Mayors & Councillors
- Details
- Written by: Adam Gatt Penrith City Council (02) 4732 7777 (02) 4732 7958 council@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au https://www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au 601 High St Penrith NSW 2750 Australia
Mayor and Deputy Mayor
- Todd Carney - Mayor
- Councillor Garion Thain - Deputy Mayor
Councillors
Visit our Government & Wards page to find out more about local government including the ward boundaries within Penrith. The NSW Electoral Commission has today announced the fifteen Councillors elected to represent the Penrith community following the Local Government Elections on September 14. The fifteen Councillors are (*denotes newly elected Councillor).
Please view the Councillor Contact list here
South Ward
The South Ward includes the suburbs of Badgerys Creek, parts of Emu Plains, Glenmore Park, Jamisontown, parts of Kingswood, Leonay, Luddenham, Mulgoa, Orchard Hills, parts of Penrith, Regentville, South Penrith and Wallacia.
- Hollie McLean*
- Faithe Skinner*
- Kirstie Boerst*
- Sue Day
- Vanessa Pollak*
Councillor Sue Day
Cr Sue Day is serving her second term as Councillor, after being first elected in December 2021. She has been a Penrith resident since 2002 and is a proud working mother and grandmother.
Cr Day’s key motivation is to ensure balanced growth for Penrith, supported by the infrastructure required to ensure the City is liveable, accessible and prosperous. She is especially focused on advocating for sustainable, affordable and accessible public transport.
Cr Day is family-oriented with a strong interest in supporting children in Penrith to reach their potential.
She has more than 30 years’ experience in finance management, with diplomas in Business Management, Financial Services, Communications and Accounting.
Contact details
Postal Address
Penrith City Council, PO Box 386, Penrith NSW 2750
Phone
Fax
02 4732 7958
Councillor Faithe Skinner
Cr Faithe Skinner is currently serving her first term as a Councillor, elected in September 2024. A resident of South Penrith since 2003, she is married with three adult children and has a deep knowledge of her area.
Cr Skinner is a registered BAS Agent with a Diploma in Accounting. She co-owns a registered NDIS and Approved Aged Care business, with a specialisation in dementia care, passionately supporting vulnerable community members with tailored services.
Cr Skinner is focused on assisting the community work through issues and concerns, and helping people understand the choices available. She enjoys giving back to the community. She supports Penrith CBD Corp, assisting with the Penrith Community Kitchen at Christmas time.
Contact details
Postal Address
Penrith City Council, PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751
Phone
Fax
02 4732 7958
Councillor Hollie McLean
Cr Hollie McLean is serving her first term as Councillor, elected in September 2024.
A third generation Penrith local, Cr McLean is a working mother living in Glenmore Park. Cr McLean was taught from an early age about the power of using her voice to advocate for change, and she now works as a consultant Change and Project Manager.
Cr McLean sees Council as the home of local city-shaping and place-making. She is passionate about creating equal opportunities for all people, and driven to build an inclusive, equitable, and thriving community in Penrith.
Cr McLean has a special interest in public policy, and says that the people who make policy matter. She is proud to bring the voices of disability and inclusion into policy-making for Penrith.
Contact details
Postal Address
Penrith City Council, PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751
Phone
Fax
02 4732 7958
Councillor Kirstie Boerst
Cr Kirstie Boerst is serving her first term as Councillor, elected in September 2024.
A Penrith local, Cr Boerst is an experienced creative producer, founder and director of the StarBurst Film Festival. She is passionate about producing content that inspires audiences, changes lives, and educates others to do the same.
Cr Boerst is driven to help build a strong, resilient, inclusive and creative community. She is particularly focused on ensuring access to services and facilities for the community, including palliative and aged care, and resources and assistance for people living with disability.
Contact details
Postal Address
Penrith City Council, PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751
Phone
Fax
02 4732 7958
Councillor Vanessa Pollak
Cr Vanessa Pollak is serving her first term as Councillor, elected in September 2024. Born and raised in Western Sydney, she has called South Penrith home for over twenty years.
