Village Liberal Democrats

Ursula Faulkner

Ursula has been part of Wimbledon Village life since 2009. Originally from Canada, she has put down roots in the community she loves and now hopes to represent it on the Council.

She has an MA in History and spent over 17 years as an Editor at Penguin and then the BBC, working in children's publishing. She later left publishing to focus on raising her son.

In 2024, Ursula joined Paul Kohler MP's team as a Constituency Caseworker, working directly with residents across Wimbledon on complex issues including housing, immigration, benefits, and family support. This role has given her a sharp understanding of the pressures facing local people and the practical knowledge of how to navigate the systems that are meant to help them.

Ursula is particularly passionate about SEND provision, housing that works for everyone, and making sure that public services genuinely reach those who need them most.

Iain Wadie

Iain was born and raised in London and has lived in Merton since 2007, bringing up his three children here with his wife Claire. Since getting his PhD in Robotics at the University of Bristol he has been writing, implementing and selling software for blue chip corporations, the NHS and more recently for start-ups and scale-ups - now working for a macro-economics research firm. In addition to working in the UK, he has worked on projects in north American, central Europe and sub-Saharan Africa where he supported the development of small businesses for nearly a year. Iain appreciates that with it's parks, commons and green spaces, Merton is a lovely borough and wants to use his skills to ensure that continued investment in the area helps maintain and improve its status as a great place to live and work.

Leo Liao 

Leo Liao, CFA, is standing for local council to bring real-world experience and a strong commitment to the community. He came to the UK in 2002 to read Management at Cambridge and later earned an MBA at London Business School. A professional financier with a career in hedge funds, Leo also leads a charity supporting those in need and promoting civil society internationally. Raising two children with his wife in Wimbledon Village, he is dedicated to delivering practical, effective leadership for all.

Contact the Village Team: village@mertonlibdems.org.uk