Came from NZ in 1987 with a Chemical and Materials Engineering degree and 10 years working as a welder.  I’ve since worked in heavy fabrication, downstream/upstream offshore/onshore oil and gas, chemical manufacturing, hard rock metal mining, and recycling.  I’ve seen what it takes to obtain the resources that we take for granted, the impact this has on the Earth, on countries and on communities.  Currently working part time consulting to a range of manufacturing businesses.

I’ve lived in Preston since 1989 and have seen the passing of the folk who first built the houses and bred here.  Our house is passively heated, harvests water, was the second one in Melbourne to export electricity to the grid, and it now has a standalone solar-battery system.  The motive for doing this is nothing to do with climate change, but all to do with resilience.  Few can do this as the cost is beyond most people’s finances.

I was an active member of DCAN for years (Lord, please forgive me), have planted and water tested in Darebin, fought (and continue to fight) the mindless overdevelopment of our suburbs and obliteration of food producing backyards.

I was one of those who in 2017 represented the community in a 7-day VCAT hearing on Preston Market against the State Government’s and Council’s barristers.   Salta was made to develop a ‘proper’ Incorporated Plan for Preston Market.  Since then, I’ve watched my friend Chris Erlandsen continually taking the battle up to the State Government and Salta (often alone).  The Planning profession is simply the State government’s muscle in suits as they cram Preston with high density apartments whilst sparing those suburbs across the Yarra.  Labor, Liberal or the Greens, it makes no difference who is shafting us.