The ISJO's Board
The Chair of the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation is the Mayor of the City of Shellharbour, Cr Chris Homer.
Born and raised in Shellharbour, Cr Homer attended Shellharbour Primary School and then Warilla High School – the first school in Australia to introduce surfing as a sport.
Cr Homer works full-time as the Mayor and previously worked in the finance industry as a Mortgage Broker. He has qualifications in Nutritional Medicine, Fitness and Recreation, as well as being a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Cr Homer’s vision is for Shellharbour City to continue to evolve into a balanced, vibrant and connected community. He is passionate about inspiring progressive and proactive service delivery, which is focused on public interest first and foremost.
The Deputy Chair of the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation is Cr Tania Brown.
Cr Brown was first elected to Wollongong City Council as a Councillor in 2017, was re-elected in 2021 and served as Deputy Lord Mayor from 2019 to 2024.
In 2024 Cr Brown was successful in being elected to the position of Lord Mayor.
Cr Brown is Wollongong born and bred, raised her family here and previously worked with the University of Wollongong and the NSW and Australian Governments.
She is an active member of the Illawarra community and has previously served on the Boards of several local organisations including Destination Wollongong, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Illawarra Sports Stadium Ltd, the Illawarra Hawks and the Illawarra District Rugby League Club Limited.
Cr Cameron McDonald was elected Mayor of Kiama Municipality in 2024.
Cr McDonald is one of five partners at regional law firm Culleton Lawyers.
He has two degrees, a Masters in Property Law and Business Law Transactions and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment, has travelled extensively and been appointed to State and Australian representative sporting teams in his former career as a physiotherapist.
Cr McDonald has served as the President of the Kiama & District Business Chamber, a member of the Destination Kiama Tourism and Economic Advisory Committee, a committee member of the Kiama Show Society, is a founding member of the Kiama & District Stronger Community mental well-being group and enjoys coaching his daughter’s Kiama Power AFL team.
His family has a long history of serving the community, and he works tirelessly and has the skills and passion to make the Kiama LGA a better place.
Cr Patricia White was first elected as a Councillor on Shoalhaven City Council in 2012. She was re-elected at the 2016 and 2021 elections and in September 2024 was elected as the Mayor of Shoalhaven City.
Cr David Brown is a longstanding councillor on Wollongong City Council having first been elected to that role in 2002. He has also served as Deputy Lord Mayor.
Cr Brown works as a media consultant and editor. He was selected as a delegate to the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation following his re-election as a councillor in the 2021 Local Government Elections and was successful in being reappointed following the 2024 Elections.
Cr Kellie Marsh was first elected as a Councillor for Ward A in the City of Shellharbour at the 2021 Local Government Elections and was re-elected at the 2022 and 2024 elections.
Cr Marsh has returned as Council’s Deputy Mayor and Delegate to the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation Board.
Cr Mike Cains lives on his family farm at Knights Hill and was elected as a Councillor on Kiama Municipal Council in the September 2024 elections.
Cr Cain’s corporate career encompassed senior executive roles at businesses such as Fairfax and Corelogic.
He is the co-founder of a vertically integrated, award winning, agricultural enterprise called Pecora Dairy, a 2021 Nuffield Scholar and a recipient of the Royal Agricultural Society Presidents Medal.
Cr Peter Wilkins was elected as a Councillor on Shoalhaven City Council at the September 2024 Elections.
Cr Wilkins was subsequently appointed to the position of Council’s Deputy Mayor and Delegate on the Joint Organisation Board.
Non-voting Board Delegates
As at 1 December 2024 the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Joint Organisation’s non-voting Delegates are:
Jane Stroud, CEO, Kiama Municipal Council
Mike Archer, CEO, Shellharbour City Council
Greg Doyle, General Manager, Wollongong City Council
James Ruprai, Acting CEO, Shoalhaven City Council
Giles Butler, Director Regional Coordination South, NSW Premier’s Department