With a strong educational background, Cr Pollak holds a Bachelor of Accounting (with distinction) from Western Sydney University, along with a Diploma of Accounting and a Certificate IV in Small Business Management from TAFE NSW. She is also a registered BAS Agent.
Passionate about supporting local businesses, Cr Pollak has extensive experience working with small to medium organisations in the region, helping owners manage their financial and payroll needs. For over a decade, she co-ran a property maintenance business while raising her three children with her husband, Dennis. This experience has given her valuable insight into the challenges faced by local families and small business owners.
Community involvement is a core value to Cr Pollak, and she has volunteered extensively in various local roles. As the first member of the Libertarian Party elected to Penrith City Council, she is committed to advocating for the needs of residents and ensuring a responsive and engaged local government.
Contact details
Postal Address
Penrith City Council, PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751
Phone
Fax
02 4732 7958
East Ward
The East Ward includes the suburbs of Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Colyton, Erskine Park, Kemps Creek, parts of Kingswood, Mount Vernon, North St Marys, Orchard Hills, Oxley Park, St Clair and St Marys.
- Todd Carney - Mayor
- Garion Thain*
- Sabbie Kaur*
- Edwin Mifsud*
- Libby Austin*
Councillor Todd Carney - Mayor
Cr Todd Carney is serving his second term as Mayor of Penrith. He was elected to Council in 2016, first elected as Mayor in September 2023, and again in October 2024.
Cr Carney is particularly focused on realising the full potential for Penrith and Western Sydney, at this time of significant growth and investment. In November 2024 he was elected Chair of Outer Western Sydney Alliance (formerly The Parks) Mayoral Forum, the alliance of Western Sydney councils working to advance broad opportunities for the region. He has been a member of the National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA) Strategic Advisory Committee since 2022 and was elected Deputy Chair in August 2025.
Cr Carney has been Council’s representative to Hawkesbury River County Council since 2024. He served on the Access Committee from 2016 to 2024, championing better access for people with disabilities and limited mobility, and on the Board of Children’s Services from 2016 to 2024, working to ensure quality services to give children a head start.
Cr Carney has been a member of the Fernhill Estate Community Trustee Board since 2023, and was a voluntary Board Member and Secretary of Nepean Community College from 2008 to 2019.
Born and raised in Western Sydney, Cr Carney lives in Glenmore Park with his wife Sharon and their three children. After starting an apprenticeship at the age of 16, Cr Carney worked as a heavy vehicle mechanic for 12 years. He was an electorate officer in the Office of David Bradbury MP for six years, where he advocated for Western Sydney and supported locals. Prior to being elected as Mayor, Cr Carney was the National Service Manager for a global crane manufacturer.
Contact details
Postal Address
Penrith City Council, PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751
Phone
Fax
02 4732 7958
Councillor Garion Thain – Deputy Mayor
Cr Garion Thain is a lifelong resident of the City of Penrith, serving in his first term as Councillor since September 2024. He was elected Deputy Mayor in September 2025, the youngest person to ever hold the position in the City.
Cr Thain began his career as a forklift operator in the transport industry while completing a degree in Communications at Western Sydney University, before subsequently working in a variety of roles across the communications and digital industries.
During this time of dynamic change in Penrith and St Marys, his primary focus is ensuring that residents benefit from the new services and infrastructure coming online, as well as helping realise a modern town centre for St Marys. Since being elected, he has been proud to contribute to the St Marys Town Centre Masterplan, as well as Penrith and St Marys' 24 Hour Economy Strategy and other city planning works.
Cr Thain grew up in North St Marys and believes strongly in a "fair go:" That everyone in Penrith should have an opportunity to succeed in thrive.
Cr Thain chairs Council's Heritage Committee, to ensure Penrith's history is preserved during this period of growth and change. He also serves on the Access Committee to continue his advocacy for people with disabilities, having a brother with Down Syndrome, and serves as Council's appointee to the board of the St Marys Town Centre Corporation.
Contact details
Postal Address
Penrith City Council, PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751
Phone
Fax
02 4732 7958
Councillor Sabbie Kaur
Cr Sarbjeet (Sabbie) Kaur is serving her first term as Councillor, elected in September 2024.
