Full list of Brisbane City Council candidates by ward
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Brisbane City Council is the largest local government body in Australia. On Saturday, March 19, Brisbane voters will have to make their choice on who will get their vote.
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See our comprehensive list of candidates for this year’s election. Seats and candidates are in alphabetical order, with sitting councillors at the top of each ward.
WARDS
BRACKEN RIDGE
ABOUT BRACKEN RIDGE: The Bracken Ridge Ward includes the suburbs of Bracken Ridge, Bald Hills, Carseldine, Fitzgibbon, parts of Aspley and Zillmere and a small part of Bridgeman Downs. There were a few minor border changes in the recent redistribution including losing a small section of Geebung, Bridgeman Downs and Deagon. Key sites in the ward include the Tinchi Tamba Reserve Wetlands, Fitzgibbon District Park and Bracken Ridge State High School.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Amanda Cooper (LNP)
Age: 50
Occupation before election: Urban planning and economic development adviser
About: Cr Cooper has represented the Bracken Ridge ward since 2007 and has been a member of Civic Cabinet since 2008. She has a Bachelor of Arts (double major in Government) from The University of Queensland. Before entering politics, Cr Cooper worked on urban planning and economic development policy with previous Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, including the implementation of the council’s Neighbourhood Planning process. She has been the chair of the Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment Committee since 2008 and is also a member of the Inclusive Brisbane Board. Cr Cooper, her husband Geoff and their three children have been active members of local school, bush care and sporting associations.
ALP
Name: Cath Palmer
Age: 47
Occupation: Print journalist and newspaper sub editor
About: Her parents built their first home in the Bracken Ridge ward in 1970 and she attended Sacred Heart Primary School at Sandgate, and graduated from St John Fisher College. She then started studying to be a high school English teacher at QUT before starting a journalism cadetship at Queensland Newspapers. She has worked in both Queensland and New Zealand as a print journalist and was editor of the Northside Chronicle in 2006. She now works as a newspaper sub editor. She is married to Brad and has five sons aged between 12 and 24.
THE GREENS
Name: Keith Skelton
Age: 60
Occupation: Nursing lecturer
About: Mr Skelton has lived Boondall and Bracken Ridge for the past 18 years. He contested the Bracken Ridge ward in the last local government elections and has run as a Greens candidate in a State Government election. His main focuses are on developments being balanced with the natural environment, making public transport a more realistic option for people and increasing local community investments.
CALAMVALE
ABOUT CALAMVALE: The new seat of Calamvale will include Calamvale, Stretton, Drewvale, Parkinson, Algester, Larapinta and Heathwood. Key sites include the Karawatha Forest, a large portion of Oxley Creek and the Glider Forest Conservation Area. The former seat of Parkinson had included Forest Lake and Pallara which will go to the new Forest Lake ward.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Angela Owen-Taylor (LNP councillor for the now defunct Parkinson Ward)
Age: 49
Occupation before election: Certified practising accountant and university lecturer
About: Cr Owen-Taylor was elected as the first councillor for the Parkinson Ward in 2008 as part of former Lord Mayor Campbell Newman’s team and then re-elected in 2012 the team for with Lord Mayor Graham Quirk. Cr Owen-Taylor has lived in the local community for almost 30 years. Before entering politics she was a certified practicing accountant and worked at all levels of government as well as in the corporate sector. Her roles have included senior management and financial controller positions, ministerial and political advisory and lecturing in Masters of Business and Masters of Professional Accounting at university. She took over the role of Chairman of Council from Cr Margaret de Wit last year and is deputy chair of the Finance, Economic Development and Administration committee.
THE GREENS
Name: Janina Leo
Age: 37
Occupation: Psychologist
About: The Green’s candidate is a registered psychologist and is studying a Master of Clinical Psychology. The mother-of-four has experience in the disability sector, media and arts.
She supports a diverse and sustainable local economy for families, accountable and transparent local government and the protection of local green spaces.
ALP
Name: Mucktar Wesseh
Age: 31
Occupation: Public servant
About: Mr Wesseh is married and a father of two boys. He has a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice and a Master in Forensic Mental Health from Griffith University and is a criminologist by qualification. His passion for social justice and protecting the community led to his employment with Queensland Corrective Services as a Correctional Officer and later as a Program Delivery Officer where he delivered the therapeutic rehabilitation programs to prisoners. After being made redundant in 2012 by the Newman LNP government, Mucktar worked in the not-for-profit community sector with refugees and migrants before moving into his current position with Queensland Department of Communities.
CENTRAL
ABOUT CENTRAL WARD: Central Ward saw a few changes in the recent boundary re-distribution. The ward now includes the Central Business District, Fortitude Valley, New Farm, Spring Hill, Wilston, Herston and all of Bowen Hills, Fortitude Valley, Grange, all of Newmarket, Newstead (Teneriffe) and Windsor. It loses Kelvin Grove, Windsor and a small section of Grange. Key sites include the CBD, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane Showgrounds and Victoria Park.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Vicki Howard (LNP)
Age: 63
Occupation before politics: Environment, health and safety manager for large international security company
About: Cr Howard was elected during the 2012 council election and helped deliver the CityGlider, the missing Riverwalk link at New Farm and the introduction of the 40 km speed limit at Kedron Brook Rd and through the New Farm commercial area to improve road safety.
She is a volunteer with the Queensland Police Service Recruitment Panel, Northgate and Spring Hill Local Ambulance Committee, Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Windsor and Districts Historical Society. In council she serves as deputy chair of the Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment committee.
ALP
Name: Amber Hawkins
Age: 39
Occupation: Corporate affairs manager/lawyer
About: The lawyer by trade works with Newstead based not-for-profit GIVIT as a Corporate Affairs Manager. She has worked for Suncorp and as an adviser to a federal senator. She has a Bachelor of Laws (Hons)/Bachelor of Arts. She is married to David and has three children. She started her career at a national law firm advising on corporate governance and financial services, before taking a leave of absence to work as a senior adviser to a federal senator. She then returned to work in the private sector as an executive at Suncorp. As well as her role at a not-for-profit she also enjoys serving on the management committee at her daughter’s kindergarten.
THE GREENS
Name: Kirsten Lovejoy
Age: 42
Occupation: Climate change policy analyst
About: The Central ward candidate has a focus on a transparent and accountable system, planning and development for people and environment, better public transport, growing social conscience and sense of community and innovation.
CHANDLER
ABOUT CHANDLER WARD: The Chandler Ward will stay largely the same, but has seen a few boundary changes in the recent re-distribution. The ward includes Carindale, Chandler, Burbank, Mackenzie, parts of Belmont and Rochedale. It will also now include all of Mansfield, Ransome, all of Gumdale and a section of Wakerley. The ward no longer includes parts of Carina Heights, Mt Gravatt East and Camp Hill. Key sites in the ward include the Tingalpa Reservoir, Pacific Golf Club and Westfield Carindale.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Adrian Schrinner (LNP)
Age: 38
Occupation before politics: Federal Government policy adviser and Australian Defence Force
About: Adrian has served as the councillor for the Chandler ward since September 2005. In April 2011 he was elected by his colleagues as Deputy Mayor to incumbent Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, and became the youngest in the city’s history. Cr Schrinner is chairman of the council’s Infrastructure committee and was chairman of the Finance, Administration and Economic Development committee between 2008 and 2012. Cr Schrinner lives Carindale with his wife Nina, their daughter Octavia and son Wolfgang. He went to school at Christian Outreach College (now Citipointe College) and joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) when he left school. He was later an advisor to Federal and Local Government elected representatives. Adrian is actively involved in supporting and assisting a wide range of local community groups, including environment and bushcare groups, sporting groups, church groups and charities, Neighbourhood Watch groups and seniors associations.
