Meeting her for coffee at the Gerringong Co-op, where she runs operations, I expected a chat about the usual: roads, rates, and rubbish. Instead, Erica brought a quiet passion that made me sit up. This is a woman who has lived through loss and come out the other side with an unwavering determination to make Kiama better, not just for her, but for all of us.

Erica’s story is rooted in Jamberoo, where her family ran local pubs and taught her the value of community. “Our hills, our villages, they’re not just beautiful; they’re part of who we are,” she says. But it was the passing of her husband, Chad, before the council election that forced Erica to pause and ask herself the tough questions. Could she take on the demands of council, her full-time job, and, most importantly, still be there for her teenage daughter Molly?

She decided she could and should. For Erica, Kiama is worth fighting for. Preserving our green rolling hills is at the heart of her vision. “Those hills are why people come here,” she tells me. “They remind us what makes this place special.” But Erica isn’t stuck in a no-growth mindset. She gets that development is inevitable; she just wants it done in a way that respects what we love most about our region.

She has big plans. Jerrara Dam, for instance. It’s personal for me. My grandfather’s dairy farm was resumed to build it. Erica shares my vision for transforming it into a wildlife sanctuary and educational hub. Her eyes light up as she talks about eco-tourism, birdwatchers, and students discovering the beauty of the area.

Erica is also laser-focused on improving council culture. She doesn’t sugar-coat it: customer service needs to improve. “Council has to think like a business that serves its customers,” she says. And she’s not just talking. Her “Get it done” mantra drives her approach to solving long-standing issues, from fixing broken processes to making council-owned spaces, work for the community. 

And then there’s her big idea: a Winter Solstice Festival. Three months of music, arts, and events to inject life into the region during its quietest time. It’s ambitious, but Erica doesn’t seem fazed by that.

Her leadership isn’t loud or flashy. It’s practical, thoughtful, and deeply connected to the community she serves. Erica Warren isn’t just a councillor. She’s one of us, working to make Kiama a place where we can all belong.