A STAR-studded business and professional line up is in the running for Liberal Party pre-selection in the seat of Nedlands, to be vacated by former WA Premier Richard Court.
The blue ribbon Nedlands electorate has been in Court family control for 48 years.
Besides former Family and Children Services Minister Rhonda Parker, the other candidates for pre-selection are Liberal Party stalwarts with strong business backgrounds.
Danielle Blain, a one-time social worker and probation and parole officer, is managing director of her family’s business Gosh Leather.
Michael Quinlivan, president of the Liberal Party’s Subiaco branch, is a director of transactions services at the Business News Book of Company Lists number one ranked accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Deborah McGeoch, president of the party’s Mt Claremont branch, is said to be well regarded by the small business community.
WA Retailers Association chief executive officer Martin Dempsey said Ms McGeoch had been a good voice for newsagents during her time on the Lotteries Commission board and understood the small businessperson’s lot.
Besides owning a public relations consultancy in Melbourne, Ms McGeoch had six years of exposure to the realities of small retail life through her time with the Lotteries Commission.
David Stephens, vice-president of the party’s Curtin division and president of the Claremont branch, is a former chief executive of the Housing Industry Association of WA.
He is also owner and managing director of Caron Marketing Group, Westforce Security and Strata Security.
Caron is ranked 11th in the Business News List of Public Relations Firms.
Dalkeith branch president Sue Walker was, until recently, a prosecutor with the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Neil Fears is a partner in mergers and acquisitions firm Fearis Salter Power Shervington.
