Simon Kennedy

Kennedy was born in West Ryde, Sydney. Since his mother worked full time as a teacher, he was substantially raised by his grandfather, a World War II veteran. His grandmother had also seen wartime service, as an Army Nurse.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-12 |title=Simon Kennedy hits ground running, aiming to 'win voters one by one' |url=https://www.theleader.com.au/story/8548229/simon-kennedy-moves-to-sutherland-shire/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=St George & Sutherland Shire Leader |language=en-AU}}

He attended Epping Boys High School, where his mother and stepfather both taught. Simon was elected school captain, became the President of the students' representative council and he served on the Ryde City Youth council.

In 2006, he graduated in law and commerce from the University of New South Wales.{{cite web |url=https://rydedistrictmums.com.au/simon-kennedy-liberal/ |title=Simon Kennedy | Liberal |date = 27 April 2022 |publisher = Ryde District Mums|access-date=20 March 2024}}

Kennedy's career has centred on the public sector.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-24 |title=ex-McKinsey partner Simon Kennedy wins Liberal endorsement in Bennelong |url=https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/mckinsey-partner-who-invented-jobkeeper-wins-liberal-endorsement-20220324-p5a7jx |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}}{{cite news |last=Davies |first=Anne |date=24 March 2024 |title=Liberals select right-aligned candidate Simon Kennedy to run in Bennelong |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/mar/24/liberals-select-right-aligned-candidate-simon-kennedy-to-run-in-bennelong |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=The Guardian |location=}} Having graduated from university, he was hired by the law firm Clayton Utz, from where he provided advice on energy reforms to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.{{Cite news |last=Simalis |first=Linda |date=24 February 2024 |title=Abbott reveals he would have 'loved' to have run for Senate |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fnews%2Fnsw%2Fabbott-reveals-he-would-have-loved-to-have-run-for-senate%2Fnews-story%2Fe4b09d7077efdeabaea01f72cdd9ab67&memtype=registered&mode=premium&v21=GROUPA-Segment-2-NOSCORE |work=The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)}}

However, he soon moved to McKinsey & Company. He would spend 14 years at the management consultancy as an analyst; first in Sydney but later in New York and Washington, D.C. Reported projects included government level assignments, in North America, Asia and the Caribbean nation of Haiti.{{cite news |last=Tullis |first=Ashleigh |date=13 March 2024 |title=Liberal candidate Simon Kennedy opens up about campaign ahead of Cook by-election |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/st-george-shire/liberal-candidate-simon-kennedy-opens-up-out-campaign-ahead-of-cook-byelection/news-story/8edf717b5f42aac0b06d004b0e2797b3 |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location= |quote=spent almost a year in Haiti advising the government following the devastating earthquake.}} He returned to Sydney in 2016 to establish the firm's Australian Public Sector Practice, and was made a partner.

While in this role, he provided strategic advice to government for its Covid response, and served on the Committee for Sydney, developing plans for innovation precincts in the Greater Sydney area.{{Cite journal |date=2017 |title=Annual Report 2017 |url=https://sydney.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Committee-for-Sydney-Year-in-Review-2017.pdf |journal=The Committee for Sydney}}{{Cite journal |date=October 2020 |title=Year in Review 2020 |url=https://a21234.hostroomcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Committee-for-Sydney-Year-in-Review-2020.pdf |journal=Committee for Sydney}} After leaving McKinsey in 2022, he formed the tech investment firm Banksia with former Uber executive Damian Kassabgi.{{Cite news |last=Bashan |first=Yoni |date=29 September 2023 |title=Qantas grounds execs' speaking engagements; Hasn't Bennelong time but Simon's going for growth |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/margin-call/qantas-grounds-execs-speaking-engagements-hasnt-bennelong-time-but-simons-going-for-growth/news-story/fde9c43d8a5eb4247658fd0bc3ccc440 |work=The Australian}}

In interview, Kennedy has said figures in his family placed in him a sense of service.{{clarify|date=May 2025}} He made his first run for parliament in 2022, falling short; but succeeded in winning a federal seat in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Rachel Clun, Andrew |date=2024-04-13 |title=Liberals hold Scott Morrison's old seat of Cook |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/scott-morrison-farewells-cook-backs-simon-kennedy-as-successor-20240410-p5fiuo.html |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

Kennedy made a bid to succeed the retiring member for the Division of Bennelong, John Alexander. Although historically considered to be a safe Liberal seat, Labor's Jerome Laxale won the two candidate preferred count 50.98% to Kennedy's 49.02%.{{cite web |date=26 May 2022 |title=UPDATED: Liberal Bennelong candidate Simon Kennedy concedes to Labor's Jerome Laxale |url=https://www.weeklytimes.com.au/breaking-liberal-bennelong-candidate-concedes/ |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=The Weekly Times}}

Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, Kennedy indicated some libertarian preferences.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-04 |title=The NSW Liberal Party is experimenting with political outsiders |url=https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/the-nsw-liberal-party-is-experimenting-with-political-outsiders-20220404-p5aami |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}} At an event called A Stand in the Park he expressed concerns about the vaccine mandates which restricted travel and business.{{cite news |last1=Bogle|first1=Ariel|last2=Briggs|first2=Casey|last3=Workman|first3=Michael|date=26 April 2022|title=Liberal candidate for Bennelong Simon Kennedy voiced vaccine mandate concerns at anti-vax meeting|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-26/bennelong-liberal-candidate-voices-vaccine-mandate-concerns/101016110|work=ABC News|location= |access-date=3 April 2024}} In a later radio interview, he clarified his view, saying:

