Sandy Verschoor Explained

Sandy Verschoor
Nationality:Australian
Office:Lord Mayor of Adelaide
Term Start:12 November 2018
Term End:14 November 2022
Predecessor:Martin Haese
Successor:Jane Lomax-Smith
Deputy:Mary Couros
Office1:Deputy Mayor of Adelaide
Term Start1:June 2017
Term End1:12 November 2018
Office2:Alderwoman of the Adelaide City Council
Term Start2:15 December 2015
Birth Name:Sandra Maaike Jayne Verschoor
Birth Date:1959 4, df=yes
Spouse:Gregg Mitchell
Children:3

Sandra Maaike Jayne Verschoor (born 25 April 1959) is an Australian businesswoman who was the Lord Mayor of Adelaide[1] in South Australia from 12 November 2018 until November 2022.[2] Prior to this, she was Deputy Lord Mayor and a General Manager at the City of Adelaide.[3] She is now the Chair of both the Art Gallery of South Australia and the South Australian Heritage Council.

Early life and education

Verschoor is the second daughter of Dutch immigrants to Australia and grew up in Elizabeth.[4] She has a Master of Arts, an MBA and a PhD in Business Administration from Kennedy Western University.

Career

Verschoor worked in broadcasting and marketing in the early 1990s, and became marketing manager of the Adelaide Festival of the Arts in 1995 and Marketing & Development Director 1996-1999. As the Associate Director of Arts Projects Australia 2001 - 2006 she worked on WOMADelaide and helped establish the Adelaide Film Festival. She was CEO of the Adelaide Fringe from 2006 to 2010. In 2011, she became the executive producer of the Festival of Ideas.

In 2012, Verschoor worked as general manager for the Adelaide City Council for three years before being elected to council at a by-election in 2015.

She took up the role of Executive Producer of the Windmill Theatre in 2015 and CEO of the Adelaide Festival in 2016.

From June 2017 to November 2018, she served as Deputy Lord Mayor for 18 months.[5]

After Martin Haese decided not to run in the 2018 election, he endorsed Verschoor. [6] Verschoor was elected Lord Mayor in November 2018, defeating lawyer Mark Hamilton and bookshop owner Kate Treloar. She served for four years, before being defeated in the 2022 election by former politician and lord mayor Jane Lomax-Smith.[7]

Personal life

Verschoor is married and has two daughters and a son.

Notes and References

  1. https://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/about-council/your-council/lord-mayor-and-councillors/sandy-verschoor/ City of Adelaide - Cr Sandy Verschoor
  2. Web site: 10 November 2018. South Australian Council Election results: New mayors and councillors voted in. 3 October 2022. The Advertiser. subscription.
  3. Web site: Verschoor means business. Catherine. Clifton. The Adelaide Review. 16 October 2018. 10 November 2018.
  4. Web site: Dexter. John. 4 May 2017. Sandy Verschoor: 'People want artistic energy to be in their city'. 10 November 2018. The Adelaide Review.
  5. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-08/sandy-verschoor-elected-to-adelaide-city-council/7011354 Sandy Verschoor wins Adelaide City Council by-election on arts and innovation platform
  6. Web site: Washington. David. 17 September 2018. Challenger turns frontrunner in Lord Mayoral race. 10 November 2018. In Daily.
  7. Web site: Local government elections 2022: Lord Mayor-elect Jane Lomax-Smith says top job is restoring Adelaide City Council reputation. Andrew. Hough. The Advertiser. 15 November 2022. 19 November 2022.