Sandra Maaike Jayne Verschoor is an Australian businesswoman who was the Lord Mayor of Adelaide in South Australia from 12 November 2018 until November 2022. Prior to this, she was Deputy Lord Mayor and a general manager at the City of Adelaide. She is now[when?] the chair of both the Art Gallery of South Australia and the South Australian Heritage Council.
Sandy Verschoor | |
|---|---|
 Verschoor in Adelaide in 2023 | |
| Lord Mayor of Adelaide | |
| In office 12 November 2018 – 14 November 2022 | |
| Deputy | Mary Couros |
| Preceded by | Martin Haese |
| Succeeded by | Jane Lomax-Smith |
| Deputy Mayor of Adelaide | |
| In office June 2017 – 12 November 2018 | |
| Alderwoman of the Adelaide City Council | |
| Assumed office 15 December 2015 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sandra Maaike Jayne Verschoor |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Spouse | Gregg Mitchell |
| Children | 3 |
Early life and education
editVerschoor is the second daughter of Dutch immigrants to Australia and grew up in Elizabeth.[1] She is of Dutch, French, Portuguese, and Ceylonese descent.[2]
She has a Master of Arts, an MBA and a PhD in Business Administration from Kennedy Western University.[citation needed]
Career
editVerschoor 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.[1] As the Associate Director of Arts Projects Australia 2001 - 2006 she worked on WOMADelaide and helped establish the Adelaide Film Festival.[1] 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 [1] before being elected to council at a by-election in 2015.[3]
She took up the role of executive producer of the Windmill Theatre in 2015 and CEO of the Adelaide Festival in 2016.[1]
From June 2017 to November 2018, she served as Deputy Lord Mayor for 18 months.[3][4]
After Martin Haese decided not to run in the 2018 election, he endorsed Verschoor. [5] Verschoor was elected Lord Mayor in November 2018, defeating lawyer Mark Hamilton and bookshop owner Kate Treloar.[6] She served for four years, before being defeated in the 2022 election by former politician and lord mayor Jane Lomax-Smith.[7][6]
She is now[when?] the chair of both the Art Gallery of South Australia and the South Australian Heritage Council.[citation needed]
Recognition and awards
editIn 2022, Verschoor was nominated as OCPSE Leader of the Year in the Woman of the Year Awards (SkyCity Adelaide, The Advertiser, and Sunday Mail)[8]
Personal life
editVerschoor is married and has two daughters and a son.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Dexter, John (4 May 2017). "Sandy Verschoor: 'People want artistic energy to be in their city'". The Adelaide Review. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
- ^ Sandy Verschoor, Lord Mayor. City of Adelaide, July 2019
- ^ a b Clifton, Catherine (16 October 2018). "Verschoor means business". The Adelaide Review. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
- ^ Sandy Verschoor wins Adelaide City Council by-election on arts and innovation platform ABC News, 8 December 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ a b Washington, David (17 September 2018). "Challenger turns frontrunner in Lord Mayoral race". In Daily. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
- ^ a b "South Australian Council Election results: New mayors and councillors voted in". The Advertiser. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ Hough, Andrew (15 November 2022). "Local government elections 2022: Lord Mayor-elect Jane Lomax-Smith says top job is restoring Adelaide City Council reputation". The Advertiser. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ Tracy, Jackie (27 February 2022). "The finalists: The SA women who inspire us". adelaidenow. Retrieved 30 August 2024.