Bio & Family Life

I live in Lilli Pilli with my wife Jenny and baby daughters, Abbey and Lily. I believe there is no better place to live and raise a family than in the Shire. As a husband, father and as the local federal MP for Cook, I want to keep it that way.

This means supporting our local community organisations, clubs and institutions and fostering the informal networks that make our community tick. I believe these are the first responsibilities of any local MP.

That is why I am proud to serve as a patron, member, and supporter of numerous local community and sporting groups including the local Bate Bay Surf Life Saving Clubs, local RSLs, Rotary Clubs, Camp Kookaburra, the Rainbow Club, Sharks Leagues Club, Southern Districts Rugby Club, Little Athletics, Cronulla-Sutherland Water Polo and the Cronulla Polar Bears, to name a few.

Only by focusing on community, can we build our capacity to work together to address the many challenges we face – from caring for our local environment, to helping young people prepare for their future, supporting families to stay together as they cope with rising costs of living and looking after the needs of our older residents.

My strong commitment to community is a product of the values inherited from my parents, who taught me that success in life was about what you contributed, rather than what you accumulated.

I grew up in Bronte. My father was a policeman and my mother worked in various administrative jobs to help support our family. Outside their day jobs, they ran youth programs for the local church. My father was also involved in aged care and served as a local councillor for 16 years.

I was educated entirely at public schools, including Sydney Boys High where I completed my HSC and then went onto the University of NSW, where I received an Honours degree in Applied Science, studying economics and geography. Growing up, I was heavily involved in sports and enjoyed the local beach lifestyle. Today, I am a regular kayaker on Port Hacking.

I have also been highly active in church life from a young age. My Christian faith remains the driving force for my family, beliefs and values. My family and I are members of ShireLive Church, at Sutherland.

Prior to entering politics I worked for 15 years as a CEO and senior executive in various industry bodies and government agencies, both within Australia and overseas, including Managing Director of Tourism Australia and State Director of the Liberal Party.

It is a privilege to represent people and families living in the Shire as the federal Member for Cook. Since entering Parliament in November 2007, I have been working on my core commitments to ensure the Shire remains a great place to live and raise a family and for Australia to be a strong, prosperous and generous nation.