Meet Charlie Maynard
Member of Parliament for Witney constituency
Charlie has a background in business, is centrist and practical in political outlook, and has been a local councillor on West Oxfordshire District Council since 2022. He lives with his family between Witney and Stanton Harcourt.
Charlie ran to become Witney's MP because he wants to get useful things done for the local community, help the country’s economy and address our environmental problems.
Charlie spent three years volunteering as Chair of the Witney Oxford Transport Group, leading the project to rebuild the railway line linking Carterton, Witney, Eynsham and Oxford. The aim is to reduce traffic on the A40 and have a long-term plan for our area which protects our beautiful countryside while also keeping it economically vibrant with jobs and sufficient housing, especially for young people.
Charlie strongly believes that his first job as an MP is to help people who most need help. As well as volunteering for local charities and helping out at the local GP surgery, Charlie and his wife Sophie have hosted several Syrian and Ukrainian refugees in their home—helping them find jobs or establish their own businesses, go to university or reunite with family.
Stopping climate change is the major challenge of our age. Charlie has a strong interest in renewable energy and commissioned a study from Renewables First on the hydropower potential of the weirs on the Upper Thames with a view to establishing a community hydro project, www.upperthameshydro.com, similar to what has already been achieved by communities at Sandford, Osney and Reading.
Charlie's career has been in business. Aged 25, he co-founded BDA Partners, an Asia-focused advisory firm. He spent 24 years working with colleagues to build the business, which now employs more than 120 people across nine global offices. He decided to step back from the business in January 2021, part of a long-term plan to spend the second part of his life being useful.
Charlie has overcome challenges, whether it's recovering from breaking his neck aged 18 or building a global business. He believes in hard work, in trusting people and working as a team to solve problems. He knows how important it is to keep going. He is much more focused on what unites us than what divides us.
