advocate for integration, wellbeing, and empowering underrepresented communities. Her work has earned numerous honours, including Chinese Woman of the Year, multiple High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire Awards, multiple civic awards, including the most recent Lifetime Achievement Award from Peterborough City Council.