ALP
Name: Torryn Saker
Age: 20
Occupation: Unknown
About: He has been involved in his local Scouts group and has lived in Wakerley for almost a decade. He has a focus on reducing congestion, improving public transport and taking a stand against bad development.
THE GREENS
Name: Geoff Ebbs
Age: 57
Occupation: Author
About: Mr Ebbs is the author and publisher of a range of books about sustainability and social justice including Cry Me a River, World Poverty for Dummies, Sustainable Living for Dummies and Sydney’s Guide to Saving the Planet. His small business consultancy, Ebono Institute, invests in start up companies and supports community and independent media. He contested the Federal seat of Griffith in 2013, at the 2014 by-election and is again the endorsed Green candidate for Griffith for this year’s federal election.
COORPAROO
ABOUT COORPAROO WARD: The new Coorparoo ward will include Coorparoo, Greenslopes, part of Annerley, part of Camp Hill and Carina Heights. Key sites include Whites Hill Reserve, Ekibin Park and the Stones Corner retail and hospitality precinct. Holland Park councillor Ian McKenzie is running for the seat although not technically the sitting councillor of the seat.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Ian McKenzie (former LNP councillor for the Holland Park Ward)
Age: 68
Occupation before politics: Senior human resources manager
About: Cr McKenzie was elected in 2008 as part of former Lord Mayor Campbell Newman’s team and then re-elected with incumbent Lord Mayor Graham Quirk’s team in 2012. Cr McKenzie is married to Josie, a teacher, and has twin adult daughters. He is deputy chairman of the Infrastructure committee and sits on the Field Services committee. He holds a BA majoring in political science, a Masters of Business Administration and a Masters of Public Administration. He owned the Morningside Childcare Centre for 13 years.
ALP
Name: Matt Campbell
Age: 38
Occupation: University lecturer
About: Mr Campbell has worked in education for more than 20 years and has held leadership positions in both secondary schools and higher educations. He has postgraduate qualifications in management and educational leadership, and educational law. He is married with five children, with his eldest nearing completion of high school and the others attending a local primary school. He is a board member of the Mt Gravatt Community Centre, is the Deputy Chair of the Brisbane Council of Parents and Friends (P&F), a member of the QCEC Student Protection Sub-committee, former member of Rotary International, member of St Vincent de Paul Society since 1994 and was previously involved with the Volunteer Refugee Tutoring and Community Service (VORTCS) program. He received a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of service to the community. He is also involved in several sporting clubs including Victor Street Scouts and the Tarragindi Tigers Soccer Club.
PEOPLE DECIDE
Name: Grigory Graborenko
Age: 30
Occupation: Software developer
About: He has a Bachelor’s in Science with a major in Computer Science. He has worked in both industrial software engineering as well as web development, with almost 20 years of programming experience. He is an avid fan of history, and his curiosity about why egalitarian models of government have failed in the past has led him to the concept of participatory democracy.
THE GREENS
Name: David Hale
Age: 32
Occupation: Drug and alcohol counsellor
About: The Greens candidate, who ran in the last State Government election, has a focus on strengthening local community groups to help ease poverty, crime and unemployment. Mr Hale has volunteered and worked with church groups, Crime Stoppers, hospitals and anti-poverty projects.
DEAGON
ABOUT DEAGON WARD: The Deagon ward includes Boondall, Brighton, Deagon, Sandgate, Shorncliffe, Taigum and Moreton Island (including the townships of Bulwer, Cowan and Kooringal) as well as parts of Geebung, Virginia and Zillmere. No major changes were made in the recent boundary redistribution. Key sites in the ward include Tangalooma, Brisbane Entertainment Centre and Boondall Wetlands Reserve. The seat is held by the ALP’s Jared Cassidy who took over after long-term Deagon councillor Victoria Newton resigned last year.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Jared Cassidy (ALP)
Age: 26
Occupation before politics: Small business owner and staffer to former Deagon councillor Victoria Newton
About: Cr Cassidy went to Shorncliffe State School and Nudgee College and he has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of International Relations from Griffith University. He also has completed a Cert 4 in Frontline Management. His family has long connection to the region going back to his great-grandmother who was a Station Mistress at the Deagon Train Station. He has been involved in local groups in roles including secretary of the Sandgate Chamber of Commerce, treasurer of the Einbunpin Festival Committee and member of the Sandgate Hawks Football Club fundraising committee.
LNP
Name: Kerry Millard
Age: 43
Occupation: Former State Government MP and sales and marketing manager for metals manufacturing company.
About: The former MP for Sandgate was raised in Texas, a small country town west of Brisbane, before moving Brisbane almost 30 years ago to finish her studies and start work in the metals and manufacturing sector. She has lived in the area for 20 years and will focus on road and congestion-busting projects, environment projects and the PCYC farm at the race-course. During her time in State Government she was involved the Domestic Violence Taskforce led by Dame Quentin Bryce and the Malone Review to improve conditions for volunteer emergency service personnel.
THE GREENS
Name: Anthony Walsh
Age: 47
Occupation: Health promotion
About: The long-term local went to high school in Deagon and has lived in Deagon, Sandgate and Shorncliffe since 1989. In the early 1990s he was a leader in the successful campaign to save Deagon Wetlands and is a founding member of Bayside Area Green Living, which conducted educational workshops and tree plantings between 1991 and 2000. He is also a regular MC and performer at the Unplugged Café and hosts a monthly stand-up comedy evening at the Cardigan Bar. His focus is on improving public transport hubs and council’s role in encouraging more people to grow their own food.
DOBOY
ABOUT DOBOY WARD: The ward has reduced in size since the boundary review. Suburbs include Carina, Hemmant, Murarrie, Tingalpa, Wakerley large parts of Cannon Hill and a small portion of Belmont. The ward has lost its portion of the Seven Hills Bushland Reserve, a large part of Ransome, a small portion of Wakerley, a small part of Camp Hill, a small portion of Manly West, Gumdale and Wynnum West. The seat was created in the 1982 council election and held by the ALP’s John Campbell until 2012.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Ryan Murphy (LNP)
Age: 27
Occupation before politics: Public relations and communications professional
About: Cr Murphy is lifelong resident of the eastern suburbs, attending Carina State School and then Iona College at Lindum. After graduating he joined the Australian Army Reserves as a Signaller, before going on to study at The University of Queensland. He was elected in 2012 and became Brisbane’s youngest councillor. Before entering politics he was employed in the private sector as a public relations consultant to some of the state’s biggest infrastructure and resource projects. Cr Murphy has lived in since 2013 and he serves as a patron for the Friends of Tingalpa Cemetery Heritage Group, All Gauge Model Railway Club, Mayfield Marlins Swimming Club, Balmoral Cycling Club, Wynnum & District Horse & Pony Club Inc and the
Minnippi parkrun. He serves as the deputy chairman of the Finance, Economic Development and Administration committee and is a member of the Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment committee.
