Kerry Chikarovski

Following the resignation of incumbent John Dowd, Chikarovski won pre-selection for the safe Liberal seat of Lane Cove in 1991, her primary competition for which was then MLC John Hannaford. In 1992, she was appointed Minister for Consumer Affairs and Assistant Minister for Education (3 July 1992 – 26 May 1993). During her time as Minister, Kerry facilitated national agreement to the Introduction of a Uniform Credit Code.

In 1993, she became Minister for Industrial Relations and Employment and established the department responsible for the Minister for The Status of Women (29 May 1993 – 4 April 1995). With her dual responsibilities of Industrial Relations and Women, Chikarovski oversaw the development and introduction of flexible working conditions for the public sector and the implementation of mentoring programs to encourage women to seek careers at the highest level of the NSW public service.^{[citation needed]}

Chikarovski replaced Bruce Baird as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in December 1994 and held that post until the Liberal Party was defeated in 1995.^[5]

On 8 December 1998, she replaced Peter Collins as leader,^[5] and also held the position of Shadow Minister for the Arts, Ethnic Affairs and Women.

Chikarovski lost the 1999 state election to the incumbent Labor government led by Premier Bob Carr in a landslide. In 2002, John Brogden, a member of her shadow cabinet, announced a challenge to her leadership. Despite the endorsement of Prime Minister John Howard – himself a Sydney-sider –^[6] Chikarovski lost the leadership to Brogden by one vote. Chikarovski retired from parliament at the 2003 election and was succeeded by Anthony Roberts in the seat of Lane Cove.

Following her resignation from Parliament in 2003, in 2004 she launched her co-authored autobiography, Chika.^[7]

She is a passionate advocate for women in sport and is previous Trustee of the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust.^[8]

Chikarovski was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for "significant service to the Parliament of New South Wales, and to the community" in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours.^[9]

Chikarovski also serves as a director on a number of sporting, government and not for profit boards:

• Our Watch^[10]
• New South Wales Rugby Union^[11]
• Humpty Dumpty Foundation^[12]

She is the Chair of Road Safety Education.^[13] Chikarovski is an Ambassador of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation^[14] and advisor to the Taronga Group.^[15]