About Kelly

The early years

I was born in Box Hill and grew up in Emerald, Victoria.

My grandparents built two small businesses in Higgins – the first a milk bar in Windsor and then a grocery store in South Yarra.

My mum and dad were the first in their family to go to university and met there while studying law. They had their own legal practice in Dandenong before my mum put her career on hold to care for me and my two sisters and younger brother.

During my final year of school, my family moved to Melbourne, where my parents have lived ever since.

Education

Like so many families, my parents sacrificed to provide me and my siblings with the opportunity of a quality education. Each day they drove my sisters and me to Presbyterian Ladies College in Burwood – a two hour round trip.

They instilled in me the values of initiative, hard work and personal responsibility. Something they may have later regretted when I insisted on earning my own money and got my first paying job working for Myer in their Lonsdale Street store in my school holidays – another two and a half hour round trip.

I went on to attend Melbourne University, graduating with Honours in Law and an Arts degree majoring in history. Like many students, I learned as much from what I did at the same time as studying – working part-time in a variety of jobs and throwing myself into a wide range of campus activities.

Kelly and Jon

I met my husband Jon at university as well, where he was studying engineering and law.

Jon and I were married in 2006, after nine years together, and have made our home in Higgins.

Career

After leaving university, I embarked on a legal career at Freehills. While there, I worked on complex issues with some of Australia’s leading businesses.

Later, I spent almost four years working as a Senior Adviser to the Federal Treasurer on a range of key issues for our economy. I had direct responsibility for several key policy areas including competition law and competition policy, foreign investment, private equity, corporate and securities law, financial market conduct, corporate governance, accounting policy issues and consumer protection.

Most recently, as an executive at the National Australia Bank, I have been part of a team building a new business.

In the community

I have had opportunities in my own life and have always believed that it was important to give something back. At the moment, I am a board member of Creativity Australia, an organisation working with marginalised members of the community. Prior to this, I volunteered as a member of the Victorian Advisory Council of Camp Quality, an organisation that helps children with cancer and their families.

I have also participated in leadership forums such as the Asialink Australia-Asia New Leader’s Program, the Rambam Fellowship and the Australian Davos Connection Leadership Retreat.

What I do in my spare time

Jon and I enjoy catching up with family and friends, running (slowly) along the Yarra River, following our respective football teams (Jon is a passionate Essendon supporter and I barrack for North Melbourne), and enjoying a DVD at home or going out to the movies.