Cr Kaur is a dedicated member of the Penrith community, having called it home since 2007. With qualifications in Education, Commerce and Accounting, Cr Kaur has primarily dedicated her career to teaching while also serving as an accountant for a local Western Sydney firm. These diverse experiences enable her to bring valuable insights to her role, instilling principles of empowerment and fostering a culture of ambition and achievement in the community.
Cr Kaur is a member of the Multicultural Working Party, where she actively advocates for inclusion, representation, and cross-cultural understanding. Her role on the committee reflects her commitment to celebrating diversity and ensuring that the voices of all community members are heard and respected.
Her ethical approach to leadership emphasises transparency, collaboration, and compliance. In understanding the unique challenges we face, she will leverage her expertise and local knowledge to advocate for business services and solutions that meet community needs in a socially balanced and cost-effective manner. Cr Kaur is further committed to delivering the community's vision for Penrith by enabling sustainable growth and protecting our people, places, and environment.
As a representative, she values meaningful communication with residents and is dedicated to making decisions that reflect the community's priorities and align with the Council’s broader vision and goals. By strengthening the connection between the community and the Council, she aims to build a more united, inclusive and positive future—creating greater opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for everyone in the city.
Contact details
Postal Address
Penrith City Council, PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751
Phone
Fax
02 4732 7958
Councillor Libby Austin
Cr Libby Austin is serving her first term as Councillor, elected in September 2024.
Council's youngest ever Councillor and a lifelong Western Sydney local, Libby grew up in St Clair and attended local schools. Her family has called Western Sydney home for generations, giving her a strong connection to the community she now represents.
Libby has worked across our community for various local businesses, in the public service, and in organising, in advocacy and in lobbying roles. These experiences give her a strong understanding of the issues facing local families, workers and young people.
She became a Councillor to work hard for our community, with a particular focus on amplifying the voices of young people and delivering local services, infrastructure and the jobs we need to help build Penrith’s economy into the future.
Contact details
Postal Address
Penrith City Council, PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751
Phone
Fax
02 4732 7958
Councillor Edwin Mifsud
Cr Edwin Mifsud is serving his first term as Councillor, elected in September 2024.
He and his wife have raised their three children in the St Clair area, and they are the proud grandparents of four grandchildren. Cr Mifsud worked as a telephone technician with Telstra for 36 years, and later established his own telecommunications company specialising in telephone system installation, integrated cabling, and data installations. Cr Mifsud has been a lifelong Labor member. He is well connected throughout the community and is proud to represent the voices of multiple generations.
Contact details
Postal Address
Penrith City Council, PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751
Phone
Fax
02 4732 7958
North Ward
The North Ward includes the suburbs of Agnes Banks, Berkshire Park, Cambridge Gardens, Cambridge Park, Castlereagh, Cranebrook, Emu Heights, parts of Emu Plains, Jordan Springs, parts of Kingswood, Llandilo, Londonderry, parts of Penrith, Werrington, Werrington County and Werrington Downs.
- John Thain
- Robin Cook
- Ross Fowler OAM - Deputy Mayor
- Reece Nuttall*
- Glenn Gardiner
Councillor John Thain
Cr John Thain has been a Penrith City Councillor since 1999. He was Mayor in 2005–06 and 2016–18, and Deputy Mayor in 2004–05 and January 2022.
Cr Thain has been involved with several committees, including as Chair and Vice Chair of Hawkesbury River County Council, Chair of Penrith Sports Stadium, and member of the Ripples Board and the North St Marys Neighbourhood Committee. From 2016–2018, Cr Thain was the Chair of the Western Sydney City Deal Mayoral Forum. He also served on the Penrith Whitewater Stadium Board.
Cr Thain holds electrical qualifications, is a former senior advisor to a NSW Housing Minister, and works in the allied health disability sector. Cr Thain is a strong advocate for people with disabilities, and housing diversity and affordability. He is committed to building strategic alliances and partnerships to deliver Council’s vision for Penrith as a sustainable and vibrant city.
Contact details
Postal Address
Penrith City Council, PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751
Phone
Fax
Councillor Robin Cook
Cr Robin Cook was elected to Penrith Council at a by-election in May 2018.
