Cooroy resident and volunteer Nicola Wilson has put her hand up as a candidate in the upcoming Noosa Shire Council elections, ready to spend time serving the community that has welcomed her with open arms.
She has quite the resume under her belt, and it’s easy to see how Nicola’s professional and education skills would transfer well to council.
So, who is Nicola Wilson?
“I’m hard working, reliable, honest and believe in fairness and equity. I’m known for my compassion, humility and ability to relate and listen,” she said.
Originally from England, Nicola moved to Sydney in 2002 and has lived in the Noosa Shire since 2019.
As a Chartered Accountant, with a background in consulting and big business, she’s spent time working for familiar names like EY, Caltex, Qantas and Fairfax.
“I’m able to quickly absorb large amounts of complex data, reach informed opinions, summarise and explain reasoning to others, and produce quality reports and proposals,” Nicola said. “I consider all stakeholders and try to achieve balance.”
For the last nine years, Nicola has worked in Tertiary education, designing and teaching courses in accounting.
She’s also a marriage celebrant, a director of a local charity, and holds a number of volunteer positions (mostly as treasurer and secretary).
“I love singing and have been involved with Noosa Arts Theatre and Coolum Theatre Players. I also sing Christmas carols at community events,” Nicola said.
What does she hope to focus on while in Council?
“While I acknowledge Noosa as a special tourist destination (having been a tourist myself over the years), my focus will be on preserving key aspects of our community and environment for residents, and trying to find ways to accommodate residents and local workers both in Noosa and the hinterland,” Nicola said.
“Short term accommodation has become a major issue in the region, adding to the housing shortage. I’d like to see a sensible approach to delineating between accommodation intended for tourists, and that which is preserved for residents.
“I don’t have any connections with developers, or any conflicts of interest!”
