Julia Zemiro | The Independents Podcast

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Alana Johnson, Community Independents Project Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

Alana has a background in social science and psychotherapy, leadership and governance training.

A social activist and change expert, she is Chair of the Victorian Women’s Trust and co-founder and past President of Voices for Indi.

https://www.communityindependentsproject.org/

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Claire Ferres Miles, Independent for Casey Mar 05, 2025

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Engineer Claire Ferres Miles combines deep local roots as a 30-year resident with significant leadership experience running large organisations, including Sustainability Victoria, and her own small business.

Casey stretches from the suburban fringe through the Dandenong Ranges to the Yarra Valley, facing increasing pressures from natural disasters, infrastructure gaps, and cost of living challenges. Claire's campaign emphasises the need for stronger emergency services support, with the local CFA and SES volunteers stretched thin by intensifying storms, floods and bushfires. She's particularly focused on securing emergency healthcare access for the Yarra Valley and addressing the region's childcare shortages.

https://www.claireferresmiles.com

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Francine Wiig, Independent for Fairfax Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

Francine Wiig, a Sunshine Coast local of nearly 20 years, brings extensive real-world experience as a legal professional, small business owner, and mother of twins. She is running as an independent candidate to prioritise the community and ensure it receives the representation it deserves, not what the major parties dictate.

For too long, Fairfax has been treated as a safe seat, and as the fastest-growing region in Australia, it has experienced significant challenges due to a lack of sustainable infrastructure management.

https://www.francineforfairfax.com.au

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Michelle Milthorpe, Independent for Farrer Mar 05, 2025

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Michelle Milthorpe has worked as a teacher, coach, small business owner and advocate. She is well known in her regional community for her support for students with learning difficulties, and her successful advocacy for reforms to how the NSW justice system treats child victims.

Michelle is challenging Liberal Party Deputy Leader Sussan Ley, who has held the seat for 23 years, with a campaign that focuses on regional representation, cost of living, healthcare access, and infrastructure investment in an electorate that serves as Australia's food bowl.

https://michellemilthorpe.com.au/

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Jeremy Miller, Independent for Lyne Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

A small business owner and local councillor, Jeremy Miller owns a bakery and café in Taree, following a background in commercial radio, event management, and theatre.

Through roles managing the Manning Entertainment Centre, founding community events, and his active council service, Miller has established strong connections across the changing demographics of the region, from traditional farming communities to sea-changers.

https://www.jeremy4lyne.com.au

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Byron Fay, Climate 200 Executive Director Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

Byron is a public policy specialist with over a decades’ experience working in international and domestic climate policy, climate aid, development finance, and federal politics.

He represented Australia in the UNFCCC negotiations on the Paris Agreement and Second Commitment Period of the Kyoto Protocol. He then served as an adviser to the Co-Chair of the Green Climate Fund Board, managing the approval of USD 1.2 billion worth of funding for private sector focussed climate projects in developing countries.

He served as an adviser to Independent Senator Tim Storer, negotiating the establishment of the 2018 Senate inquiry into electric vehicles and the passage of the 2019 refugee medivac bill. He went on to work as a Net Zero researcher at the University of Oxford and research fellow at Main Street One, a US-based digital campaign firm, in the lead up to the 2020 US presidential election.

Byron is a proud descendant of the Dharug Nation and holds a Masters of Public Policy from the University of Oxford, and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Bachelor of Arts (Politics/Theatre), and Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the Australian National University.

www.climate200.com.au

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Simon Holmes à Court, Climate 200 Convenor Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

Simon is a self-confessed energy geek, 'root striker', 'Trimtab' and 'Impatient Incrementalist'. He is an energy analyst and climate philanthropist. He is also Climate 200's Convenor, a director at the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network and an advisor to the Smart Energy Council.

www.climate200.com.au

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Tina Brown, Independent for Berowra Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

As the publisher of the local newspaper, The Post, Tina Brown has been deeply immersed in the community of Sydney’s upper north shore, and connected to what residents are feeling. Tina founded The Post during COVID lockdowns, providing local news coverage and connecting with community organisations. She also runs an international education company and has actively supported women's shelters and mental health initiatives across the area.

https://www.tinabrownforberowra.com.au

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Ellie Smith, Independent for Dickson Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

Ellie Smith has a background in environmental management and a career in policy and government relations. Over a decade she’s helped farmers, policymakers and conservationists find common ground and smart solutions that benefit all Queenslanders. She’s also held board roles for a number of environmental organisations, experiences that have built strong policy and negotiation skills. Surviving cancer in 2017 reinforced her determination to fight for well-funded healthcare for every Australian.

https://www.elliesmith.com.au

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Erchana Murray-Bartlett, Independent for McPherson Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

Erchana is a world-record holding marathon runner and change-maker. In 2022 she made history and inspired audiences across the world by running 150 marathons over 150 consecutive days from Cape York to Melbourne to raise vital funds for Australia’s endangered wildlife. Now, she’s taking that passion, motivation and energy to another start line by running for the southern Gold Coast seat of McPherson. Erchana is also a nutritionist, small business owner and holds a Master of Human Nutrition.

McPherson has been considered a safe Liberal seat for decades, but with incumbent Liberal member Karen Andrews retiring at this election, Erchana has a once in a generation opportunity to turn the seat independent and champion the needs of her Gold Coast community.

https://www.erchana4mcpherson.com

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