Cr Cook has lived in the Penrith area since 1983 and her family’s association with Penrith spans many generations. Her great uncle was elected to Penrith Council in 1936.
As a former registered nurse and carer for a parent with disabilities, Cr Cook has a keen interest in the health and wellbeing of the community. She has a deep respect for the Indigenous peoples of the area and is committed to advocating for members of the community who are marginalised. Cr Cook also has special interest in sustainability and the environment.
Contact details
Postal Address
Penrith City Council, PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751
Phone
Fax
02 9623 3246
Councillor Ross Fowler OAM
A long-term local resident, Cr Fowler is in his eighth consecutive term on Council after first being elected in 1991. He served as Mayor in 1995-1996, 2013, 2014 and 2018-2020.
He also served as Deputy Mayor in 2015 and was Deputy Mayor in this current term from October 2024 – September 2025.
Cr Fowler holds a Bachelor of Commerce, is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a registered Company Auditor and Tax Agent and is the Principal of Ross Fowler and Co, a Chartered Accountancy firm in Penrith. Since 1991 he has represented Council on CivicRisk Mutual Ltd (formerly Westpool) – the local government insurance and risk management mutual – and he is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Cr Fowler was instrumental in securing the Whitewater venue for Penrith in the lead-up to the 2000 Olympics. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company which operated the facility. He is a member of the Boards of Penrith Performing & Visual Arts Ltd and Penrith City Children’s Services Cooperative, and also represents Council on the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee. His extensive financial acumen has been of great benefit to Council.
Cr Fowler is leading Council’s aim to increase its property investment portfolio with the aim of reducing Council’s future financial reliance on rates income. Cr Fowler’s goal is to help support a strong local economy and ensure Council remains in a sound financial position to best meet the needs and expectations of residents and ratepayers.
Outside his duties as a Councillor, he has been a Director of the Australian Foundation for Disability (AFFORD). He is a member of St Marys Rotary Club, having held positions including president, club service director, community service director, secretary and treasurer. He was also the President of the Board of Trustees for Blaxland Crossing Rest and Recreation Ground Land Manager at Wallacia. He enjoys time with his family, gardening and local history.
Contact details
Postal Address
Penrith City Council, PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751
Phone
Mobile
Fax
02 4722 3077
Councillor Reece Nuttall
Cr Reece Nuttall, elected in September 2024, is serving his first term as Councillor. Cr Nuttall was named Penrith’s Young Citizen of the Year in 2023.
Cr Nuttall is focused on strengthening Penrith’s local economy, supporting local businesses, and creating the conditions for greater investment and job creation across the City. He is particularly interested in reducing barriers to doing business, supporting vibrant town centres, attracting new industries, and ensuring Penrith has the infrastructure needed to support a growing economy.
In addition to his role on Council, he works full-time as a Lawyer in Insurance Litigation at Bartier Perry Lawyers. Cr Nuttall holds a Bachelor of Laws from Macquarie University, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and is one of Council’s youngest serving Councillors.
Contact details
Postal Address
Penrith City Council, PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751
Phone
Fax
02 4732 7958
Councillor Glenn Gardiner
Cr Glenn Gardiner was elected to Council in December 2021 and is serving his second term as Councillor.
Cr Gardiner lives in Londonderry with his wife and two children. He is a motivated community representative and is focused on ensuring that Penrith is managed with the goal of maintaining its livability, which respects and harnesses the can-do attitude and family-focused culture of Penrith.
Cr Gardiner has a strong history of advocating for a sensible balance between safeguarding the natural environment and ensuring that the lives and livelihoods of residents are valued, with flood and bushfire awareness and mitigation being high priorities.
Cr Gardiner is the Chair of Council's Floodplain Risk Management Committee, he represents Council on the Cumberland Bush Fire Management Committee and the Board of Western Sydney Weeds Authority. During the day, Cr Gardiner works as a Sales Manager for Capricorn Risk Services.
Contact details
Postal Address
Penrith City Council, PO Box 60, Penrith NSW 2751
Phone
Fax
02 4732 7958