With Nicolette Boele on Election Day
A Great Experience
I loved every moment of the 2023 campaign to become the Community Independent Voice for the seat of Wahroonga. It was an experience of a lifetime. It provided a platform to advocate for greater environmental protection in our sensitive area, to advocate for social justice, to advocate for action on climate, to insist on Integrity in Government.
At the time of writing this I received 4,921 first preference votes which is 9.3% of the vote. That is HOPE right there. My campaign is not over, it is just beginning. There is much work to do in my community and I will continue to use this precious platform to advocate for what is right. 'You are real' is a compliment I received many times during the campaign.
YES I AM REAL
Reflections
I'm a storyteller. I learn by hearing stories and I teach by telling stories. I'm sharing some of my learning from the campaign with you. Simply head to the Election Reflections tab for stories and photos of the election campaign.
Kristyn Haywood
Who Am I?
The most important thing to know about me is that I'm wildly passionate about ecosystems. A common definition of an ecosystem is "a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life." There is one important organism missing from this bubble - HUMANS. We belong to this same sensitive ecosystem. A growing number of locals understand this and are fighting to prevent irreversible biodiversity loss, catastrophic climate change and possibly save a planet for future generations. They understand our electorate of Wahroonga has critically endangered ecosystems such as the Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest, Duffy's Forest Woodland and the critically endangered Blue Gum High Forest. Our flora and fauna species are at great risk as a result of poor planning, overdevelopment and lack of acknowledgement.
Why I Am running
The bottom line is that I care deeply about our precious earth, about our climate, about our flora and fauna, about equality, health, education, youth, and thriving economies that sustain the earth rather than pillage from it. I feel strongly about looking after our vulnerable. The measure of a healthy community is how we look after our most vulnerable. We have some work to do in this space. I have also been deeply inspired by the integrity, resilience, intellect, grace and community values of my friend Nicolette Boele who turned the supposed safe seat of Bradfield marginal at last year's Federal Election.
Professional Background
I'm the founder of People for Success, a values-based leadership education consultancy. Prior to that I was a Human Resources Executive. I've always been passionate about great leadership. What else is more important? Nothing. It's what our political system needs right now. For almost twenty years I've supported executives and senior leadership teams, in Australia and overseas, to grow into great leaders. I've consulted in almost every industry to help businesses develop strong values-based, ethical leaders capable of building agile, human-centred and healthy workplace leaders and cultures that enhance our eco-systems rather than feed our ego-systems.
I have a Master of Business by thesis. I hypothesised that leaders who received and acted on feedback from their employees would evolve and become more effective leaders and better humans. I was right. I’ve educated over a thousand leaders in Australia and overseas. I’ve read hundreds of books, listened to dozens more and have been to almost every live event with my favourite leadership educators when they've been in Sydney including Brene Brown, Simon Sinek, and Patrick Lencioni. Their teachings all have one thing in common in that they advocate for 'common-good' servant-leadership. This is the type of leadership we need most in Government at all levels.
Visit my LinkedIn Profile to get a sense of what I believe in.
My Connection to Wahroonga
Before my marriage came to its natural end, and before moving close by to St Ives, I lived in Wahroonga. My son was born in Sydney Adventist Hospital Wahroonga 20 years ago. For a time he went to the Bush School and works as an accredited Tennis Coach in Wahroonga. For almost three years I have worked as a Leadership Educator with the Sydney Adventist Hospital. I've been lucky enough to work with the most incredible Health Care Managers led by an outstanding CEO. Their resilience, tenacity and passion for patient care and leadership is inspiring and deeply humbling. In the local area I continue to enjoy trekking through the bush to marvel at the breathtaking diversity of flora and fauna. One of my favourite walks is The Blue Gum Walk at Hornsby where a rare pocket of Sydney Blue Gum forest (pictured) awaits.
Community Service
- Chair of Strata Committee for almost 4 years - 300 units, over 1000 residents.
- Founder Expand Now - a not-for-profit to lift the confidence of women and girls.
- Mentor - Women's Federation for World Peace Australia
- Co-founder of Ku-ring-gai Views - a local Facebook group to constructively discuss political views.
- Meet the Candidates Co-Moderator for the Local Government Election in 2021 and Federal Election in 2022.
96 per cent of mammals are humans and their farm animals, all the other mammals combined – globally – make up the remaining 4 per cent. And yet we are killing them at an alarming rate.
Dr Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor Griffith University, School
