Nicholas Reece
Nicholas Reece | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 105th Lord Mayor of Melbourne | |
| Assumed office 2 July 2024 | |
| Deputy | Roshena Campbell (November 2024–present) |
| Preceded by | Sally Capp |
| Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne | |
| In office 10 November 2020 – 2 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Arron Wood |
| Succeeded by | Roshena Campbell |
| Councillor of the City of Melbourne | |
| In office November 2016 – 10 November 2020 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1974 (age 51–52) |
| Party | Labor[1] |
Other political affiliations | Team Nick Reece (2024–present) Team Sally Capp (2016−2024) |
Nicholas (Nick) Reece (born 1974) is an Australian politician and policy activist who has served as the Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne since 2024. He also serves on the Steering Committee of C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.[2] He was previously a senior executive at the University of Melbourne and a principal fellow at the Melbourne School of Government.[3] He was the chair of the board of directors at the Movember Foundation,[4] and a commentator at Sky News Australia.
Early life and education
[edit]Reece was born in the United Kingdom in 1974 and moved to Australia with his family when he was young.[5][6] He is a supporter of the Carlton Football Club, resides in Carlton, is married to Felicity and has three daughters.[7] His wife is Greek-Australian.[8] Reece holds a Law degree from Monash University.[9]
Career
[edit]Reece began his career as a lawyer with Maurice Blackburn and later worked as a financial journalist with the Australian Financial Review.
He served in a range of senior government positions, including as Director of Strategy and Senior Adviser to Prime Minister Julia Gillard.[10] Earlier roles included senior advisory positions to Victorian Premiers Steve Bracks and John Brumby, as well as policy work for Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd.[11][12] He also served as State Secretary and Campaign Director of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Labor Party.[13]
Outside government, Reece has held leadership positions in higher education. He worked as a senior executive at the University of Melbourne and a Principal Fellow at the Melbourne School of Government, where his work focused on public policy, leadership, and urban governance.
Reece has also maintained a public profile as a political commentator and columnist, including work with Sky News Australia and The Age newspaper.
Social enterprise
[edit]Reece has been closely involved in social innovation and community causes throughout his career.
In 2004, he was among the original 'mo-bros' in what has since become the Movember Foundation.[14] The global charity has since raised more than $1 billion for pioneering the men’s health movement that supports research and programs addressing prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention. He served on the Movember Foundation Board and became Chair of its Board of Directors.
Reece was also a founding director of The Big Issue Australia, the social enterprise magazine that provides employment opportunities and support for people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage. He served on the organisation’s board for more than a decade.[15]
City of Melbourne
[edit]In 2016, Reece was elected as a councillor to the Melbourne City Council as a member of Team Doyle.[16] Reece joined Team Sally Capp for the 2020 election, and he was elected as Deputy Lord Mayor.
On 2 July 2024, following the resignation of Sally Capp, Reece was sworn in as 105th Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne.[17][18] In the 2024 Melbourne City Council election, Reece retained his position as Lord Mayor, winning 23.36% of primary votes cast and winning 61.49% of the two-candidate-preferred vote.[19] He raised almost $1 million dollars during the campaign, the highest amount in Victorian local government history.[20]
As Lord Mayor, Reece has highlighted priorities including city safety, cleanliness, public realm improvements, infrastructure, and economic recovery.[21] He has also held portfolio responsibilities covering city planning, infrastructure, finance, governance, and risk.
Climate and urban policy
[edit]Reece argues that local governments should take a stronger role in managing the environmental impacts of fast‑growing data centres and AI infrastructure. At the COP30 Local Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro in 2025, Reece partnered with Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and mayors from ten cities around the world to launch an international initiative aimed at reducing the environmental impacts of data centres and AI infrastructure.[22] The initiative seeks to promote greater transparency, sustainability standards, and city-led approaches to managing digital infrastructure growth. During London Climate Week 2026, the initiative expanded, now labelled, the Global Urban Data Centres Pact,[23] signed by 41 mayors from six continents, representing more than 90 million people.[24]
Democratic innovation
[edit]Reece was a member of the steering committee responsible for bringing Vote Compass to Australia. Vote Compass is an online voting advice application developed by political scientists to help voters compare their views with the policy positions of political parties and candidates. During the 2013 Australian federal election, the platform recorded more than 1.3 million respondents, making it the largest electoral survey conducted in Australia at the time.[25] Later that year, Vote Compass received a Crikey Award for Innovation of the Year.[26] The application has been used at every federal election since, including during the 2025 Australian federal election.[27]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Backroom Baz: Liberal Party candidate Angela Newhouse pops up at UK election". Herald Sun. Sunday Herald Sun. 7 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
Reece is of course life long Labor man, having been a former adviser to Steve Bracks and Julia Gillard and being Mayor is his first big step to the front and centre of the political stage
- ↑ "C40 Steering Committee".
- ↑ Lawry, Rhys (9 April 2019). "Mr Nicholas Reece". Melbourne School of Government. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ↑ "Movember Australia". Movember Australia. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ↑ "'Proud' Greek by wedlock Nicholas Reece, to become Melbourne's new Lord Mayor". 28 March 2024.
- ↑ "Nick Reece | Lord Mayor of Melbourne". www.nickformelbourne.com.au. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
- ↑ Placella, Laura. "Lord Mayor Nick Reece announces bid to keep city's top job". Herald Sun. News Corp. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
- ↑ "Message from the Lord Mayor of Melbourne". Antipodes Festival. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
- ↑ "Nick Reece biography". findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
- ↑ Rood, David (14 September 2009). "Chief Brumby adviser lands new Labor role". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ↑ "Brumby's policy adviser to head election campaign". ABC News. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ↑ "Reformer fit for combat". Australian Financial Review. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ↑ Rood, Paul Austin and David (9 September 2009). "Brumby gets his man, with Gillard's help". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ↑ ANZSOG (12 June 2024). "A conversation with ANZSOG alum and Deputy Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece". ANZSOG. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
- ↑ Placella, Laura. "Nicholas Reece set to become Melbourne's 105th Lord Mayor". Herald Sun. News Corp. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
- ↑ "Councillor Nicholas Reece - City of Melbourne". www.melbourne.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
- ↑ "Nicholas Reece sworn in as new Lord Mayor". Melbourne News. City of Melbourne. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ↑ Aubrey, Cara Waters, Sophie (2 July 2024). "New lord mayor to target 'completely unacceptable' safety issues, cleanliness". The Age. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Melbourne City Council election". VEC.
- ↑ Danckert, Cara Waters, Adam Carey, Sarah (12 December 2024). "Donation revelations prompt fears Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece could be 'mired in conflicts of interest'". The Age. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Annual Plan and Budget | City of Melbourne". www.melbourne.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
- ↑ "Mayors of Melbourne and Phoenix call for local leaders to join global initiative on responsible and inclusive data infrastructure". City of Melbourne News. 6 November 2025.
- ↑ "The Global Urban Data Centres Pact: A mayoral vision for a sustainable, affordable digital future". C40 Cities. June 2026.
- ↑ "Mayors from around the world unite in call for sustainable urban data centres". C40 Cities. 23 June 2026.
- ↑ "Introducing Vote Compass". ABC News. 28 March 2013.
- ↑ "Crikey Awards: does any title deserve to be newspaper of the year?". Crikey. 19 December 2013.
- ↑ "Vote Compass 2025". ABC News.