Christine Kay: Leading Ku-ring-gai into a New Era

The newly-elected Mayor shares her vision for sustainable growth, community involvement, and empowering women in local government.

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The Ku-ring-gai community has welcomed its newly-elected Mayor, Christine Kay, a dedicated advocate for local development, women’s leadership, and community involvement. With extensive experience and deep local roots, Christine has become a respected figure in St Ives and beyond.

Christine Kay at the local markets

From Banking to the Ballot Box

Christine Kay’s path to becoming Mayor is marked by a blend of corporate experience and community dedication. “Before this role, I had worked in banking, finance, business development, and project management,” Christine explains. “These experiences gave me a well-rounded perspective that helps me understand the diverse points of view in our community.” 

Elected to Ku-ring-gai Council in 2018, Christine’s journey in local governance was sparked by her involvement in several community groups, where she saw firsthand the vital role councils play in supporting volunteer-based organisations.

Now, with six years of council experience and roles on various committees, Christine emphasises that her progression was built on her commitment to service. “Becoming a councillor is an honour and a privilege, and my goal is to make a positive difference through my decision-making,” she says.

Advancing Women in Local Government

A key priority for Christine is to expand opportunities for women in local governance. “Women are often balancing so many roles and responsibilities,” she notes. “Government decisions directly impact them, which is why I’ve been focused on advancing the role of women in councils.” 

Christine’s advocacy led to the creation of Ku-ring-gai’s Women’s Committee, a space designed to empower women’s voices within the Council. This committee opens doors for direct communication between women in the community and Council representatives, encouraging greater participation and inspiring some to consider council roles themselves.

Christine is also an active board member of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association, which champions women’s representation in councils. “Having a voice in decision-making circles can shape communities to be more inclusive,” she says, explaining her vision of ensuring that policies reflect the needs of everyone.

A Heart for Community and Conservation

Outside her Council duties, Christine is a familiar face in various community organisations. She volunteers with Wildthings NSW to protect native wildlife and supports local groups such as Rotary, the Girl Guides, and the Hornsby-Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter. These volunteer activities underscore her commitment to fostering a stronger, more connected community. 

In St Ives, her home for nearly 15 years, Christine has witnessed firsthand the area’s growth, especially with young families moving in. “St Ives offers both the convenience of city living and the friendly feel of a smaller community,” she says, adding that this balance helps make it a desirable place to live.

Goals for the Community: A Vision for Growth and Sustainability

Christine’s tenure as Mayor will focus on several key projects in St Ives, particularly in creating spaces that blend recreational needs with sustainable practices. “I’m excited about the ongoing upgrades to Hassell Park; Stage 1 is complete with new car parking and a playground.” Stage 2 will bring an upgraded amenities building and new lighting to the area.

Beyond the park, Christine has set her sights on the future of the Showground. The Council is developing a long-term plan that incorporates sustainable principles and acknowledges the area’s natural biodiversity and historical significance. 

“The Showground is an essential community asset, and we’re working to make sure it serves current and future generations effectively”. This includes assessing older buildings and considering innovative ways to use and manage them sustainably.

In addition to the upgrades, the Council is set to create a new boardwalk at the St Ives Wildflower Garden, connecting Caley’s Function Centre with the Lambert’s Clearing picnic area. Christine believes this project will improve accessibility and encourage more residents to explore the natural beauty of their surroundings.

Christine Kay is Looking Ahead

With a deep understanding of the local area, a community-oriented approach, and a commitment to sustainability and inclusivity, Christine Kay’s leadership marks an inspiring new chapter for Ku-ring-gai. As Mayor, she’s driven to foster growth that respects the past while innovating for the future, ensuring Ku-ring-gai remains a thriving, vibrant community for years to come.

For those interested in becoming more involved with their local council, Christine’s advice is simple: “Be authentic, be a person of conviction, and respect others' opinions even when you don’t agree. Local councils need people who genuinely care about their communities.”

A huge congratulations on your election as Mayor of Ku-Ring-Gai. What were you doing prior to this role?

I was elected to Council in 2018. My experience as a Councillor and member of various Council committees, as a board member for Local Government NSW and as a member of the Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils has given me an excellent understanding of what is needed in this role. In my professional life, I have experience in banking and finance, business development, project management, events, tourism and small business, which makes me a well-rounded person able to understand many points of view.

How did you commence your career with the Local Council? What advice would you offer for anyone wanting to do the same?

I got interested in local government through my involvement in several community groups. It made me realise how important local councils are for funding and supporting many volunteer groups and not-for-profit community-based services. Being elected as a councillor is an honour and a privilege and I enjoy seeing how I can make a positive difference to our community through my decision-making. If you’d like to become a councillor, then I believe the qualities needed are authenticity, being a person of conviction and respecting others opinions even if you don’t agree with them.

Christine Kay

What are some of your greatest achievements throughout your career?

I’m very interested in advancing the role of women in government and especially in councils. I understand completely that women juggle many responsibilities for caring for others throughout their lives and the decisions made in government can impact them directly. One Council committee that has been directly set up as a result of my advocacy is the Women’s Committee. I’m hoping that this will become an important avenue for women to speak directly to the Council on matters that are important to them and even encourage some women to think about becoming councillors. I’m also a board member of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association which is at the forefront of promoting the cause of women in councils.

Outside Council, I’m very committed to various community groups. I’m an active volunteer with Wildthings NSW which is a community group set up to help protect local native wildlife. I also volunteer for Rotary, the Girl Guides, the Hornsby- Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter and the PCYC.

Do you have any personal/familial connection with St Ives?

I’ve been a resident of St Ives for nearly 15 years and during that time I’ve seen a lot of young families move into the area. The great thing about St Ives is it offers a lot of the convenience of city living but it has that small community feel about it which means it feels friendly and relaxed for those who live there.

Over the next two years, what will be your biggest priorities for the St Ives Community?

I’m looking forward to seeing the upgrade to Hassell Park completed. Stage 1 of the upgrade has been finished, which includes better car parking and a new playground. Stage 2 will see the amenities building upgraded and new lighting.

The Council will be preparing a long-term plan for the future use of the Showground to integrate sustainable principles into future improvements. This plan will also consider the area’s natural biodiversity and its history when recommending any future upgrades. We’ve already completed a lot of work at the Showground such as improving internal link roads, opening a large new playground and a new cafe but we now need to consider other assets at the site such as the older buildings and how we use and manage them in the future.

Are there any projects/initiatives that will be commenced immediately?

As mentioned, work on Hassall Park is well underway and we’re just about to start work on a new boardwalk at St Ives Wildflower Garden linking Caley’s function centre with the picnic area at Lambert’s Clearing.

How can the local community get more involved with the Local Council?

By taking an interest in how decisions are made and having your say on projects when the Council consults our community. There are lots of ways to do this – you can watch Council meetings each month online; sign up for the Have Your Say e-news which tells you all about what’s happening in your suburb and how you can give feedback. We also have fortnightly e-news going out to residents' inboxes which has a dedicated section on what projects are open for comment. We also regularly survey our residents online and over the phone. As Mayor I encourage everyone to get involved in the Council – there’s so much more to us than rates, roads and rubbish!