Mark Durham has lived in and around Woodham Walter almost all of his life. Having been schooled in Little Baddow and Great Baddow he moved to London to study Hospitality Management. After spells working for Hilton and Sheraton Hotels he moved to the midlands to work in the brewing industry. Returning home to Woodham Walter in 1990 Mark ran the family business for 25 years.

Mark started his council career in 1993 serving 24 years as a parish councillor and was then elected to Maldon District Council in 2011. Having served as committee Chairman, Deputy Leader and then Leader he was a key member delivering the waste collection contract, leisure contract and Local Development Plan. Maldon was the first district in Essex to achieve the milestone of having an adopted LDP in 2017 while he was Leader of the Council.

Mark was elected to Essex County Council in 2017 and held the position of Deputy Cabinet member for Culture, Communities and Customers for two years, following which he is now the Deputy Cabinet Member for Economic Development which includes housing and planning. He is also the Chairman of Visit Essex and a Trustee of Firstsite Gallery in Colchester.

Since first becoming a parish councillor way back in 1993, Mark has been a proud advocate of both The Maldon District and the County of Essex with all of the residents that he is proud and honoured to represent.