ALP
Name: Kerryn Loose Jones
Age: 40
Occupation: Swimming teacher
About: Ms Loose Jones has a Bachelor of Early Childhood. She has been involved in local campaigns including the Save Whites Hill State College oval community campaign. She is a member of several community groups including Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee, Carina Leagues Club, Whites Hill Swimming Club, RNA and Queensland Art Gallery. She is married to Ben and has three children. She has volunteered with the Carina Leagues CJ’s Swim Club at the Clem Jones Centre as well as taking on a part time role with the club that now sees her teaching learn to swim and water safety to young adults with an intellectual disability, as well as young children at Whites Hill Swimming Club in Camp Hill. She is an active parent on the school P&C and Kindergarten PAG.
GREENS
Name: David Nelson
Age: 54
Occupation: Electrical engineer
About: The engineer and economist has lived and worked in many countries and he has experience in technology and legislation and planning and supervising large projects. He has a focus on improve and reduce the cost of public transportation, revitalise local economies, improve drainage in Hemmant to reduce the chance of flooding, clean up and revitalize the foreshore and riverside, convince other levels of government to improve local health services and restore the Emergency Department in Wynnum Hospital.
INDEPENDENT
Name: Luke Quinn
Age: 31
Occupation: Computer programmer/software engineer
About: Mr Quinn stands for accountability and transparency in local government, ensuring residents have their health, wealth, and well-being protected. He wants to prevent inappropriate development around our flood plains, and instead invest in restoring and better utilising the ward’s natural assets. His plans aim to reduce flooding, pests, and congestion, while promoting day tourism, public health, recreation, education, and the local economy.
ENOGGERA
ABOUT ENOGGERA WARD: The Enoggera Ward includes Enoggera, Ferny Grove, Gaythorne, Keperra, Mitchelton and parts of Alderley, Grange and Newmarket. Upper Kedron was removed from the ward in the boundary re-distribution and part of Ashgrove and Windsor are now included. Key sites in the ward are Banks Street Reserve, Enoggera Memorial Park and the Enoggera Army Barracks.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Andrew Wines (LNP)
Age: 31
Occupation before politics: Facilities management
About: Cr Wines was first elected in 2008 and re-elected in 2012 as part of Lord Mayor Graham Quirk’s team. The Alderley resident, who has also lived in lived in Keperra and Enoggera, went to Mt Maria College (Mitchelton and Enoggera) and QUT. Cr Wines degree in Business, majoring in Economics and Marketing and worked for Spotless as part of the South Bank TAFE refurbishment project management team before joining the council. He is involved in a range of local groups including being a patron of the Westside Football Club and Mitchelton Youth Club and being an occasional player for the Ferny Fireballs cricket club. Cr Wines is the council’s administration whip and is deputy chairman of the Brisbane Lifestyle committee. He is also a member of the Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment committee.
THE GREENS
Name: Kristy Ksiazek
Age: 23
Occupation: Wholefoods cafe manager
About: The cafe manager has a focus on the protection and expansion of green spaces in the ward, to return a sense of inclusion and influence over the planning and development decisions impacting the ward to residents and community consultation in planning and development. She has a Bachelor of Science majoring in Botany is active in community education, having organised and delivered awareness events regarding the essential role bats play in the environment.
ALP
Name: Amanda Ronan-Hearn
Age: 32
Occupation: Electorate officer for Kate Jones
About: The Enoggera resident has a Bachelor of Business (majoring in Human Resource Management and Advertising) and a Bachelor of Creative Industries. She is a mum to her young son with her partner Robert. She is a member of Neighbourhood Watch, the local Lions Club, a board member of QUT Alumni, president of the QUT Young Alumni board and the co-founder of the Creative Industries Alumni group. Her decade in the private sector includes work across a range of industries and companies including Virgin Australia, BoysTown, Arete Executive, Vita Group, and Australian Academic Press.
FOREST LAKE
ABOUT FOREST LAKE WARD: The new Forest Lake ward replaces Richlands ward, held by ALP Opposition Leader Milton Dick. Cr Dick announced his move to run for the Federal seat of Oxley last year, leaving the new seat open to new candidates. The ward now includes Ellen Grove, Inala, Richlands, Sumner, Wacol and parts of Darra, Doolandella, Durack, Forest Lake, Oxley and Willawong. Key sites include Forest Lake, Kev Hooper Memorial Park and Inala State School.
NO SITTING COUNCILLOR
LNP
Name: Leanne McFarlane
Age: 51
Occupation: Registered nurse
About: The aged care worker providing assistance to the elderly and peace of mind for their families. In addition to her professional life, Leanne has also spent numerous years serving the community as a member of The Salvation Army.
She was heavily involved in the Brisbane flood relief, has delivered Christmas hampers and presents to families identified as going without, while also preparing Christmas presents for delivery to Nursing Homes and visiting the sick in hospital. Leanne says it’s this inherent desire to help the vulnerable and those without a voice that prompted her to run for Council in 2016. She said the Forest Lake ward has been under-represented in recent years with issues such as uneven footpaths, poor roads, and a lack of bus shelters a major concern for residents.
Leanne also has a desire to support local youth by providing services and amenities to keep them engaged and active. Having previously been a Guide and Brownie leader for 10 years, Leanne has found working with young girls a privilege to help them become more prepared for adulthood. Leanne and her husband Kim have one daughter and have lived in the Forest Lake area for 12 years.
THE GREENS
Name: Jenny Mulkearns
Age: 53
Occupation: Queensland Health project manager
About: She has lived locally since 2003 after living in several regional areas in Queensland. The Project Manager has a focus on quality infrastructure that supports the community and commercial activities. She volunteers with St Vinnie’s Volunteer Refugee Tutoring and Community Support program for refugee families in Inala and internationally supports organisations including Habitat for Humanity, Homeless World Cup and a small school and orphanage in Siem Reap, Cambodia. She also works as a volunteer teacher for a month every year in Cambodia. She has an interest in improving public transport infrastructure in the western corridor, support and value the ethnic diversity of our community, protecting new arrivals and refugees and improving and developing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, develop sustainable and affordable housing solutions and support small local businesses to provide long-term sustainable local employment.
ALP
Name: Charles Strunk
Age: 62
Occupation: Electorate officer for Annastacia Palaszczuk
About: For 15 years Mr Strunk has worked for the Inala State MP, former MP Henry Palaszczuk and now Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. He graduated in 1972 from Grandview High School, Columbus Ohio and immigrated to Australia from the US in 1973 at 19. His first job was in retail and he worked as both a salesman and manager for 20 years. He has been a member of Lions Clubs International Forest Lake Club for 21 years, the Forest Lake Community House Association and the South West Progress Association for 15 years, the Inala Police Citizen Youth Club for 12 years. He is also a member of the Forest Lake Graffiti Busters and the Inala HUB Neighbourhood Centre.
HAMILTON
ABOUT HAMILTON WARD: Very few changes have been made to the Hamilton ward since the boundary change. The ward includes Albion, Ascot, Clayfield, Eagle Farm, Hamilton, Pinkenba, Wooloowin and parts of Lutwyche, Nundah, Teneriffe and Windsor. Part of Newstead and Bowen Hills has been removed from the ward. Key sites include Brisbane Airport and the northern shore of the Brisbane Port.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: David McLachlan (LNP)
Age: 58
Occupation before politics: Journalist and communications consultant
About: The former television journalist and political consultant was elected to council in October 2006. Cr McLachlan has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours in Political Science) and worked as a radio and television reporter before becoming an advisor to a Federal Cabinet Minister. Married with two children, he is active in local sporting groups and lives in Hendra. He is chairman of the Field Services committee which oversees maintaining parks, footpaths, pest control, mosquito management and graffiti.
