archbishops,archbishops' council,islam,pcc,safe spaces,safeguarding

Election Address –
General Synod 2026
Adeola Oludemi
Email: [email protected]

Nominated by: Judith Palfreman
(Rickmansworth Deanery)

Seconded by: Peter Doyle
(Archbishops’ Council)

Who am I?
My name is Adeola. I am married to Wale
Oludemi, and together we have two adult
daughters.
For around 31 years, Wale and I have
been part of the church family at St
Andrew’s Church, Chorleywood, where
we have had the privilege of serving in a
variety of ways.
Outside church and work, I enjoy the
simple gifts of everyday life: walking and
cycling in green spaces, sharing food,
music and travel with family and friends,
and making time for exercise, reading,
sewing and photography.
Experience
I trained as a Civil Engineer and spent
much of my working life as a Chartered
Engineer, leading infrastructure teams
and projects. In the latter decade of that
chapter, I worked at Heathrow Airport,
managing key infrastructure including the
road network, airfield and water systems,
before becoming Technical Change
Programme Workstream Lead.

This work taught me how to solve
complex problems, listen carefully, and
find practical solutions that balance the
needs of different people and
perspectives.
In 2015, I sensed God calling me to use
my skills and gifts in a new way. I
completed an MSc in Coaching and
Behavioural Change and now work part-
time for Transforming Lives for Good
(TLG), a Christian charity that equips
local churches to support struggling
schoolchildren and their families. I serve
as TLG’s Head of Coaching.

I also work as an Executive Coach with
leaders in the corporate and charity
sectors, am a visiting tutor at Henley
Business School, and serve on the
coaching faculty of the Solaris Executive
Leadership Development Programme.
I am a trustee of two Christian charities: Dame Agnes Weston’s Charity for the Naval
Service, known as Aggies, and Restore Hope. Both are committed to sharing the love
of Jesus in practical ways.

Across all these roles, I have learnt not only to navigate change but also to value it.
Change can be challenging, yet it can also create space for curiosity, creativity and
growth. I consider it a privilege to accompany people through seasons of change,
helping them feel heard, respected and supported along the way.
Serving in the Church
At St Andrew’s Church, Chorleywood, I
served as Church Warden for six years
completing my tenure in 2025. Prior to
that I served in a range of ministries,
including welcome, children’s work and
the PCC.

These experiences have deepened my
understanding of church life and of the
importance of community, leadership
and service.
St Andrew’s has recently completed a
Safeguarding ‘Listening Exercise’. Whilst
historically focused, it continues to
underline the importance of safeguarding
and of creating spaces where all
members of the congregation feel safe in
all of who they are.
Creating safe spaces for all is central to
my coaching practice and is something I
care about deeply.
Why am I standing for General Synod?
After prayerful consideration, I feel called
to offer my experience in service of God’s
wider Kingdom.

I believe the local church is called to
build community, offer hope and reflect
the love of Christ. At a time when
difference can lead to fear or division, I
would like to help the Church model
compassion, empathy and generous
listening.
I was brought up in a Muslim family,
practised Islam until my late 20s and
then became a Christian. As an active
member of my extended family, I have
learnt to navigate difference with grace
and care and hope to bring that
experience to the wider Church.

I long to see churches where people of
different generations, ethnicities and
socio-economic backgrounds belong,
contribute and flourish together. This
calls for the courage to be curious about
lives beyond our own experience, a
principle central to TLG’s work.

My own experience of crossing cultures, alongside my professional and church
background, has shaped my desire to serve the wider Church thoughtfully, prayerfully
and constructively.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please do feel free to contact me if you have
any questions. I would be very grateful if you would consider giving me either your first
or highest preference vote.
With many thanks and abundant blessings in Christ,
Adeola Oludemi