ACU dean keen on seat at the table

AUSTRALIAN Catholic University’s Ballarat campus dean Professor Bridget Aitchison never thought she’d run for council when a few people around her suggested she go for it.

“I initially said, don’t be ridiculous. I’m not a politician,” she said.

But a good friend of Professor Aitchison’s stated that was a big reason why she should raise her hand in the first place.

“She said, ‘if you’ve got the time, the life skills, and the capacity to do it and make a difference to the city and you don’t, shame on you.’

“I thought, she’s right,” Professor Aitchison said.

With a “full-on” but flexible university leadership role, and supportive employers, she’s decided she’s at “the right point” in her life to stand as a City of Ballarat South Ward candidate in the 2020 municipal election.

“I have the time, a lot of life skills in strategy, governance, entrepreneurship and education. All of those are useful on a council,” she said.

If successful, Professor Aitchison has some key issues on her agenda, mindful of the needs of diverse residents. At the top of the list is post-COVID recovery.

“We need good, strategic minds to do this that understand the value of small business and what they need to restart and recover, not tie it all in red tape,” she said.

“We need to create jobs and training opportunities to replace ones that are lost and may not come back.

“If elected, within 90 days I’ll be calling for a jobs taskforce that will consult with ratepayers, businesses, industry, peak bodies, State and Federal Government.”

Professor Aitchison said the city needs to explore renewable energies, and could become a national leader in the sector.

“Renewable energy is generated near us, but it bypasses us as it’s transmitted to Melbourne.

“We could have a generation, storage and transmission facility, create a microgrid to run all of Ballarat and export back to the grid which means cheaper energy for everybody and it’s an income source if it’s done right,” she said.

“It’s a big win; cheaper energy, cleaner air and water.”

An advocate of education and the arts with a theatre background, Professor Aitchison wants to ensure those areas continue booming.

She said infrastructure in south ward, including busy intersections, needs an overhaul.

“It’s not keeping pace with growth.”

With a passion for helping people develop and grow, Professor Aitchison said she’ll bring a “fresh perspective” that encourages all of Ballarat south to thrive too.

“A number of recent councillors really weren’t interested in hearing what people had to say… there was fake consultation.

“I want to see transparency, genuine community consultation before decisions are made and strategic thinking, so community business leaders can endorse projects,” she said.

“Ratepayers deserve someone who actually cares about people, and how and where money is spent. It’s time that south ward had someone that will listen.”

Behind the scenes of her work and new campaign, Professor Aitchison has two daughters, a grandson and two miniature dachshunds.

She’s a beginner golfer, mountain biker, and a kayaker with the Ballarat Amateur Canoe Club. At home, she has fun forging fibre art.

“I love creating weird, wild and wonderful things for people.”