Annette Brooke MP
Annette has been a Member of Parliament for Mid Dorset and North Poole since June 2001. She was a lecturer and teacher in Economics and Social Sciences for over 20 years with the Open University before moving into politics in 1995. During her political career she has been a Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Children, Young People and Families since 2004 and was Vice-President of Women Liberal Democrats for 2008. Annette is also chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Microfinance concerned with creating greater awareness and support for microfinance and its contribution to development goals. She visited the Five Talents project in Chennai, India in September 2009 which she described as "one of the most interesting and informative trips I have ever undertaken."