On breaking barriers and overcoming your greatest challenges Alumna Kerry Chikarovski talks politics, seeking support and the spirit of having a go. Written by Ciara Timlin and Karen Ho
From a young age, Kerry Chikarovski knew she wanted to pursue a career in politics. Kerry can recall telling the nuns at Monte Sant’Angelo Mercy College that politics was the only job for her. She was thirteen years old. Through a series of encounters and decisions that further cemented her career choice, Kerry went on to lead the New South Wales Liberal Party from 1999 until 2002, becoming the first female leader of a major political party in New South Wales history.
It may have seemed that politics was in her blood. Kerry’s father – former Willoughby Mayor, Greg Bartels AM – took up a post with the United Nations in New York in the 1960s. Her family spent five years there which proved to be formative for Kerry as she attended the UN International School. There she had a chance encounter with Senator Robert Kennedy. Kerry recalls, “My father called out ‘Good on ya’ mate’ and in 1968 there were few 36
Australians in New York and Robert Kennedy stopped to talk to us - I was introduced to him by my father. He [Robert] had an absolute presence about him and there wasn’t a noise in a crowd of thousands when he spoke.” On choosing to study economics, Kerry knew it would provide a strong grounding when working in politics, along with her law degree. She embraced University life with a passion and was immersed in student politics
