Simon Peter Kennedy (born 4 June 1982)[1] is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the House of Representatives since his election at the 2024 Cook by-election, representing the Liberal Party. Before entering parliament he was a lawyer and management consultant.[2]
Simon Kennedy | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Cook | |
| Assumed office 13 April 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Scott Morrison |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 June 1982[1] Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Nila Dharan |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of New South Wales LLB & B Com |
| Occupation | Management consultant |
Early life and education
editKennedy was born in West Ryde, Sydney.[3] Since his mother worked full time as a teacher, he was substantially raised by his grandfather, a World War II veteran.[4] His grandmother had also seen wartime service, as an Army Nurse.[4]
He attended Epping Boys High School, where his mother and stepfather both taught.[3] Simon was elected school captain, became the President of the students' representative council and he served on the Ryde City Youth council.[3][4]
In 2006, he graduated in law and commerce from the University of New South Wales.[2][3]
Consulting career
editKennedy's career has centred on the public sector.[5][6] Having graduated from university, he was hired by the law firm Clayton Utz, from where he provided advice on energy reforms to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.[4][7]
However, he soon moved to McKinsey & Company.[6] He would spend 14 years at the management consultancy as an analyst; first in Sydney but later in New York and Washington, D.C.[4] Reported projects included government level assignments, in North America, Asia and the Caribbean nation of Haiti.[8] He returned to Sydney in 2016 to establish the firm's Australian Public Sector Practice, and was made a partner.[4]
While in this role, he provided strategic advice to government for its Covid response, and served on the Committee for Sydney, developing plans for innovation precincts in the Greater Sydney area.[7][9][10] After leaving McKinsey in 2022, he formed the tech investment firm Banksia with former Uber executive Damian Kassabgi.[11][4]
Politics
editIn interview, Kennedy has said figures in his family placed in him a sense of service.[8] He made his first run for parliament in 2022, falling short; but succeeded in winning a federal seat in 2024.[12]
2022 Australian federal election
editKennedy made a bid to succeed the retiring member for the Division of Bennelong, John Alexander.[6] He successfully defeated Gisele Kapterian, a former ministerial chief of staff, by 148 votes to 95, to become the Liberal Party's candidate.[5] Although historically considered to be a safe Liberal seat, Labor's Jerome Laxale won the two candidate preferred count 50.98% to Kennedy's 49.02%.[13]
Political issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic were still live at this time, and as Kennedy interacted with a wide spread of community groups, he indicated some libertarian preferences.[14] At an event called A Stand in the Park he expressed concerns about the vaccine mandates which restricted travel and business.[15] In a later radio interview, he clarified his view, saying:
"I'm pro-vaccine. I'm pro-science. Of course me and my family are fully vaccinated. My wife's an infectious disease doctor, worked throughout the pandemic on the frontline with the doctors and nurses, to get us to 95% vaccination... But I'm not about shouting people down if they have a different opinion to mine.[16]
2024 Cook by-election
editWith Scott Morrison's resignation from Parliament in early 2024 the Division of Cook became open, with a by-election slated for Saturday 13 April.[17] Kennedy and his family moved into the community before the vote, making their home in Woolooware, then began campaigning in shops and beaches.[4][8]
Six contenders were considered by 300 local members of the Liberal Party.[18][8] Other candidates who attempted to win the Liberal preselection included mayor of Sutherland Shire Carmelo Pesce, former United Australia Party candidate Benjamin Britton, and Gwen Cherne, the Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner, who was endorsed by former prime minister John Howard.[4]
During preselection, the Liberal Party was criticised for lacking balance between male and female candidates, with more men expected to replace retiring female MPs.[19] One Sutherland Shire councillor, Jack Boyd, criticised Kennedy for not living in the community, and for being a "cosplay" Sharks supporter.[20] Kennedy expressed that he was more interested in the cost of living challenges faced by the people of Cook, although he had to admit that he was a lifelong supporter of Canterbury Bulldogs.[20][8]
