Councillor Nicky Luo has been elected Mayor of Monash for 2023-24 with a focus on increasing the connection between Council and the Monash community.
Cr Luo, from Glen Waverley Ward, was first elected to Council in 2020 and served as Deputy Mayor for the last 12 months. She migrated to Australia from China with her family in 1997, growing up in Glen Waverley and now works and raises her two children in the suburb.
Cr Brian Little, from Mount Waverley Ward, will serve as Deputy Mayor.
Following her election as Mayor, Cr Luo reinforced the importance of the role that Council plays in connecting the community.
“I am extremely proud to be the first Mayor of Monash from a Chinese background,” said Cr Luo.
“My appointment as Mayor demonstrates how our Council values the diverse Monash community and treats our multicultural communities with professionalism and respect.
“I would like to thank my fellow Councillors for giving me the privilege of serving as Mayor of the great City of Monash. Thank you for their confidence and support in me.
“My decision to run for Council came from my professional role as a senior mental health clinician, and my desire to be able to assist more people in vulnerable positions to get the help they need. I wanted to assist them to feel more connected within their community.
“During my three years as a Councillor, I’ve learned that Council is more than the traditional 3 Rs: Roads, Rates, and Rubbish.
“We are also here for another 3 Rs: Residents, Respects and Rights. Council is not only about policy, procedures or law and order, but also the people we serve, and the positive impact we can bring to the community.
“My priority is to create a harmonious, safe, inclusive, welcoming, and respectful community. While we are celebrating our own diversity and multiculturalism, I would like to utilise this opportunity to bring and connect people together.
“Throughout my professional career, I have strived to be a courageous, values-based leader. I commit to being proactive, collaborative, valuing teamwork, synergy, and respect as core values and a practice of my leadership as Mayor and Councillor.
Cr Luo also thanked and acknowledged outgoing Mayor, Cr Tina Samardzija.
“I would also like to acknowledge our outgoing Mayor Cr Tina Samardzija and thank for her work and dedication over her mayoral term. I thank her for her commitment to the mayoral role, her leadership during challenging issues,” said Cr Luo.
Cr Luo is an active Councillor, and has sat on a number of community facing committee and bodies of Council including:
- Disability Advisory Committee
- Eastern Innovation Board
- Glen Waverley Activity Centre Committee
- Junior Advisory Group
- LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee
- Multicultural Advisory Committee
- Positive Ageing Reference Group
- Positive Ageing Network Forum
- Monash Youth Committee
- Eastern Region Group
