Introducing Di Tornai - CoS Councillor
INTRODUCING DI TORNAI, INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE
Di Tornai will stand with me as part of the Clover Moore Independent Team at the Local Council Elections. Di is committed to strengthening the representation of the southern areas of the City and apartment residents.
Currently Vice-Chair of the Victoria Park Community Group, Di works as a consultant specialising in organisational development and management for community organisations, including work with owners' corporations managing large apartment blocks.
Di has over 30 years professional experience in lobbying for services to meet the needs of the community and in managing non-government organisations specialising in disability services. She has served on numerous government and industry focus groups and task forces, developing a national profile for her systemic advocacy with the Departments of Family and Community Services and Employment and Workplace Relations, in particular improving the access of people with disabilities to employment services.
Her employment experience includes University of NSW Global, Spinal Cord Injuries Australia and the Autistic Association. She is also a foundation member of Association Competitive Employment (ACE), a peak body which established a national industry network for over 400 independent community-based organisations that held Government contracts as specialist employment agencies.
Di's professional and community experience provides her with a solid foundation to be an effective Councillor representing the City's diverse communities.
Di Tornai writes:
"In recent years my career has shifted its focus to strata residential development after realising there had been an evolution in the way people were living in the city.
"Due to trends associated with a global city, and the adoption of urban consolidation policies and strategies such as the Metropolitan Strategy, more than 60 per cent of the City's residents now live in apartments.
"Enormous potential exists to influence and develop "community" in these vertical villages.
"Since establishing Strata Community Development, I've provided input into Owners Corporations improving governance models. After all, it's essentially a fourth tier of government! The skills of the Executive Committees and the competence of the Strata Managers they engage are keys to maintaining the success of this community.
"Executive Committees have been keen, through information and skill development, to ensure better understanding of their role and responsibilities. This has also involved training in areas such as contract negotiation, managing contractors and promoting environmental consciousness within apartment buildings - incorporating sustainability practices such as stormwater harvesting, green energy, waste minimisation, and the possibilities presented by green roofs.
"This change in the face of the City means there is potential for enormous impact. It's important to engage the broader community in this conversation-to inform, explore and influence future directions in planning and development.
"Through being a candidate with Clover Moore's Independent Team, I hope to promote this dialogue. Clover has been a strong advocate on behalf of apartment residents, working for better building and living standards and effective management of multistorey apartments.
"An increasing number of these apartments are in the City's southern areas. Victoria Park Community Group promotes the importance of good building management to maintaining the quality of apartment buildings within Victoria Park and its reputation as benchmark example of urban renewal. As a component of the Green Square Urban Renewal Project Victoria Park exemplifies the principles embodied in this exciting and courageous plan.
"As a Councillor, I believe I can represent southern Sydney communities to ensure the redevelopment of Green Square is sustainable and meets the needs of current and future residents."