Matt Kean

Background

Kean grew up in Wahroonga area and was educated at Saint Ignatius" College, Riverview before attaining a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Education

He later completed a graduate diploma at the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Career

He is currently chairman of the Joint Standing Committee on the Office of the Valuer-General. While at university, he was elected to the UTS Student Representative Council and as the Strategic Research Centre Executive Member for the Haymarket Campus. During the 2003 State election campaign, Matt Kean worked as an advisor for the Leader of the Opposition, John Brogden.

He subsequently worked for the Honorary

Catherin Cusack MLC as an advisor while she was Shadow Minister for Juvenile Justice and Women. Prior to entering Parliament, Matt was a Manager at Pricewaterhouse Coopers.

Preselection and 2011 state election campaign

Following announcement of the retirement of the sitting member, Judy Hopwood, Kean contested pre-selection for the safe Liberal seat against Hornsby Mayor, Nick Berman, and Hornsby Councillor, Steve Russell. Mental health

Matt Kean used his inaugural speech to call on the government to spend as much money on suicide prevention campaigns as it does on road safety campaigns.

His call for the $10 million campaign received support from Professor Ian Hickey and the Minister for Mental Health Kevin Humphries.

He hosts an annual Youth Forum in conjunction with Black Dog institute, aimed at educating students and teachers about issues relating to mental health. Further, he successfully campaigned for the construction of a new mental health inpatient facility in Hornsby.

Achievements

• Kean won endorsement and Berman announced his decision to resign from the Liberal Party and run against Kean as an independent candidate at the 2011 State election. Kean won the seat with 62.1 per cent of the two-party vote with Berman being his main contestor.

Politics

At the election, Kean was elected, however the party suffered a swing of 3.5 points.

Membership

Kean has been a member of the Liberal Party since 2001, and in 2008, he was elected vice-president of the NSW Young Liberals. Matt is also an avid cricketer, and long-time member of the Berowra Cricket Club.