Nicole Jonic has enjoyed a meteoric political rise: from mother-of-two running her small accounting practice in Goodna to Ipswich City Councillor in the space of 25 days.
Cr Jonic, 36, nominated for the local government election on 3 March and by close-of-counting on polling day on 28 March had all-but secured one of two spots in Division 2.
Her election was confirmed by the Electoral Commission of Queensland last week and Cr Jonic has begun her new career.
“It all happened pretty quickly, that’s a bit of an understatement,” she said.
She ran under the banner of the Your Voice of Experience Team with former councillor Paul Tully. He won the other spot in Division 2.
Cr Jonic revealed she had approached her fellow Goodna resident about a business matter.
“I definitely had an interest in local government. I think everyone got a little bit more interested in local politics after what happened with the previous council,” she said.
“I started talking to Paul and it lead on from there.”
Just over three weeks later, she was part of that council and the new era of transparent and accountable politics in Ipswich.
While inexperienced, under-estimate this new councillor at your peril. She brings the perfect demographic to the table: female, parent, small business owner, and the median age in Ipswich.
Cr Jonic is an accountant, tax agent and principal of her own firm NKT Tax Accountants.
She is a member of the Institute of Public Accountants, a fellow of the Tax Institute of Australia, former Queensland operations manager of the Income Tax Professionals and has just about finished her MBA at the Deakin Business School.
And she was the one asking all the pertinent questions of council financial experts during the councillors’ induction week.
Cr Jonic has lived in Goodna since 2011 and enjoys the support of her husband in bringing up their children Jordan (7) and Livia (5), with the in-laws living next door providing help.
She is excited about her new role on council.
“I believe I have got a lot to offer. My accounting background will be invaluable and I am looking forward to making a significant contribution to council and the community,” she said.
“While I was part of a team, I am 100 per cent my own person and will stand on my own two feet.
“This is an exciting time for Ipswich … but also a crazy time with the pandemic and it will be our job to help the business community, help everyone get through this together.”
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>>>New councillor taking his first steps on the political ladder