Kerry Anne Chikarovski (née Bartels; 4 April 1956) is an Australian former politician who served as leader of the Liberal Party in New South Wales and Leader of the Opposition between 1998 and 2002, the first woman to hold either role.

Chikarovski represented the electoral district of Lane Cove in the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales from 1991 to 2003. She variously served as Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Employment and Minister for Women in the Liberal-National Coalition governments of Premier John Fahey.

Early life and career

Chikarovski was born in Sydney to Jill and former Willoughby Mayor Greg Bartels AM. In 1964, her father took up a post working at the United Nations headquarters in New York, and she, along with her mother and three sisters, also moved, living there for the next five years. It was while living in New York that Chikarovski had a brief encounter with Robert F. Kennedy, which would influence her decision to go into politics years later.

Upon returning to Sydney, Chikarovski finished her schooling at Monte Sant' Angelo Mercy College, in North Sydney. She completed a combined economics and law degree (earning B.Ec. and LL.B) at the University of Sydney. While at university she joined the Economics Society, followed by the Law Society, where she was eventually elected as its first female president. She was also elected to the Board of the University of Sydney Union.

While at university, Chikarovski met her future husband, Kris Chikarovski, and they married in 1979. Following a brief career in private practice, she went on to lecture part-time at the College of Law before entering parliament.

Leader of the Opposition

On 8 December 1998, she replaced Peter Collins as leader, Chikarovski lost the leadership to Brogden by one vote. Chikarovski retired from parliament at the 2003 election and was succeeded by Anthony Roberts in the seat of Lane Cove.

Post political career

Following her resignation from Parliament in 2003, in 2004 she launched her co-authored autobiography, Chika.

She is a passionate advocate for women in sport and is previous Trustee of the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust.

Chikarovski was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for "significant service to the Parliament of New South Wales, and to the community" in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours.

Directorships

Chikarovski also serves as a director on a number of sporting, government and not for profit boards:

  • Our Watch
  • New South Wales Rugby Union
  • Humpty Dumpty Foundation

She is the Chair of Road Safety Education. Chikarovski is an Ambassador of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation and advisor to the Taronga Group.

References

 

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