"I'm pro-vaccine. I'm pro-science. Of course me and my family are fully vaccinated. My wife's an infectious disease doctor, worked throughout the pandemic on the frontline with the doctors and nurses, to get us to 95% vaccination... But I'm not about shouting people down if they have a different opinion to mine.{{Cite web |last=Fordham |first=Ben |date=2022-04-27 |title=Key candidates trade blows over China and COVID vaccines |url=https://www.2gb.com/key-candidates-trade-blows-over-china-and-covid-vaccines/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=2GB |language=en}}

In early 2024 the Division of Cook became open, with a by-election slated for Saturday 13 April.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-11 |title=Byelection for Scott Morrison's former seat to take place in April |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/cook-byelection-vote-for-scott-morrison-s-former-seat-to-take-place-in-april/c3534b6e-3879-4329-b1f3-091833295c1e |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=www.9news.com.au}} Kennedy and his family moved into the community before the vote, making their home in Woolooware, then began campaigning in shops and beaches.

Six contenders were considered by 300 local members of the Liberal Party.{{Cite web |title=Liberal candidate Simon Kennedy wins Cook by-election |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/podcast-episode/liberal-candidate-simon-kennedy-wins-cook-by-election/e0s6bha8u |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=SBS News |language=en}} Other candidates for preselection included mayor of Sutherland Shire Carmelo Pesce, Benjamin Britton, and Gwen Cherne, the Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner.

In the meeting of party members on 4 March, Kennedy won the Liberal preselection to contest the seat.{{cite news |last1=Karp |first1=Paul |last2=Remeikis |first2=Amy |date=4 March 2024 |title=Liberals pick management consultant Simon Kennedy for Cook byelection |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/04/liberals-pick-management-consultant-simon-kennedy-for-cook-byelection |access-date=3 April 2024 |work=The Guardian |location=}} He had won support from several party elders in the process, including former NSW Premiers Nick Greiner and Dominic Perrottet, current state Liberal leader Mark Speakman, along with sitting federal parliamentarians Angus Taylor and Senator Dave Sharma. Conversely, Labor announced they would not contest the seat, leaving the Greens candidate Martin Moore as Kennedy's strongest opponent.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/cook-by-election-2024 |title = Cook By-election 2024 Results |work = ABC News|access-date=20 March 2024}}{{cite web |date=22 March 2024 |title=Labor will not contest Cook by-election following departure of former prime minister Scott Morrison |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/labor-will-not-contest-cook-byelection-following-departure-of-former-prime-minister-scott-morrison/news-story/ecaaba53aa48c3bf75f95e3fc4fb8b52 |publisher=Sky News. Retrieved 2/4/2024}} Kennedy's campaign message was reported to be aspirational, supporting Australians who want to improve their lives.

On 13 April 2024, Kennedy won the 2024 Cook by-election with an increased share of votes for the Liberal Party, both in primary votes and in the two-candidate preferred result, in which Kennedy received 71% of the vote.{{Cite news |last=Bashan |first=Yoni |date=23 April 2024 |title=Rich-lister Naomi Milgrom rethinks support for teals; Libs cashed up in Cook |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/margin-call/richlister-naomi-milgrom-rethinks-support-for-teals-libs-cashed-up-in-cook/news-story/bc6f0b6171b1b51f89b312a081188c92 |work=The Australian}}{{Cite web |last=scheme=AGLSTERMS. AglsAgent; corporateName=Australian Electoral Commission; address=10 Mort Street |first=Canberra |title=House of Representatives division information |url=https://tallyroom.aec.gov.au/HouseDivisionPage-29807-112.htm |access-date=2024-04-24 |website=Australian Electoral Commission |language=en-AU}} He was sworn into Parliament in Canberra on 14 May 2024.{{Cite web |last=Giannini |first=Dominic |date=2024-05-14 |title=Morrison's replacement takes up mantle in parliament |url=https://www.theleader.com.au/story/8628719/simon-kennedy-sworn-in-as-replacement-for-scott-morrison-in-cook-seat/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=St George & Sutherland Shire Leader |language=en-AU}}

Kennedy made egalitarian concerns for a continuing middle class a focus in his first speech to Parliament:{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Andrew |date=2024-05-28 |title=New Liberal MP vows to fight for 'ignored' middle class |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8644496/new-liberal-mp-vows-to-fight-for-ignored-middle-class/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=www.canberratimes.com.au |language=en-au}}

"Right now, our country is governed for the squeaky wheel, the vested interests, the large corporates with their lobbyists and their megaphones, it's not for the silent majority and definitely not for the small businesses... The promise of the next generation being better off than their parents is disappearing rapidly and it is hard to tell what this could do to Australia's social fabric if allowed to continue."{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Andrew |date=2024-05-28 |title=New Cook MP Simon Kennedy vows to fight for 'ignored' middle class |url=https://www.theleader.com.au/story/8644659/simon-kennedy-makes-his-first-speech-in-federal-parliament/?msg=login |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=www.theleader.com.au |language=en-au}}

Kennedy is married to Nila Dharan, an American-born infectious disease doctor whom he met during his work overseas. He has two children. He is a runner, and, in 2024, won the title of fittest politician, surpassing Andrew Leigh, who had previously held the title.{{Cite news |date=13 December 2024 |title=Cook MP Simon Kennedy crowned Canberra's fittest MP crowned |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/nsw/cook-mp-simon-kennedy-crowned-canberras-fittest-politician/news-story/0ae3ecf152e77866ba0f76ec1fc05f82 |work=The Adelaide Advertiser}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.simonkennedymp.com.au/}}

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Category:1982 births

Category:Australian MPs 2022–2025

Category:Australian MPs 2025–2028

Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives

Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Cook

Category:Politicians from Sydney

Category:University of New South Wales alumni