INTRODUCING DI TORNAI, INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE
Di Tornai will stand with me as part of the Clover Moore Independent Team at the Local Council
Elections. Di is committed to strengthening the representation of the southern
areas of the City and apartment residents.
Currently Vice-Chair of the Victoria Park Community Group,
Di works as a consultant specialising in organisational development and
management for community organisations, including work with owners’ corporations managing large apartment blocks.
Di has over 30 years professional experience in lobbying
for services to meet the needs of the community and in managing non-government
organisations specialising in disability services. She has served on numerous
government and industry focus groups and task forces, developing a national
profile for her systemic advocacy with the Departments of Family and Community
Services and Employment and Workplace Relations, in particular improving the
access of people with disabilities to employment services.
Her employment experience includes University of NSW Global,
Spinal Cord Injuries Australia and the Autistic Association. She is also a
foundation member of Association Competitive Employment (ACE), a peak body
which established a national industry network for over 400 independent
community-based organisations that held Government contracts as specialist
employment agencies.
Di’s professional and community experience provides her
with a solid foundation to be an effective Councillor representing the City’s
diverse communities.
Di Tornai writes:
“In recent years my career has shifted its focus to
strata residential development after
realising there had been an evolution in
the way people were living in the city.
“Due to trends associated with a global city, and the
adoption of urban consolidation policies
and strategies such as the Metropolitan
Strategy, more than 60 per cent of the City’s residents now live in apartments.
“Enormous potential exists to influence and develop
“community” in these vertical
villages.
“Since establishing Strata Community Development,
I’ve provided input into Owners
Corporations improving governance models. After all, it’s essentially a fourth tier of government! The
skills of the Executive Committees and
the competence of the Strata Managers they engage are keys to maintaining the success of this
community.
“Executive Committees have been keen, through
information and skill development, to
ensure better understanding of their role and
responsibilities. This has also involved training in areas such as contract negotiation, managing contractors
and promoting environmental
consciousness within apartment buildings – incorporating sustainability practices such as stormwater
harvesting, green energy, waste
minimisation, and the possibilities presented by green roofs.
“This change in the face of the City means there is
potential for enormous impact. It’s
important to engage the broader community in
this conversation-to inform, explore and influence future
directions in planning and development.
“Through being a candidate with Clover Moore’s Independent Team, I hope to promote this dialogue. Clover has
been a strong advocate on behalf of
apartment residents, working for better building and living standards and effective management of
multistorey apartments.
“An increasing number of these apartments are in the
City’s southern areas. Victoria Park
Community Group promotes the importance of good
building management to maintaining the quality of apartment
buildings within Victoria Park and its
reputation as benchmark example of urban
renewal. As a component of the Green Square Urban Renewal Project Victoria Park exemplifies the principles
embodied in this exciting and courageous
plan.
“As a Councillor, I believe I can represent southern Sydney communities to ensure the redevelopment of Green Square is
sustainable and meets the needs of
current and future residents.”