ALP
Name: Philip Anthony
Age: 48
Occupation: Solicitor
About: Mr Anthony has lived in the Hamilton ward for more than 20 years. He lives with his wife and three children who attend local primary and high schools. He has a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) and has spent 25 years in private legal practices. He volunteers at the Nundah Community Legal Service and as a Member of the QRL Judiciary, as well as at his children’s schools.
THE GREENS
Name: Rachel Hannam
Age: 39
Occupation: Psychologist
About: The business owner and psychologist has a focus on local economies, public transport, and family welfare. She has served the community in roles including a public school teacher, researcher and academic. Between 2010-2012 she had a pivotal role in helping Northey Street City Farm in Windsor become a more sustainable organisation, helping oversee a review and restructure process. She has also worked with various non-profit organisations around Brisbane, helping them to transform conflict, improve their organisational culture, and enhance the effectiveness of their internal processes. Her interests include, affordable, accessible and reliable public transport, better bus connectivity between the suburbs, local and small businesses, affordable housing solutions, improvements in pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, the protection of bushlands and waterways, waste reduction and recycling and creation of community spaces to reduce social isolation of vulnerable residents.
HOLLAND PARK
ABOUT HOLLAND PARK WARD: The new Holland Park ward’s boundary has shifted to the south with the re-distribution. The ward includes the suburbs of Holland Park, Holland Park West, Tarragindi, Mount Gravatt and Mount Gravatt East. It no longer includes Greenslopes, Coorparoo and part of Camp Hill. Key sites in the ward include Mount Gravatt Outlook Reserve and Griffith University Mount Gravatt campus.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Krista Adams (LNP councillor for the now defunct Wishart Ward)
Age: 46
Occupation before politics: Teacher
About: Cr Adams was elected in 2008 as part of former Lord Mayor Campbell Newman’s team. The former health and physical education teacher and group fitness instructor is the daughter of popular long-serving councillor Gail Chiconi, who served the area for 12 years. Cr Adams grew up in Mansfield and went to St. Catherine’s School in Wishart and Loreto College in Coorparoo. Cr Adams serves as the Chair of the Brisbane Lifestyle Committee and before that served as Chair of Council (2010-2012) and as deputy chair of the Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment committee.
THE GREENS
Name: Karen Anderson
Age: 51
Occupation: Legal practice manager and small business owner
About: The practice manager is also a mum and singer has worked in the management in the corporate sector both in Australia and overseas and as a university researcher. She will have a focus on public transport, community, identity and liveability and the environment.
ALP
Name: Adam Obeid
Age: 26
Occupation: ALP organiser
About: Mr Obeid has experience working for Council, State and Federal Governments. He went to Mansfield High School and went on to study a Bachelor of Arts at Griffith University (on-hold). He married wife Sumar who also grew up on the south side. He is the president of a local charity which was established to support the wider community following the Queensland Floods. Adam and his family also assist with fundraising events for the Queensland Cancer Council Relay for Life. He and his team have raised more than $70,000 to support patients, their carers and cancer research.
JAMBOREE
ABOUT JAMBOREE WARD: The southwest ward has undergone a major expansion since the boundary re-distribution, now double its land size. The ward still contains the suburbs of Seventeen Mile Rocks, Jindalee, Mt Ommaney, Westlake, Riverhills, Sinnamon Park, Jamboree Heights and Middle Park. It now also includes all of Darra and Wacol and a small part of Carole Park. It now includes a very small section of Oxley, and no part of Corinda.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Matthew Bourke (LNP)
Age: 33
Occupation before politics: Small business owner
About: Cr Bourke in 2008 as part of former Lord Mayor Campbell Newman’s team. Before being elected he was a small business owner. He is an active member of the Centenary Suburbs Historical Society and has had a long association with the Rotary Club of Jindalee, Centenary Meals on Wheels, Centenary Community Connections and the Centenary Chamber of Commerce. Cr Bourke chairman of the council’s Environment, Parks and Sustainability committee and sits on the Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment Committee.
THE GREENS
Name: Dorotee Braun
Age: 48
Occupation: Small business owner
About: The Sinnamon Park since 2004 has a professional background in nursing and architecture and she owns a small business in Sumner with her my husband. She is a volunteer with the Sustainable Jamboree community group and she led a successful petition to council to improve cycling and pedestrian infrastructure and a program in schools to help households lower their carbon footprint. She was an active member of the Jindalee State School P&C for 11 years and as part of the Active School Travel committee she consulted with the council, its traffic planners, the local MP and Translink to achieve a new bus service to Jindalee State School from non-serviced areas. Her focuses include public transport including better bus connectivity between the suburbs, high frequency feeder buses to Darra and Oxley train station, local employment, lower non-residential council rates, sustainable and affordable housing solutions, community renewable energy and improving cycling a pedestrian infrastructure. She also wants to work in waste reduction, protection local bushland and waterways and covering of coal trains.
ALP
Name: Matt Johns
Age: 31
Occupation: Retail and Personal Trainer
About: He is married to wife Nicole and has a young son. He lived in London for two years with his wife and worked as a personal trainer. He now works for a retails company. He is an active member of the One Sight Charity which gives free eye care to underprivileged schools, primary and high schools and to rural remote areas of Australia. He just finished their last clinic for 2015 which was Mount Isa to Townsville. He works locally in retail and his wife Nicole is a childcare teacher in Middle Park. He has a focus on cuts to public transport in the Jamboree area and is supporting Rail Back on Track’s proposal to connect the Centenary suburbs with the Oxley and Darra train stations all day long. He believes it would offer Jamboree residents the best possible access to public transport without being stuck in traffic on the Centenary motorway.
MCDOWALL
ABOUT MCDOWALL WARD: The McDowall Ward includes the suburbs of McDowall, Everton Park and parts of Aspley, Bridgeman Downs, Chermside West, Stafford and Stafford Heights. The ward had few changes in the boundary re-distribution with the exception of the including more of Bridgeman Downs and Aspley. Key sites include Chermside Hills Reserve and the council’s Pinnaroo Cemetary.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Norm Wyndham (LNP)
Age: 63
Occupation before politics: Teacher
About: Cr Wyndham was first elected in the McDowall Ward in 2004. The former high school teacher acted as the Lord Mayor’s spokesperson for Council’s Community Services committee in his first term and was a member of the Environment and Sustainability committee. For his first two terms he was also the chairperson for Clean Up Australia Day for Brisbane. Before joining the council he worked as a Manual Arts Teacher with 26 years as an educator. He now is Deputy Chair for Field Services and sits on the Infrastructure committee. He has a great interest in environmental issues and is a passionate outdoorsman with hobbies including camping, bushwalking, fishing and yachting.
ALP
Name: Liam Culverhouse
Age: 35
Occupation: IT consultant
About: The Stafford Heights residents has a Diploma in Information Technology and is married to Rebecca. His community involvement includes Neighbourhood Watch and he is heavily involved in junior basketball, refereeing, coaching and playing. He has raised thousands of dollars for community and health causes over the past few years including for ‘Movember’ and has dedicated more than 20 years to volunteering and mentoring children and young people through his work in basketball and other sporting clubs.
