“I have worked in shopping centre management for a national property group, completed a Master’s degree in Business (Property), spent 6 years living and working in Asia as a Director of Special Retail projects and then as Property CEO for a global grocery chain, and consulted to the City of Melbourne on the Queen Victoria Market redevelopment.”

My Background

I was born in Melbourne and grew up in Mount Waverley. My parents both worked and gave up a lot to give my sister and I a good education. I worked hard and got into law school at Monash Uni, where I completed degrees in Law and Economics, whilst working at K-Mart and Zagame’s bottle shop. My early career was as a property and planning lawyer. I enjoyed planning law because it always looked forward – imaging our houses, buildings and cities as they could be.

Saving money whilst living in my parent’s garage, I purchased my first property in my 20’s - a 1970’s flat in Hawthorn – sadly an unattainable dream for many of today's young.
My flat was my first restoration, before moving on to other heritage properties in Fitzroy, Glen Iris, Hawthorn, Caulfield, Surrey Hills and elsewhere. I am most proud of “Bootmaker’s Cottage”, our little renovated Victorian cottage in Birregurra, in the western district, which is now a successful Airbnb, shop and wedding venue.

Work experience

My work experience includes retail management in Australia, including improving tired retail activity centres, and I have held roles including director of special retail projects for a US-based company in Asia, and Property CEO (South China) for a global grocery chain. My children were born in Hong Kong. I now run a small business specialising in restoring heritage shops and converting underutilised space above them and behind them to create affordable homes. I am passionate about the power of great urban spaces, and saving Melbourne’s forgotten historic buildings and giving them a new, relevant, and sustainable future.

Family & Community

I live with my wife, Marlo, and my teenage kids who are at local high schools. Our third child is our black Labrador Bowie. I have served our community through organisations such as the Parents Association and School Council at Glen Iris Primary School, leader at First Glen Iris Scout Group, volunteer at Electrify Boroondara, and member of 3WBC community radio. Like many of us I keep busy with kids activities including football, netball, cricket and rowing, Camberwell Showtime and fathers groups, and I enjoy trying to hit a hockey ball for my aging hockey team, Old East Malvern.

I love travelling, enjoy exploring cities and cultures, and pushing myself along on some epic hikes in the mountains of Nepal, Chile, Europe, Tanzania and New Zealand. I enjoy history doco’s and podcasts, global politics, guest speakers at the Camberwell Historic Society, shopping for curios at the Camberwell market, architecture and design, urban planning, home renovations, and working in my garden.