Cr Catherine Lezer, Candidate for Lord Mayor of Perth
In this blog series, we ask our alums to tell us about their personal ‘pathway to politics’ and provide their recommendations for content that will help support, guide, inspire and engage other women on their political journey.
My political journey kicked off in the most unlikely of places: the complex world of strata. For years, I volunteered in what I like to call the “fourth tier of government” because of the wild legislation, even wilder personalities, and all the behind-the-scenes drama. It was a political boot camp!
The lessons I learned were pure gold, proving that getting things done often just takes one person to overcome inertia. Turns out, community building, common sense, financial nous, and careful stewardship are the keys to a thriving strata community.
In Sydney I met the one and only Lord Mayor Clover Moore! Her grassroots approach was pure magic, and it totally fired me up. She championed her community, and they rallied right back, so I decided to jump into the fray and ran as the seventh person on her independent ticket back in 2016. I didn’t get a council spot, but the experience was absolutely priceless. Soon afterwards I got to help out on the amazing Dr. Kerryn Phelps’s successul federal campaign for Wentworth post Malcolm Turnbull. These two incredible independent women showed me that authentic, values-driven leadership isn’t just a possibility; it’s a superpower! They taught me real change starts with listening to people and putting their needs first. Without them showing me the way, I might not have ever stepped up.
Fast forward to my return home to Perth, where a whirlwind of wild events, think full council dismissal and a public inquiry, practically screamed for me to get involved. So I did! I successfully ran for a council seat, was re-elected 3 years later and now, with another resignation on the table, it’s my time to run for Lord Mayor. Turns out, community building, common sense, financial nous, and careful stewardship are the keys to a thriving local community. Go figure!
Pathways to Politics didn’t just give me practical skills; it armed me with the unshakable confidence to stand my ground and the mental and emotional resilience to not get flustered by political shenanigans.
As my competitors might be drowning under pressure, the wisdom and stories from the amazing Pathways to Politics presenters are my life raft, keeping me afloat. This course affirmed my belief that if not me, then who? And I learned that being kind and happy is a real strength.
“I successfully ran for a council seat, was re-elected 3 years later and now, with another resignation on the table, it’s my time to run for Lord Mayor.
As my competitors might be drowning under pressure, the wisdom and stories from the amazing Pathways to Politics presenters are my life raft, keeping me afloat. This course affirmed my belief that if not me, then who?“
– Cr Catherine Lezer
My recommendations
Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design by Charles Montgomery
This book is a pure delight, showing how clever urban design can actually make people happier. It reminds me that a city’s design is about creating spaces where people can truly connect and thrive.
United: Thoughts on Finding Common Ground and Advancing the Common Good by Cory Booker
A powerful dose of optimism in a cynical world. Booker’s book is a fantastic reminder that even in heated debates, there’s always an opportunity to find common ground and work toward a common good.
Sacred Success by Barbara Stanny
This book is about aligning your deepest values with your goals. It taught me the importance of a values-driven approach to leadership; to not only do well but to do good, with a smile on your face.
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