THE GREENS
Name: Joshua Sanderson
Age:
Occupation: Video game developer
About: The entrepreneur is passionate about the digital economy and what it can bring to Australia and Brisbane. Brisbane is his hometown and his interests are in making public transport a reliable and attractive option for commuters, the influence money has on the political system and community consultation.
MACGREGOR
ABOUT MACGREGOR WARD: The boundary re-distribution and abolition of the Wishart ward means the new MacGregor ward includes the suburbs of MacGregor, Robertson, more of Eight Mile Plains, Wishart and Upper Mount Gravatt. The ward will not longer include Sunnybank, Runcorn and Kuraby. Key sites include Westfield Garden City, DM Henderson Park and Dittmer Park.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Steven Huang (LNP)
Age: 40
Occupation before politics: Resources and export professional
About: Cr Huang has been the council’s representative for the MacGregor Ward since 2011. He arrived in Brisbane from Taiwan in 1988 as a 12-year-old who spoke very little English. Now having lived here for more than 20 years, he is a proud local with strong ties to the community.
He studied in the area at Runcorn Heights State School and Runcorn State High School and went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree at The University of Queensland with a double major in Government and a Master of Public Administration degree. Cr Huang is fluent in Mandarin and understands Cantonese, skills he uses to engage with the ward’s multicultural communities. Cr Huang is also the deputy chair of the Public and Active Transport committee and is a member of the Brisbane Lifestyle committee.
ALP
Name: Dr Tom Huang
Age: 35
Occupation: Doctor
About: Dr Huang has spent most of his working life serving as a critical care doctor has spent considerable time in rural and remote Northern Territory and rural Queensland. Tom received his Private Pilot License in 2011 and is now nearing the completion of his Commercial Pilot License. Tom enjoys his role as a volunteer pilot for Angel Flight and as a CASA Designated Aviation Medical Examiner. He also holds aspirations to become a flight instructor, hoping to make people’s dream of flying a reality. Locally he has a focus on reducing traffic congestion.
THE GREENS
Name: Patsy O’Brien
Age: 39
Occupation: General manager
About: The general manager for a heavy machinery business on the southside has 20 years experience in the public and private sector in administration and management. She has volunteered and raised funds for charities supporting the homeless, refugees and survivors of domestic violence. She will have a focus on more accessible and affordable public transport, proper community consultation on development, transparency in council, including an end to donations by vested interests, supporting music, the arts and community centres, promoting tolerance and diversity, supporting local businesses and fostering local economic development
MARCHANT
ABOUT MARCHANT WARD: The ward includes parts of Chermside, Chermside West, Alderley, Aspley, Enoggera, Geebung, Gordon Park, Grange, Stafford, Stafford Heights, Kedron, Lutwyche, Wavell Heights and Windsor. The northside ward saw little change with the boundary re-distribution with the exception of losing a small portion of Aspley to the McDowall ward and a small section of Newman Rd in Wavell Heights. There were some minor street changes on the northern border.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Fiona King (LNP)
Age: 43
Occupation before election: Property
About: Cr King was elected as councillor for the Marchant Ward in 2008. Before entering politics she worked in real estate and the service industry, including five-star hotels. Since the last election she has served as deputy chair in the Environment, Parks and Sustainability committee and is a member of the Finance, Economic Development and Administration committee. Previously she was deputy chair of the Families and Community Services committee and sat on the Public and Active Transport and Economic Development committee. Having young children she is interested in creating a quality environment for families and has campaigned for solutions to local crime and drug problems and initiated efforts to improve a local shopping strip.
THE GREENS
Name: Richard Nielsen
Age: 65
Occupation: Retired teacher, both high school and TAFE, and founding member of Northey Street City Farm
About: The founder and 20-year veteran of Northey Street City Farm in Windsor has worked as a teacher at both Everton Park High School and Grovelly TAFE. Mr Nielsen will be focused
looking after the environment, development issues, traffic congestion as well as the lack of community engagement. He has also proposed a council-supported ongoing community forum of people representative of the ward.
ALP
Name: Stephanie Serhan
Age: 32
Occupation: Academic and lecturer
About: The Windsor resident has studied a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), Studying a Masters of Economics (University of Queensland) and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (East Gippsland Institute of TAFE). She is married to Tarek and together are the proud parents of Medina and Latifa. She teaches at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in the areas of financial accounting and accounting theory, was a contributor to the TJ Ryan Foundation, a Queensland public policy and administration think tank. She has lived in a number of cities and regional towns when he husband served as and Officer with the Royal Australian Air Force.
MOOROOKA
ABOUT MOOROOKA WARD: The southside ward has increased in boundary size since the redistribution. The ward now takes in Pallara, Willawong, part of Oxley and all of Rocklea as well as previous suburbs Moorooka, Archerfield, Acacia Ridge, Salisbury, Nathan and Coopers Plains. The ward will lose a small portion of Lower Sunnybank, Yeerongpilly and the suburb of Tarragindi. Key sites in the ward include Toohey Forest Conservation Park, Griffith University’s Nathan campus and Archerfield Airport.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Steve Griffiths (ALP)
Age: 48
Occupation before politics: Special education teacher, TAFE lecturer and tutor at The University of Queensland
About: Cr Griffiths was elected 2004 after replacing former councillor Mark Bailey in 2003. His qualifications include a Diploma of Teaching (Special Education), a Bachelor of Social Work and a Masters of Social Work from The University of Queensland. He has taught in Special Education and Alternative Education programs, lectured at TAFE and tutored at The University of Queensland. Cr Griffiths is involved in a number of community organisations including being a board membership of the Domestic Violence Resource Centre and Project Micah, work with Queensland Council of Social Service as well as involvement with other Moorooka Street Festival, the Oxley Creek Catchment Association, the Moorooka Greening Group and other arts projects.
THE GREENS
Name: Leo Campbell
Age: 26
Occupation: Special educational teacher aide
About: Mr Campbell works with people with special needs and who study English as a second language. He is a focus on banning uncovered coal trains through Moorooka, improving public transport, implementing more local events that celebrate and promote the diversity of the area, responsible and sustainable development that embraces public consultation.
LNP
Name: Brett Gillespie
Age: 37
Occupation: Solutions architect (IT)
About: Mr Gillespie was born and raised in the south of Brisbane and he did most of his schooling at Mt Gravatt State School and Brisbane State High School. He started his professional life running a small IT business, he created a successful business and after 10 years evolved into his current profession as a solution architect, who delivers innovative ideas in the area of information communication technology. Brett has been married to school teacher Elizabeth for more than 14 years and has three children who attend local state schools. He has held a number of volunteer roles including Neighbourhood Watch Area-Coordinator for more than six years, president of the P&C at his children’s primary school and president of a local junior cricket club.
MORNINGSIDE
ABOUT MORNINGSIDE WARD: The inner southeast ward includes the suburbs of Balmoral, Bulimba, Hawthorne, Morningside, Norman Park, Seven Hills and parts of Camp Hill and Cannon Hill. The new boundary distribution now includes all of the Seven Hills Bushland Reserve but loses part of Cannon Hill. Key sites include the Oxford St retail precinct, the Bulimba Barracks site and Easts Rugby Union Club.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Shayne Sutton (ALP)
Age: 37
Occupation before politics: Political staffer and government adviser
About: Cr Sutton was elected in 2004 and is the youngest woman ever to be elected to the council. Between 2008 and 2012 Cr Sutton was the ALP Opposition Leader in council. She now serves as the shadow spokesperson for Finance, Economic Development and Administration and is a member of the council’s Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment committee. She has a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Political Science and Public Administration) and a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours from Griffith University. The former Kevin Rudd staffer has was also an advisor to the Queensland Government before joining council. She lives in the ward with her husband in Stephen and their two children Sarah and Riley. Cr Sutton has campaigned on a number of local issues and is well-known for her range of community events including Movies in the Park, Princesses and Pirates Day and the Hocus Pocus Halloween Party.
