Councillor Mary O'Sullivan

 

I have lived in Sydney’s Inner West for thirty years - the last decade with my partner in Marrickville.

 I was educated in Catholic schools in Newcastle and at the University of Newcastle. I completed a PhD in English (it was about fiction and adolescence) at the University of Sydney.

 

I have extensive experience as a secondary teacher, project manager and an education and training policy researcher.  During my career I have worked in public schools in Sydney’s west and south and in curriculum at the Board of Studies. I also managed projects on apprenticeship and traineeship reform in TAFE NSW. Most recently I worked as a senior public servant in communications.

 

I stood for Council because I wanted to work with community members to make the suburbs of Marrickville even better places to live, work and come home to. As an ALP member, I have a particular commitment to social justice. I believe one of the best ways to foster a caring community is to improve the quality and reach of Council’s services.  I am also really interested in ways Council can support improvement of Marrickville’s natural and built environments, within a framework of sustainability.

 

I try to keep up to date with the latest ideas in government through membership the Institute of Public Administration. I belong to local organizations including Friends of Bethlehem and Marrickville Citizens for Reconciliation. I am also a representative on the Sydney Airport Community Forum.

 

My other interests include reading, art, gardening, music and movies. I swim and especially enjoy walking along the banks of the Cooks River.