Respected business woman Ann Peacock considering career in politics

Respected business and charity identity Ann Peacock has confirmed she has thought about running for Lord Mayor or for a seat in parliament “to really give back to the community”.

Ann Peacock has not ruled out a career in politics. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Respected business and charity identity Ann Peacock has not ruled out a run for politics.

Peacock has opened up on the need to give back to the community that was ingrained in her from a young age by her parents, former Liberal leader Andrew Peacock and her mother Lady Susan Renouf.

“I have seriously thought about that idea (of) running for Lord Mayor, running in State politics, running in Federal politics,” Peacock told the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Business Voice podcast.

“I have still not given up the idea of fulfilling that hope to really give back to the community in an official way.

“(But) there is nothing to report at this point in time.”

In a deeply personal and insightful interview, Peacock, who spent almost 30 years in media relations at Crown and is on the board of the Victoria Racing Club, spoke of the love, support and guidance she received from her parents and how deeply she missed them following their passing in recent years.

Ann Peacock says her father Andrew Peacock was always a sounding board for her.

Ann Peacock says she and her mother Lady Susan Renouf were very close.

“My father was always a sounding board for me in every area,” Peacock said.

“Personally, with issues I would go to my mother. It was difficult to talk to my dad about personal things.

“We got over that as time went on, but my father was just so wonderful in giving me advice professionally and I did do two election campaigns with him, so we were very, very close and that was an incredible experience to do that with him.”

She also told of the value of friendship while navigating the unexpected twists of life.

“My girlfriends mean the world to me. My girlfriends have been there through thick and thin and there has been a lot of that,” Peacock said.

“Life hasn’t been easy and when I say that, you know, I have a house, I have two healthy boys, but I get depressed, I get anxious, I get lonely, I get sad, I miss my parents terribly.

“I go through stages of really missing my parents and I think that is normal.”

The episode of Business Voice featuring Peacock will be released on Thursday and covers Peacock’s insights on leadership and commitment to the community.

VCCI CEO Paul Guerra said it was a privilege to have Peacock speak on public roles and private life.

“Ann Peacock is a very public Victorian personality, but we rarely get a glimpse of the private woman,” Guerra said.

“She has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in her various roles at Crown and the community over decades. As you’ll hear in the next Business Voice podcast, it will be very exciting to see what she does next.”