John was born and brought up in the North of Ireland.
Before leaving the UK. John was the Regional Secretary of a major Teachers’ Union (the NASUWT).
John has an extensive background spanning trade unions, government, and the energy sector. He served as Secretary of a trade union in Western Australia for 15 years before moving into government as a Principal Policy Adviser on industrial relations to several WA State Ministers, including the then Energy Minister, over a period of nearly seven years.
During this time, John played a central role in the passage of the harmonised Work Health and Safety legislation and contributed significantly to the development and passage of the new Workers’ Compensation Act.
In recent years, John worked with Western Australia’s government-owned gentailer, Synergy, as Manager of Government Relations. This role not only built on his deep understanding of government and political processes but also provided a practical education in the complexities of the WA energy system.
John is deeply committed to equality and progressive social change. At the heart of his work is a focus on ensuring that the energy transition is inclusive and benefits all members of the community.