Rachel Millward: From Film Pioneer to Green Party Deputy Leader and Sussex Mayoral Candidate

Rachel Millward is a British politician, cultural leader and former film festival director who serves as Deputy Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales. She is also a Wealden District Councillor and the Green Party candidate for Mayor of Sussex and Brighton in the 2028 election. Before entering frontline politics, she co-founded Birds Eye View, an influential film festival created to champion women filmmakers.

Introduction

Rachel Millward has built an unusual career that connects culture, community activism and politics. Before becoming a prominent Green politician, she established herself in the creative industries and helped create a platform for women working in film.

Today, she occupies a senior national role as Deputy Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales. At the same time, she remains closely involved in local government in Sussex and is preparing to contest the region’s first mayoral election.

Her career offers a useful insight into how experience outside traditional politics can influence modern political leadership.

Who Is Rachel Millward?

Rachel Millward is a British Green Party politician and former cultural-sector executive. She has represented Hartfield on Wealden District Council since 2021 and has shared the council’s leadership under the Green-Liberal Democrat Alliance.

In September 2025, Millward was elected Deputy Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales alongside Mothin Ali, following Zack Polanski’s election as party leader. The role places her within the party’s national leadership and gives her responsibilities across campaigning, political communication and support for elected representatives.

Her next major political challenge is the 2028 Sussex and Brighton mayoral election. She has been selected as the Green candidate for the inaugural mayoral position.

Early Life and Background

Rachel Millward Age

Rachel Millward was born on 11 January 1977 in the West Midlands, England. As of September 2026, she is 49 years old.

She attended King Henry VIII School in Coventry before moving into higher education. Her early interests eventually developed into a career combining social issues, cultural leadership and creative work.

Millward has described developing an interest in political and social justice issues from a young age. Her professional journey, however, initially took her into film and cultural leadership rather than electoral politics.

Education

Millward studied Theology at St Hugh’s College, University of Oxford, graduating with a BA. She later studied Gender and Development at the University of Cape Town’s African Gender Institute, gaining a master’s degree.

Her education helps explain some of the themes that have remained consistent throughout her career. Questions surrounding equality, justice, representation and social change have featured prominently in both her cultural and political work.

Career Journey

Founding Birds Eye View

One of Rachel Millward’s most notable achievements came long before her political career.

She co-founded Birds Eye View with Pinny Grylls. The initiative began as a short-film event and developed into an annual feature film festival showcasing work by women filmmakers from around the world.

In March 2005, Millward launched the annual Birds Eye View feature film festival. It became an important platform for women in cinema at a time when gender inequality within the film industry was receiving increasing attention.

The organisation later evolved into Reclaim The Frame, continuing its mission of supporting and promoting films made by women.

Cultural Leadership

Millward’s work extended beyond film. She later held senior positions in the arts and cultural sector, including work at The Old Church in Stoke Newington and the Nest Collective.

Her leadership experience was also recognised through a Clore Leadership Fellowship. She was named one of Arts Council England’s “Women to Watch” and was nominated for a Women of the Future media award.

These achievements established her as a cultural leader before she entered elected politics.

Career in Politics

Wealden District Council

Millward’s political career took a major step forward when she was elected as the Green councillor for Hartfield in December 2021. She was subsequently re-elected in 2023.

In 2023, the Greens and Liberal Democrats formed the Alliance for Wealden, ending decades of Conservative control of the council. Millward and Liberal Democrat James Partridge have shared senior leadership responsibilities under the alliance arrangement.

Millward formally served as Leader of Wealden District Council from May 2024 to May 2025. In the 2026–27 council year, she was again appointed Leader, with James Partridge serving as Deputy Leader.

Her local priorities have included housing, nature recovery, climate action, health provision and community development.

Deputy Leader of the Green Party

Millward’s national profile increased significantly in 2025 when she stood for the Green Party’s deputy leadership.

The party’s official election results show that she was elected in September 2025. She became one of two Deputy Leaders alongside Mothin Ali after Zack Polanski became the party’s sole leader.

The role has made Millward a more visible national political figure, particularly on environmental policy, local government and the Green Party’s wider political strategy.

Major Achievements

Rachel Millward’s career contains several significant milestones.

