My names is Maria Antonieta Nestor, but everyone knows me as “Antoinette”. I have been a Cambridge resident for over ten years. I was born in Santiago, Chile but I have lived and worked in many places around the world, including Canada, the United States and Ireland. I am a mother of three young boys and I also work full time for the University of Cambridge.

I am also the Founder of “A Toy’s Life and Beyond”, a social enterprise based in Cambridge, whose purpose is to teach children and their parents about recycling and the circular economy in a fun way (and now part of Transition Cambridge). I also produced and hosted of The Eddington Hour, a community radio show that brought an insight into the new neighbourhood of North West Cambridge (stopped due to Covid).

I am passionate about the environment, local communities and climate justice issues. I have organised the cleaning of local playgrounds and started toy libraries within the City. I was also one of the One Step Greener Ambassadors during COP26 and a Baton bearer for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022.

I completed my PhD at the School of Law, Trinity College Dublin where I specialised in community economic development lawyering.  I also holds a Bachelor of Civil Law degree from University College Dublin (UCD) and a Master’s Degree in Law from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) where I pioneered the Public Interest Law & Policy specialisation. I am also a trained legal interpreter and translator, and I further hold a diploma in journalism.  

I am also heavily involved in climate change issues locally and internationally. I has attended meetings organised by the United Nations as well as COP26, COP27 and COP28.

I am a Director of Studies at Lucy Cavendish College where I also leads the Public Interest Law Group and I am also a member of the Net-Zero committee at Murray Edwards College. 

I was elected as a City Councillor for Castle Ward in May 2023. Because it was a by-election (one year only), I am standing again in the local elections to be held in May 2, 2024.