In the meeting of party members on 4 March, Kennedy won the Liberal preselection to contest the seat.[21] He had won support from several party elders in the process, including former NSW Premiers Nick Greiner and Dominic Perrottet, current state Liberal leader Mark Speakman, along with sitting federal parliamentarians Angus Taylor and Senator Dave Sharma.[7] Conversely, Labor announced they would not contest the seat, leaving the Greens candidate Martin Moore as Kennedy's strongest opponent.[22][23] Kennedy's campaign message was reported to be aspirational, supporting Australians who want to improve their lives.[14]
On 13 April 2024, Kennedy won the 2024 Cook by-election with an increased share of votes for the Liberal Party, both in primary votes and in the two-candidate preferred result, in which Kennedy received 71% of the vote.[24][25] He was sworn into Parliament in Canberra on 14 May 2024.[26]
Personal life
editKennedy is married to Nila Dharan, an American-born infectious disease doctor whom he met during his work overseas.[3] He has two children.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b "Candidate checklist (additional documentation provided)" (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Former McKinsey partner Simon Kennedy set for parliament". Consultancy.com.au. 6 March 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Simon Kennedy | Liberal". Ryde District Mums. 27 April 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Simon Kennedy hits ground running, aiming to 'win voters one by one'". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader. 2024-03-12. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ a b "ex-McKinsey partner Simon Kennedy wins Liberal endorsement in Bennelong". Australian Financial Review. 2022-03-24. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ a b c Davies, Anne (24 March 2024). "Liberals select right-aligned candidate Simon Kennedy to run in Bennelong". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ a b c Simalis, Linda (24 February 2024). "Abbott reveals he would have 'loved' to have run for Senate". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney).
- ^ a b c d e Tullis, Ashleigh (13 March 2024). "Liberal candidate Simon Kennedy opens up about campaign ahead of Cook by-election". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
spent almost a year in Haiti advising the government following the devastating earthquake.
- ^ "Annual Report 2017" (PDF). The Committee for Sydney. 2017.
- ^ "Year in Review 2020" (PDF). Committee for Sydney. October 2020.
- ^ Bashan, Yoni (29 September 2023). "Qantas grounds execs' speaking engagements; Hasn't Bennelong time but Simon's going for growth". The Australian.
- ^ Taylor, Rachel Clun, Andrew (2024-04-13). "Liberals hold Scott Morrison's old seat of Cook". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "UPDATED: Liberal Bennelong candidate Simon Kennedy concedes to Labor's Jerome Laxale". The Weekly Times. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ a b "The NSW Liberal Party is experimenting with political outsiders". Australian Financial Review. 2022-04-04. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ Bogle, Ariel; Briggs, Casey; Workman, Michael (26 April 2022). "Liberal candidate for Bennelong Simon Kennedy voiced vaccine mandate concerns at anti-vax meeting". ABC News. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ Fordham, Ben (2022-04-27). "Key candidates trade blows over China and COVID vaccines". 2GB. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ "Byelection for Scott Morrison's former seat to take place in April". www.9news.com.au. 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ "Liberal candidate Simon Kennedy wins Cook by-election". SBS News. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ Basford Canales, Sarah; Remeikis, Amy (9 March 2024). "'A big boys' club': senior Liberal women fight to solve the party's gender problem". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ a b Wang, Jessica (5 March 2024). "Scott Morrison defends non-local Cook candidate Simon Kennedy following preselection win". news.com.au. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ Karp, Paul; Remeikis, Amy (4 March 2024). "Liberals pick management consultant Simon Kennedy for Cook byelection". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ "Cook By-election 2024 Results". ABC News. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "Labor will not contest Cook by-election following departure of former prime minister Scott Morrison". Sky News. Retrieved 2/4/2024. 22 March 2024.
- ^ Bashan, Yoni (23 April 2024). "Rich-lister Naomi Milgrom rethinks support for teals; Libs cashed up in Cook". The Australian.
- ^ scheme=AGLSTERMS. AglsAgent; corporateName=Australian Electoral Commission; address=10 Mort Street, Canberra. "House of Representatives division information". Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Giannini, Dominic (2024-05-14). "Morrison's replacement takes up mantle in parliament". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader. Retrieved 2024-05-15.