Her best-known cultural achievement is helping establish Birds Eye View and creating a platform for women filmmakers. The project ultimately developed into Reclaim The Frame, which marked its 20th anniversary in 2025.

Politically, she helped lead the Green-Liberal Democrat administration at Wealden and became the first Green leader of the council during the alliance period.

Her appointment as Deputy Leader of the national Green Party represents another major step, while her selection as the Green candidate for Mayor of Sussex and Brighton gives her a potentially influential role in the region’s future.

Why Is Rachel Millward Popular?

Millward’s appeal comes partly from the unusual combination of experiences behind her political career.

She is not a politician whose background began entirely within party structures. Her years in film, arts and cultural leadership gave her experience in campaigning, public communication, fundraising and building movements.

Her political profile also focuses strongly on environmental protection, affordable housing, nature recovery and community wellbeing.

For Green supporters, her progression from cultural activism to local government and national politics represents a broader argument that political change can emerge from community and civic leadership.

Rachel Millward Family

Rachel Millward keeps much of her family life away from the political spotlight. Public biographical information indicates that she lives in the Wealden area with her husband and two children.

She has occasionally referred publicly to her family when discussing the personal side of political life. However, detailed information about her husband and children is not widely documented, so it is sensible to avoid speculation or unnecessary personal details.

Interestingly, her elder daughter was born on the opening day of the 2010 Birds Eye View film festival, linking an important family moment with a significant stage in Millward’s cultural career.

Rachel Millward Net Worth

There is no reliable publicly verified figure for Rachel Millward’s net worth.

Unlike some high-profile business figures, Millward has not published a detailed personal wealth statement that would allow her assets, savings, property and other interests to be accurately calculated.

Consequently, websites claiming a specific figure for “Rachel Millward net worth” should be treated cautiously unless they provide credible evidence.

Her professional history includes senior cultural leadership, local government and national political roles, but these positions alone do not provide enough information to calculate her personal wealth.

Rachel Millward Wikipedia

A Rachel Millward Wikipedia page provides a useful overview of her biography, political positions, education and professional history. However, Wikipedia should ideally be used alongside primary and authoritative sources when researching her current political roles.

The most important recent developments are her election as Green Party Deputy Leader in 2025, her continued leadership role at Wealden District Council and her selection as the Green candidate for Mayor of Sussex and Brighton.

Interesting Facts About Rachel Millward

• She was born in the West Midlands in 1977.
• She studied Theology at Oxford University.
• She later studied Gender and Development in Cape Town.
• She co-founded Birds Eye View with Pinny Grylls.
• Birds Eye View later evolved into Reclaim The Frame.
• She received a Clore Leadership Fellowship.
• Arts Council England named her one of its Women to Watch.
• She became a Wealden councillor in 2021.
• She became Deputy Leader of the Green Party in 2025.
• She is the Green candidate for Mayor of Sussex and Brighton.
• She has two children.

Future Plans and Current Work

Millward’s biggest upcoming political challenge is the Sussex and Brighton mayoral election scheduled for 4 May 2028.

The proposed mayoral role is significant because the elected mayor will lead the Sussex and Brighton Combined Authority, with strategic responsibilities including transport, housing, jobs and economic development. Millward’s campaign argues that the position could provide a new regional approach to these issues.

Alongside her mayoral campaign, she continues to serve as Deputy Leader of the Green Party and remains involved in Wealden politics.

Her combination of local government experience and national political responsibilities means she is likely to remain an increasingly visible figure in Sussex and wider British Green politics.

Conclusion

Rachel Millward’s story is far broader than her current political title. From co-founding Birds Eye View and championing women filmmakers to leading at Wealden District Council and becoming Deputy Leader of the Green Party, she has developed a career centred on cultural change, equality, environmental protection and community leadership.

At 49, Millward is entering a potentially decisive stage of her career. Her selection as the Green Party candidate for Mayor of Sussex and Brighton gives her an opportunity to translate years of local and national experience into a major regional political campaign.

Whether she ultimately wins the 2028 mayoral contest remains to be decided. What is already clear, however, is that Rachel Millward has built a distinctive public career that bridges the worlds of film, culture, local government and Green politics.

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