Island Council

Alan was born on St Helena in 1957 and moved to Ascension Island in early 2006 where he worked for the Ascension Island Government in Human Resources. Alan retired from his position in 2016. Prior to moving to Ascension, Alan worked for the St Helena Government for over 30 years. When he left SHG in 2006 he held the position of Crown Prosecutor, Legislative Drafter and head of the Government’s Legal, Lands and Planning Department. Other than being an Island Councillor, Alan is currently also involved with the Islander newspaper and is a Lay Minister in St Mary’s Parish. He is in a long-term relationship with his partner and has a 25 year old son.

Douglas Miller was born in Elgin in North Scotland. He works for the Mechanical and Electrical team on the RAF base on Ascension Island but has travelled extensively whilst working as a contractor having taken jobs on the Falklands Islands, Iraq, Bosnia among others. Johannesburg has become like a second home and is where his partner and children currently reside.

Kerry was born in St Helena and moved to Ascension with her family in 1985. She grew up on the island and, after attending college in London, returned to work as an accountant for Serco and later AIG. Kerry spent a few years working on the Falkland Islands and in the UK as an accountant before taking a career shift to more technical roles and becoming qualified in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Kerry moved back to Ascension in 2019 to take up employment as a Networks Technician for Sure. Kerry volunteers as an internet editor for the Islander, she is also a keen musician and singer, and enjoys performing with local band 7 Degrees South.

Kyla Benjamin was born in St. Helena in 1999 and grew up in the district of Longwood. In 2015 Kyla visited Ascension Island with New Horizons for the Youth Games and then moved to Ascension in early 2018 and worked for NAAFI for one year before taking up employment with Encompass Digital Media as a Trainee Communications Technician. Kyla recently took on the role as a Communications Technician at the BBC Atlantic Relay Station. Personal interests include Island walks/hiking, volleyball and motorcycle trail riding.

Laura was born in the outskirts of Glasgow and has worked with seabirds for over 10 years since graduating with an MSc in Wildlife Biology and Conservation. Laura has been on Ascension for 4 years and works for the Ascension Island Government Conservation Directorate as the Coastal Reserves Manager/Seabird Scientist. In her spare time, Laura volunteers with the Sea Rescue team, is a keen SCUBA diver and coaches football for local teenagers.