Councillor Tina Samardzija has been elected Mayor of Monash for the next 12 months with a focus on ensuring Monash continues to rebound after a tough few years.
Cr Samardzija, from Mulgrave Ward, was first elected to Council in 2020 and served as Deputy Mayor for the last 12 months. She is a proud Wheelers Hill resident with two young children.
Cr Nicky Luo, from Glen Waverley Ward, also in her first term on Council, will serve as Deputy Mayor.
Cr Samardzija said improving local amenity and services for residents and families, delivering projects to improve community life, and providing value for money will be the focus of the year ahead.
"I am very proud to be elected Mayor of Monash and thank my colleagues on Council for their support. In particular, I congratulate Cr Stuart James for his leadership as Mayor over the last 12 months.
"I'll be focused on supporting Monash to grow and thrive, including our community organisations and sporting clubs, whose volunteers do such incredible work to bring people together.
"As a resident of Wheelers Hill, I know the importance of Monash's parks and reserves and I'll continue to support efforts to upgrade these, as well as finding the right balance in planning decisions to maintain what we love about our neighbourhoods right across Monash.
"Over 50 per cent of Monash residents were born overseas like my parents, and I'm proud of my heritage. Our diversity is our strength, and I'll continue to highlight and celebrate this and look to build Council's support for migrants and their families who call Monash home.
"With two young children, I know the important role Council plays in the lives of families. I'll continue our focus on creating services and infrastructure for our youngest residents and their families such as kindergartens, playgrounds, and maternal and child health facilities.
"Council plays a central role in maintaining and improving local amenity. Monash residents are proud of where they live and look to Council to support their neighbourhoods. I'll be focused on things like ensuring our graffiti prevention programs are effective, our buildings and facilities are maintained, and advocating on behalf of Monash residents to other levels of government.
"I'll also work with my fellow Councillors to ensure that Monash's progress towards zero net carbon emissions is not only on track by 2025, but aims to get there even quicker. I'd like to thank our community for how they've adapted to the way waste is collected in Monash, which has already substantially reduced what we send to landfill," said Cr Samardzija.
Cr Samardzija brings to her role a professional background in economics and law, and experience in superannuation and major legal, economic and social policy reforms at the state and federal level including housing, the National Disability Insurance Scheme and workplace relations.
She is also a member of several Council committees and representative bodies:
- Audit & Risk Committee
- Multicultural Advisory Committee
- Monash Gallery of Art Committee of Management
- Eastern Region Group (Substitute Representative)
- Metropolitan Local Government Waste Forum (Substitute Representative)
- Municipal Association of Victoria (Substitute Representative)
You can follow Cr Samardzija on both Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date.
