Born and bred in Shropshire, Sean is the son of a factory worker and a seamstress. Now living in Cheshire with his wife Zoe, Sean is a volunteer, amateur astronomer and avid walker, often exploring beautiful landscapes, historical monuments and castles.
In Sean’s professional career, he is Head of Membership and Digital Services for the National Federation of Builders, the country’s oldest and foremost construction body. As a member of the Federation’s Senior Leadership Team, Sean leads business development, service delivery, digital transformation and digital marketing. Sean also provides consultancy services in corporate affairs and communications through his business, Houlston Strategy.
Sean has also served at the heart of Parliament, leading the office of a prominent Member of Parliament, and in the construction sector, where he started by working on stakeholder engagement and planning consultations on some of the largest infrastructure projects in the country.
In 2024, Sean stood for the Conservatives in Widnes and Halewood in the 2024 General Election. While providing campaign support to nearby target seats, Sean increased local Party membership by 8%, reduced the local vote share decline compared to national results and secured a digital campaign reach of over 50,000. A member of the Conservative Party for nearly a decade, Sean has delivered in roles such as Area Deputy Chairman for Cheshire & Wirral, Deputy Chairman of the Congleton Conservative Association, a 2019 General Election campaign Manager and CPF Chairman. Sean is a member of Next Generation Tories.
Formerly a trustee of St Luke’s Cheshire Hospice, Sean is a keen volunteer and advocate for skills and education, sitting on a number of boards including Reaseheath College. He is also Chair of Governors at Shavington Primary School and Vice-Chair of Governors at Sir William Stanier School. Sean holds a BA (Hons) in Geography and International Development from the University of Chester.
