I am the accountant at CASPA which serves New South Wales and the Northern Territory. CASPA offers NDIS, Residential Care, guardianship, foster care and adoption for children and youth. CASPA’s annual budget is more than $60 million dollars.

Previously, I have been the general manager at Regional Arts NSW and NORPA; Director of Finance at Melbourne Theatre Company; Director of Finance and Operations of the CPSU; Director of Special Projects at SEIU and General Manager of Pacific AIDS Resource Centre.

My grandparents are from Mudgeereba. In my very early childhood, my father became a sand miner and I grew up along the coast in Queensland and New South Wales. Eventually, my parents settled in Port Stephens where I finished high school.

After high school I moved to Newcastle where I worked at BHP’s blast furnace and earned enough to emigrate to Canada. In Canada I worked on farms and at ski resorts in Banff and later moved to Vancouver and became Audience Services Manager of the Pacific Gateway Theatre and then general manager of the Pacific AIDS Resource Centre.

I attended the University of Nevada, Reno and studied accounting with a minor in American Literature.

In Lismore, I am the past co-chair of the Lismore Chamber of Commerce and Industry and past co-chair of Creative Lismore.

At NORPA, we survived the flood of 2017 with a fundraiser that went out of town to raise money from Sydney Theatre Company, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Opera Australia and many others. I gained $1.4 million in state funds that allowed the refurbishment of the facilities lights, sound and many aspects of the building to create a true festival hall. The new equipment was able to lower operating costs through energy savings and lower hire fees for missing equipment for those booking the venue.

NORPA, like any business, must generate revenue. My job was to put paying “bums on seats”. This also brought customers to restaurants and pubs before and after our events. However, Lismore’s population is shrinking due to Council policies which makes it very hard for any business to survive, let alone grow in Lismore. That is why I am convinced of the need to increase our population base – to increase our rates base, increase business opportunities and get Lismore back to a vibrant and thriving city.

It was at NORPA that my decision to run for Council was fermented. I achieved funding for a large outdoor sign and it took three years to build it through an arduous Development Application process. Also, Council provides $180,000 per year to NORPA the lowest amount of any city in Australia – the next lowest is Griffith at $750,000 – and each year the Council sought to defund its contribution.

I am passionate and committed about Lismore and want to see it grow!

What is your vision for Lismore over the next 3 years?

Lismore has a declining population and we need to turn that around if we want to remain a dynamic and vibrant city. It impacts everything from the rate base and our ability to invest in roads and other assets to the business dynamics of our city. So, I’ll be promoting Lismore and looking at all policy decisions to achieve population growth.

What are your objectives being a councillor?

To provide good governance and clear directions, through the general manager, to provide transparent decision making. That would include setting standards (or KPI’s) for service delivery, development applications, and all other aspects of Lismore City Council operations that makes it obvious how we are doing and how we are improving.

What was your motivation to become a councillor?

I was the general manager of NORPA and co-chair of Lismore Chamber of Commerce and Industry and saw and felt first-hand how slow and cumbersome council is in its decision making. Indeed, they changed their minds too regularly and we could not keep up with the ever-changing landscape.

How does Lismore become a vibrant, prosperous city?

We need to grow Lismore! That means more housing across all markets, more ratepayers and more services from businesses and not-for-profits that will come with population growth. And, with that population growth, we can increase revenues and spread the rate burden for investment into roads and other assets.

Do you hold any concerns for the region that has not been addressed?

Water has been a big issue with many divisive opinions. The decision by the state government to take over flood mitigation and water security and have the CSIRO investigate them is a relief. I ask everyone to support the recommendations and advice of the Scientists from the CSIRO when they finally deliver it.