LNP
Name: Nicole Hansson
Age: 45
Occupation: Small business owner of a boutique marketing agency
About: Ms Hansson born and bred in Brisbane and works and lives with her two children in the Morningside Ward. She was awarded Manager of the Year as Director of Member Services with Sanctuary Cove Resort and achieved a Queensland Government – Small Business Achievement award for her small business Oxford Street Bulimba Marketing where she has promoted and engaged the local small business community, schools, sporting clubs and community organisations. Nicole has a Bachelor of Arts in Asian and International Studies and s a Graduate Certificate in Urban Development and Sustainability. She is a member of the Brisbane Jazz Club, Bulimba District Historical Society and South East Brisbane Chamber of Commerce.
THE GREENS
Name: Peter Melrose
Age: 50
Occupation: Child and family therapist
About: The Morningside ward resident runs a small business as a child and family therapist. He is also the behaviour therapist on the Mornings program, broadcast nationally on Channel 9. He has been involved in several community service projects including developing the first anti-violence program for people in juvenile detention, he was the first man to work at the Domestic Violence Resource Centre in Brisbane. He is also an ambassador for White Ribbon Day and has been an advocate for refugees, stopping Aboriginal deaths in custody, working for better child protection services and mental health care, and the prevention of men’s violence in the community. His focuses include the impact of coal trains running through the ward, more green space, edible verges on footpaths, libraries becoming a more active community hub, safer communities, greater emphasis on community arts and support for local artists and better public transport. He had performed as a comedian at festivals including the Adelaide Fringe.
NORTHGATE
ABOUT NORTHGATE WARD: The northside ward saw only minor changes in the redistribution and includes the suburbs of Banyo, Nudgee, Northgate, Virginia, Nundah, Wavell Heights, Kedron, Nudgee Beach and Chermside. Key sites in the ward include the Boondall Wetlands, Kedron Brook Bikeway and the Nudgee Golf Club. Long-term ALP councillor Kim Flesser last year announced he would be retiring at the 2016 election.
NO SITTING COUNCILLOR
LNP
Name: Adam Allan
Age: 55
Occupation: Director of Social Impact Investment Consultancy, banking and finance executive
About: Mr Allan is a consulting and strategy specialist with more than 30 years of commercial experience in financial services and consulting. He has significant international experience having worked across Australia, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. His senior executive experience is complemented by directorship experience in Australia and abroad. He has a Master of Business Administration degree and a Bachelor Business degree with a major in Marketing. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia, an Associate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and an Associate Fellow of the Australasian Mutuals Institute.
GREENS
Name: James Davis
Age: 48
Occupation: Science teacher, former healthcare provider, former Officer in the Australian Army
About: The teacher has a focus on the protection of green zones, ecological sustainability, social justice and economic sustainability by building the Green Economy. He stands for putting people first, an honest, transparent and accountable system, planning and development for people and environment, a public transport system that works, growing the ward’s social conscience and sense of community and innovation and forward thinking.
ALP
Name: Reg Neil
Age: 52
Occupation: Public servant
About: A radio/television mechanic by trade, Mr Neil has a Bachelor of Labour Studies, from Adelaide University and an Associate Diploma of Business from QUT. He is married to Lisa and is a father of two daughters, Annabel and Elisabeth who attend school locally. He is the secretary of the Banyo District Community Group as well as other local organisations. He grew up in Nudgee, attending school locally before going on to complete his trade in Radio/TV Mechanics.
PADDINGTON
ABOUT PADDINGTON WARD: The new Paddington ward in part replaces the Toowong ward held by the LNP’s Peter Matic. The new ward no longer takes in the Mt Coot-tha precinct and parts of Taringa but includes more of Bardon. Other suburbs in the Paddington ward include Toowong, Auchenflower, Milton, Paddington, Kelvin Grove and Red Hill.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Peter Matic (LNP)
Age: 49
Occupation before politics: Solicitor
About: The former solicitor was elected as councillor in 2007. Cr Matic is married with two children and supports a diverse range of local community and environmental groups including Rotary, Lions, The Salvation Army, chambers of commerce and parents and citizens associations for schools in the local area. Cr Matic has a Bachelor of Arts (in Politics and Economics), Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws and is trained as a solicitor. He is chairman of the Public and Active Transport committee which looks after buses, ferries and bicycles throughout Brisbane.
ALP
Name: Jeff Eelkema
Age: 52
Occupation: RACQ roadside assistance
About: Mr Eelkema is an RACQ mechanical engineer by trade. He has lived in the ward with his wife since 1990 and said he was motivated to run from issue he believes are being ignored, parking and development. Mr Eelkema wants to see a good public transport system for a growing city and wants to work with the ALP’s lord mayoral candidate to achieve this. He believes Paddington needs a local candidate who will listen to the concerns of residents and make sure to preserve the unique heritage of the Paddington area.
THE GREENS
Name: Michael Kane
Age: 45
Occupation: Clean Air advocate and community organiser
About: Mr Kane has lived in the Paddington ward for the past five years and has been involved in the Queensland Greens, Queensland Conservation Council, Friends of the Earth, Lock the Gate and Clean Air Queensland. He is a a committed campaigner for social justice and environmental issues and an engaged and active member of the local community. He has recently organised high profile campaigns for communities affected by inappropriate mining and families living with the consequences of unregulated impacts from poor legislative controls on industry and inappropriate development.
PULLENVALE
ABOUT PULLENVALE WARD: The Pullenvale Ward includes the suburbs of Anstead, Bellbowrie, Brookfield, Karana Downs, Kenmore, Kenmore Hills, Kholo, Lake Manchester, Moggill, Mt Crosby, Pinjarra Hills, Pullenvale, Upper Brookfield and parts of Chuwar and Chapel Hill. The boundary re-distribution means the ward will include more of the Mt Coot-tha precinct. The seat has been held by LNP councillor Margaret de Wit since 1997. Last year Cr de Wit announced she would be retiring at the March 2016 election.
NO SITTING COUNCILLOR
ALP
Name: Catherine Abel
Age: 64
Occupation: Background is in accountancy, credit management and general business management for both small and large business.
About: Catherine has been married for 45 years with two adult daughters, has a degree in Accounting from University of Sydney and Credit Management Certification from Wetherill Park Tafe. She has spent the past 20 years living locally both in Anstead and now at Mount Crosby and she has assisted an Amateur Theatre Company with finance and management assistance.
THE GREENS
Name: John Belchamber
Age: 51
Occupation: Partner and manager of corporate training organisation and small business owner
About: The Bellbowrie resident is the founding president of The Bellbowrie Community Association and served on the Executive Committee of Kenmore Chamber of Commerce for two years. He and his wife raised their three children in the area. He helped organise community events including a community thank you barbecue, the Flood Relief Family Day, which was attended by more than 4000 people. He has a focus on advocating for providing transport, business and community facilities that will improve the quality for Pullenvale residents and will aim to provide new public transport for those living in Karana Downs, Mount Crosby and other areas not currently serviced, work with the community, business owners and council to provide community group facilities and shared office areas for people who want to work close to home, strive for a solution to long-running traffic congestion problems along Moggill Rd and ensure that there is transparency and effective community consultation in planning and environment decisions. He has also pledged to host regular community consultations across Pullenvale Ward.
