Who am I? – letter to the editor Illawarra mercury c. August 1995

I would like to take the opportunity to respond to Linda Machan’s question (29/8/1995) : Kerrie Christian – who is she?

For the last four years I have served the people of Wollongong as an Active Community Team alderman and councillor. Now I have offered to serve as lord mayor. On a personal note, I am married with a young daughter and live at Thirroul, having previously lived at Bulli and in the Wollongong-Figtree area.

Professionally I am a senior metallurgist, working at the steelworks since 1974, whilst  I studied for my degree at Wollongong University. I continued my commitment to the university, serving on the Visiting Advisory Committee to the Faculty of Engineering.

Currently I serve on the boards of a number of organisations, including the South Coast Workers Medical Centre, Illawarra Regional Information Service, Illawarra Community Housing Trust, and until recently Illawarra Electricity.

Some years ago I was NSW President of a small white collar union, the Association of Professional Scientists of Australia. I helped to steer  APSA through an amalgamation to become the Association of Professional Engineers & Scientists of Australia. I continued to serve as NSW president of the scientists following the amalgamation process. Currently I represent that union on the South Coast Labour Council.

My commitment to community service has continued over the last 20 years. In the 1970’s I helped set up drug & alcohol counselling centres, as well as a women’s refuge. In the 1980’s I became a youth group leader and also involved with community & environmental issues, which I have continued into the 1990’s.

As a councillor I have worked with people from many different backgrounds, especially when chairing committees such as Works, Planning, Coal Transport, Sustainable Development, Cycleway, Disabled Access, Heritage and Library Liaison.

I am firmly committed to community consultation and believe that residents, council, business and industry should work together to create an even better Wollongong. I am not a member of any major political party, nor represent the interests of big business. I am a member of the Active Community Team, a group of community independents, who have environmental concerns, but are more than just a single issue greenie group.

I trust that this at least in part answers the question, Kerrie Christian – who is she? I believe that I can measure up to the  lord mayoral job

But it will be the people of Wollongong who will decide whether to give me that opportunity at the ballot box on Saturday 9 September 1995.

Cr Kerrie Christian     ph 671488

---

Cr Kerrie Christian CV – Updated in April 2000.

Background

• Elected to Wollongong City Council in 1991 & re-elected in 1995 & 1995 – representing Ward One & has served on a range of council & community liaison committees – including Chairing of a number of these committees
• Represented Wollongong City Council on the Hacking River Catchment Management Committee over the last 4 years – where both Wollongong & Sutherland Councils were represented;
• Board Member of Illawarra Electricity 1991-1995 – with other council representatives from Helensburgh through to Bega
• Board Member of Illawarra Regional Information Service 1991 – 1996 – with other council representatives from Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Shoalhaven & Wingecarribee
• Elected Convocation Member of the Wollongong University Council – 1996/2000 & 2000/2004
• University Council Appointee to the Alumni Management Committee since 1996
• Member of the Visiting Advisory Committee to the Faculty of Engineering of Wollongong University
• Formerly NSW President of the Association Professional Scientists of Australia – 1987/1991
• Currently employed at BHP Steel Port Kembla Steelworks – Flat Products Division as Senior Metallurgist/Section Leader of Materials Investigation Section within the Engineering & Environment Department – leading a team of 5 other professionals & 2 paraprofessionals, with responsibility for a direct budget of $800, 000. My team provides consultancy services and interacts with other engineering, maintenance & chemistry laboratory teams, of staff from the shop floor to senior management, at the Port Kembla site, as well as other sites within BHP across Australia & other industries in the Illawarra region. I have been employed in technical areas of BHP since 1974.
• Actively involved in community & environmental issues since 1984
• Education – Bachelor of Metallurgy – University of Wollongong – graduated in 1978

– active member of Corrimal East Public School Parents & Citizens Association

I consider that my background provides both a strong technical leadership focus, coupled with diversity across environmental & community involvement areas over many years.

My strengths include good communication skills – written, oral & presentation.

I also consider that when participating in bodies which consist of groups spread across substantial geographic areas, that I am able to provide representation and coverage not only for the group which I was elected to represent, but also to act strategically for the whole body & ensure that the needs of other member bodies are also considered, ie

• Hacking River CMC,
• Illawarra Electricity,
• Illawarra Regional Information Service,
• Association of Professional Scientists of Australia ,
• note – Wollongong City Council itself, being  one of the largest local government authorities in NSW & Australia has a population equivalent to up to 6 smaller metropolitan councils combined.

Councillor Kerrie Anne Christian – Wollongong City Council – April 2000