Simon Kennedy

Simon Peter Kennedy (born 4 June 1982)^[1] is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the House of Representatives since his election at the 2024 Cook by-election, representing the Liberal Party. Before entering parliament he was a lawyer and management consultant.^[2]

Kennedy was born in West Ryde, Sydney.^[3] Since his mother worked full time as a teacher, he was substantially raised by his grandfather, a World War II veteran.^[4] His grandmother had also seen wartime service, as an Army Nurse.^[4]

He attended Epping Boys High School, where his mother and stepfather both taught.^[3] Simon was elected school captain, became the President of the students' representative council and he served on the Ryde City Youth council.^[3][4]

In 2006, he graduated in law and commerce from the University of New South Wales.^[2][3]

Kennedy's career has centred on the public sector.^[5][6] 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.^[4][7]

However, he soon moved to McKinsey & Company.^[6] He would spend 14 years at the management consultancy as an analyst; first in Sydney but later in New York and Washington, D.C.^[4] Reported projects included government level assignments, in North America, Asia and the Caribbean nation of Haiti.^[8] He returned to Sydney in 2016 to establish the firm's Australian Public Sector Practice, and was made a partner.^[4]

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.^[7][9][10] After leaving McKinsey in 2022, he formed the tech investment firm Banksia with former Uber executive Damian Kassabgi.^[11][4]

In interview, Kennedy has said figures in his family placed in him a sense of service.^[8] He made his first run for parliament in 2022, falling short; but succeeded in winning a federal seat in 2024.^[12]

Kennedy made a bid to succeed the retiring member for the Division of Bennelong, John Alexander.^[6] He successfully defeated Gisele Kapterian, a former ministerial chief of staff, by 148 votes to 95, to become the Liberal Party's candidate.^[5] 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%.^[13]

Political issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic were still live at this time, and as Kennedy interacted with a wide spread of community groups, he indicated some libertarian preferences.^[14] At an event called A Stand in the Park he expressed concerns about the vaccine mandates which restricted travel and business.^[15] 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.^[16]

With Scott Morrison's resignation from Parliament in early 2024 the Division of Cook became open, with a by-election slated for Saturday 13 April.^[17] Kennedy and his family moved into the community before the vote, making their home in Woolooware, then began campaigning in shops and beaches.^[4][8]

Six contenders were considered by 300 local members of the Liberal Party.^[18][8] Other candidates who attempted to win the Liberal preselection included mayor of Sutherland Shire Carmelo Pesce, former United Australia Party candidate Benjamin Britton, and Gwen Cherne, the Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner, who was endorsed by former prime minister John Howard.^[4]

During preselection, the Liberal Party was criticised for lacking balance between male and female candidates, with more men expected to replace retiring female MPs.^[19] One Sutherland Shire councillor, Jack Boyd, criticised Kennedy for not living in the community, and for being a "cosplay" Sharks supporter.^[20] Kennedy expressed that he was more interested in the cost of living challenges faced by the people of Cook, although he had to admit that he was a lifelong supporter of Canterbury Bulldogs.^[20][8]

In the meeting of party members on 4 March, Kennedy won the Liberal preselection to contest the seat.^[21] 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.^[7] Conversely, Labor announced they would not contest the seat, leaving the Greens candidate Martin Moore as Kennedy's strongest opponent.^[22][23] Kennedy's campaign message was reported to be aspirational, supporting Australians who want to improve their lives.^[14]

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.^[24][25] He was sworn into Parliament in Canberra on 14 May 2024.^[26]

Kennedy is married to Nila Dharan, an American-born infectious disease doctor whom he met during his work overseas.^[3] He has two children.^[4]