LNP
Name: Kate Richards
Age: 41
Occupation: Contract manager in the construction engineering industry
About: The westside resident has lived in and around the area all of her life and has a long standing background in contract and project management, having worked in both the private sector for some leading corporate companies and for Brisbane City Council as a senior commercial negotiator on major projects for almost ten years. She has been married to Matthew for 14 years, with 3 children. She has been involved in council projects including the Kholo Bridge reconstruction and the Rafting Ground Rd shared pathway. Her goals include lobbying the State Government for additional park and ride facilities and seek more facilities for young people in the west.
RUNCORN
ABOUT RUNCORN WARD: The new Runcorn ward will take in Runcorn, Sunnybank, Lower Sunnybank and Kuraby. The now-defunct ward Karawatha had included Stretton, part of Calamvale, Drewvale and Karawatha Forest. Key sites of the new ward include Wally Tate Park and Sunnybank Plaza.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Kim Marx (LNP councillor for the now defunct Karawatha Ward)
Age: 51
Occupation before politics: Administration and community volunteer (P&C president)
About: Cr Marx was elected as councillor for the Karawatha Ward in 2012 as part of Lord Mayor Graham Quirk’s team. She was endorsed by the LNP to run for the new seat of Runcorn which covers almost half of the Karawatha Ward’s boundary. Cr Marx is the chief administration deputy whip and is a member of the council’s Field Services committee and Environment, Parks and Sustainability committee. Before entering politics Cr Marx worked as personal assistant to the Director of Children’s Emergency at the Mater Children’s Hospital. Cr Marx and her husband Derek have two teenage children.
ALP
Name: Stanley Hsu
Age: 36
Occupation: Physiotherapist
About: Mr Hsu settled in Runcorn more than 25 years ago. Stanley attended school locally lives in Runcorn with his wife and three children. Mr Hsu is the founder and managing director of My Cube and founder and practice principal of Hapi Physiotherapy. He has also worked as a Clinical Supervisor at the University of Sydney and as a guest lecturer at QUT Business School. He is president of the Australian Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce Queensland, Honorary President of Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce Oceania Junior Chapter and is a member of the Taiwan Festival Executive Committee and Sunnybank Hills State School P&C Committee.
THE GREENS
Name: Edward Starr
Age: 25
Occupation: After sales service manager
About: Edward “Ted” Starr has lived with his family in Tarragindi for the majority of his life. He attended the local schools Weller’s Hill State School, Marshall Road State School and Holland Park High. Ted also studied at the Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University and has as been a member of community brass bands and youth orchestras. He is a believer in music and the arts as instruments in fostering community spirit and expression. He is a keen supporter of local musicians and regularly gets out to enjoy the diverse range of live music Brisbane has to offer. He has supported the Green’s ideals of a fairer, cleaner, more sustainable world since he can remember. So earlier this year, he decided to step up to the challenge of joining the Greens and run for Brisbane City Council. Ted believes that his youth will bring much needed diversity to the council.
TENNYSON
ABOUT TENNYSON WARD: The seat of Tennyson includes Chelmer, Graceville, Fairfield, Sherwood, Tennyson, Yeronga, Yeerongpilly and parts of Corinda. The change will see a portion of Oxley included in the ward and part of Annerley and all of Rocklea removed.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Nicole Johnston (Independent)
Age: 43
Occupation before politics: Corporate affairs manager
About: Cr Johnston was re-elected in the Tennyson Ward in April 2012 and was the first independent councillor to be elected to Brisbane City Council in 60 years. She was first elected in March 2008 as part of former Lord Mayor Campbell Newman’s team but resigned from the LNP following disagreement on a number of local issues including the Sherwood Bus Depot and Sherwood Graceville Neighbourhood Plan. Cr Johnston grew up in Brisbane and studied Law at QUT and Arts at The University of Queensland. Before becoming a councillor she worked in corporate affairs holding senior management positions in Leighton Holdings Limited and FKP. Cr Johnston is a patron of the Graceville Croquet Club, Stephens Croquet Club, the Centenary Theatre Group, the Sherwood AFL Club and the Western Districts Community and Sporting Club. Cr Johnston is a member of the council’s Public and Active Transport committee and City Business and Local Assets committee.
ALP
Name: Stephen Harvey
Age: 29
Occupation: Small business owner
About: Mr Harvey is with the Army Reserves as a Rifleman 9RQR and is involved in the Moorooka Green Group and City Touch Football – Chelmer. He went to Indooroopilly State High School and worked as a manager in retail before moving into management in the transport industry. Stephen went on to run his own successful transport business.
LNP - CANDIDATE HAS RESIGNED
Name: Ashley Higgins
Age: 26
Occupation: General manager of a transport and traffic engineering company
About: Mr Higgins lives on the Southside, manages a small-business and has experience in the education, human resourcing and aviation sectors. He has a degree from Griffith University and an Australian Commercial Pilot Licence based at Archerfield Airport.
THE GREENS
Name: Gillian Marshall-Pierce
Age: 37
Occupation: Community development co-ordinator
About: The Moorooka resident has worked extensively in the not-for-profit sector in advocacy and community development. She is married with two children. Her focus is on improving public transport and bikeways, ensuring protection against flood risk, promoting sustainable development and supporting locals to oppose development that would have a negative impact on local people and the environment, fight for a ban on uncovered coal dust trains travelling through the region and deliver activities and opportunities in the region that connect established Australians with newly arrived Australians.
THE GABBA
ABOUT THE GABBA WARD: The Gabba Ward includes the suburbs of Dutton Park, East Brisbane, Highgate Hill, Kangaroo Point, South Brisbane, West End and Woolloongabba. The new boundary has removed Coorparoo and part of Greenslopes. The seat has been held by ALP councillor Helen Abrahams since 2008. Before her re-election she was Alderman for the Paddington Ward from 1991 to 1994. Cr Abrahams has announced she will retire at the next election.
NO SITTING COUNCILLOR
LNP
Name: Sean Jacobs
Age: 29
Occupation: Security adviser, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet G20 taskforce
About: Mr Jacobs has enjoyed an extensive career advising at all levels of government and currently serves as a Griffith University mentor as well as volunteering on a number of local boards. As a G20 security planner, Sean was a key player in delivering a safe and secure G20 Leaders’ Summit to Brisbane. The Kangaroo Point resident and former national water polo champion, has spent a decade swimming laps at West End’s Musgrave Park Pool and studied at the Shafston Institute of Technology. He is an avid runner and enjoys running the Brisbane River loop.
PEOPLE DECIDE
Name: Leon Lechner
Age: 34
Occupation: Business owner
About: He has lived in south Brisbane for 16 years of his life. He is an entrepreneur, he has founded numerous startups and received a grant from the University of Queensland for one startup. He has been a model and actor and has worked in event planning, recruitment for the banking sector and a debt collection. He now manages his own business in hospitality in West End. He has a keen interest in the a democracy where people can vote directly on issues.
ALP
Name: Nicole Lessio
Age: 38
Occupation: Teacher
About: The former business owner has a Masters of Learning and Development, Graduate Diploma of Teaching and Learning, Bachelor of Arts. She is a member of the Kurilpa Futures Group, Member P&C of BSHS and WESS and is the immediate past president of Corbett St C&K Kindy Parent Advisory Group. Nicole began her career in records management at Council, starting in the mailroom. She went on to roles in the customer call centre and then in Brisbane Transport. Nicole is married with four children and trained as a teacher after being a stay at home parent for a number of years. She is now involved in West End State School and Brisbane State High P&Cs.
THE GREENS
Name: Jonathon Sri
Age: 27
Occupation: Community development worker
About: Mr Sri is a writer, musician and community development worker who studied law and arts at the University of Queensland. His key promises include a serious, effective crackdown on political corruption, including a complete ban on political donations from any companies with significant vested interests in council decisions, cheap and efficient public transport, economically and socially sustainable urban development, free high-quality health care and education systems and genuinely effective environmental protection.
ABOUT THE GAP WARD: The Gap Ward includes the suburbs of Ashgrove, Bardon, Enoggera, Enoggera Reservoir, The Gap, Newmarket, Paddington, Red Hill and parts of Alderley. There were no major changes during the boundary re-distribution other than the removal of part of Bardon and Ashgrove. The LNP’s Steve Toomey became councillor for The Gap Ward following the retirement of Geraldine Knapp.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Steve Toomey (LNP)
Age: 45
Occupation before politics: Project coast estimator for international company
About: A new face of the Quirk administration, Cr Toomey replaced Cr Knapp in June 2015. Cr Toomey grew up in Far North Queensland before moving into The Gap Ward in 1997 to further his trade in electronics. Before entering politics Cr Toomey worked for a global electrical company as an estimator in their building technologies team. He lives in Ashgrove with his wife and children who both attend local schools. He is an active member of the local sporting community and can be found most Saturdays volunteering at events. He sits on the Environment, Parks and Sustainability and Infrastructure committees.
ALP
Name: Shane Bevis
Age: 36
Occupation: Ministerial advisor
About: Mr Bevis is a Public Servant with a Bachelor of Arts, (Government) and graduate certificate in Policy Analysis from Griffith University. He has lived in The Gap ward for more than 30 years. He grew up at The Gap, going to Hilder Road State School and The Gap State High School. With his wife Nikki they are now raising their own family locally.
He was heavily involved in the community opposition to the Cedar Woods Involvement and has been active in the local community, serving as the P&C president of his children’s primary school since 2014.
THE GREENS
Name: Reece Walters
Age: 50
Occupation: Professor in Criminology in the Faculty of Law at QUT
About: The Ashgrove resident will have a focus on preventing inappropriate development, be an advocate of sustainable planning, renewable technologies, fair and ethical foods, and cultural diversity, as well as policies that enhance community safety and well-being. The Professor in Criminology in the Faculty of Law at QUT has worked as a full-time academic for 25 years and has worked in New Zealand, Scotland, England and Australia. During this time he has researched and published on the ways in corporations and states harm the environment for power and profit. He has advised governments and the UN on matters relating to nuclear expansionism, nuclear waste, deforestation, coal mining, and genetically modified foods. He lives with his wife and daughter in Ashgrove and has two adult sons who are living away from home during their studies.
WALTER TAYLOR
ABOUT WALTER TAYLOR WARD: The Walter Taylor ward includes the suburbs of Fig Tree Pocket, Indooroopilly, St Lucia, Chapel Hill (in part), Kenmore (in part), Kenmore Hills (in part), Taringa (in part) and Toowong (in part). The new boundary includes more of Taringa but less of Kenmore. Key sites include Indooroopilly Shopping Centre and The University of Queensland.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Julian Simmonds (LNP)
Age: 30
Occupation before politics: Public transport adviser
About: Julian Simmonds was elected as councillor in the Walter Taylor ward during the October 2010 by-election. He held onto his seat in the 2012 local government elections. He is now the chairman of the council’s Finance and Economic Development committee. Before becoming an elected member, he gained a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters Degree in Journalism from the University of Queensland and worked for Brisbane City Council as a policy advisor for Public and Active Transport and Economic Development. He is an active member of the community which includes Meals on Wheels runs, serving as an area coordinator for the Red Shield appeal and as Region Chairman for Scouts Queensland. The Fig Tree Pocket resident lives with his wife Madeline and their dog Bonny. His priorities include reducing traffic congestion in local streets and improving public transport.
ALP
Name: Talbot Speechley
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
About: Mr Speechley is a social media manager and student in Public and Social Policy at The University of Queensland. He is a proud fourth-generation western suburbs resident and lives in Toowong. Sport has always been a big part of Talbot’s life and he currently works as social media officer and policy advisor for the Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (ASCTA). If elected to City Hall, one of Talbot’s number one priorities will be providing greater support to local sporting and community organisations. He has a focux on inappropriate development and road congestion.
THE GREENS
Name: Chris Turnbull
Age: 41
Occupation: Quality assurance officer
About: Mr Turnbull has a BE Chem from The University of Queensland and has worked predominantly on continuous improvement culture and quality focus, supervising pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging operations. He lives in the ward with his wife and son and is an enthusiastic bee keeper. Mr Turnbull’s priorities are to proactively address local transport improvement, provide a new voice for ethics and accountability in council chambers, beyond the two-party duopoly, host regular (monthly) weekend community engagement in local parks to discuss issues. He is also focused on improving traffic congestion by better utilising existing infrastructure (tunnels included) for public transport, improving active transport (cycling) pathways and increasing their connection with bus and train stations.
WYNNUM MANLY
ABOUT WYNNUM MANLY WARD: The bayside ward of Wynnum Manly includes the suburbs of Wynnum, Wynnum West, Manly, Lota, Port of Brisbane, Lytton and part of Manly West. There were very few changes to the ward in the recent boundary redistribution, but the new boundary will include more of Manly West. The population is between 35 to 40,000.
SITTING COUNCILLOR: Peter Cumming (ALP)
Age: 55
Occupation before politics: Solicitor
About: Cr Cumming has lived in the Wynnum area since 1985 and has been the local councillor since 1994. He is married with children and is involved in several local community groups including Meals on Wheels and local sports clubs. Cr Cumming is well-known for his door-knocking in the local area and was instrumental in the development of the Wynnum Manly Neighbourhood Plan which has allowed for the current redevelopment of Wynnum Central.
THE GREENS
Name: Sonja Gerdsen
Age: 40
Occupation: Small business owner
About: The local business owner has a focus on maintaining and enhancing the local natural assets, enhancing the business and recreational hubs that attract local jobs and outdoor lifestyle and cultural and community inclusion. She has a Bachelor of Built Environment in Landscape Architecture and knowledge in urban design and social planning. She has an interest in protecting the natural assets in the Wynnum/Manly areas, including the foreshore, wetlands, local green spaces and parklands, affordable and efficient public transport and the revitalization of the local business and community precincts.
LNP
Name: Deirdre Thomson
Age: 53
Occupation: Small business owner
About: The Bayside resident has been based in the Wynnum area for more than 18 years. Her most recent role has been manager of the Wynnum Manly Tourism and Visitor Information Centre and helped in the successful Bayside Tourism Forum in September 2015. She has been married to Tony for 24 years and has two daughters. She has a passion to ensure the future progress and vitality of the Wynnum Manly Ward.
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