Independent Mike Cains and his team believe that Kiama needs a fresh start. There is a lot do. Broadly speaking their policy platform revolves around three key focus areas. Firstly, establishing a collaborative and professional council that abandons petty squabbles and works to get things done, Secondly, delivering improved liveability for our town and villages and finally, ensuring that we only have sustainable development and infrastructure that sets our region up for the future.

Here are the team biographies:

Mike Cains: is a farmer, owner of Pecora Dairy, 2021 Nuffield Scholar & 2024 Royal Agriculture Show Presidents Medal recipient. He is on the board of the Kiama & District Business Chamber and a founding member of the Wednesday Kiama F armers Market. Dad to two adult children and husband to Cressida for over 20 years. Before returning to the area he grew up in, Mike carved out a successful corporate career with senior executive roles at companies like Fairfax Media and CoreLogic. In corporate Australia and in small business he acquired the skills to a) bring people together b) solve problems and c) get things done - if elected he will work with other councillors to create a more productive council.

Marcus Hewitt: is a local cattle farmer who has lived in the Kiama area for more than 15 years. He is an accomplished small businessman with more than 30 years’ experience running fitness centres throughout Sydney. He is a father of three who understands the pressures facing families and businesses in Kiama. In particular he wants to see a greater focus on building more functional amenities in Kiama’s growing towns. He sees the opportunity for farmers to build modest functional accommodation to house their staff and for the workers of businesses of our growing towns. He is an avid fisherman and is passionate about preserving the natural beauty of this electorate. As part of the Mike Cains team, he wants to use his business experience and local knowledge to support jobs, growth and investment in our beautiful Kiama Towns.

James Cahill: has lived in Kiama for the past 43 years, raising a family. He has enjoyed career employment in information technology and communications at senior management level working for multi-national corporates. Jim is a keen Christian and surfer, with community volunteering experience including previous lengthy involvement with junior football as coach.

Jim is pleased to support Michael Cains to provide a fresh start for Kiama Council.

Cressida Cains: has a passion for supporting women in rural and regional Australia. She is the 2020 Agrifutures Rural Women’s Award winner for NSW and ACT and National runner up. She is on the board of Australian Women in Agriculture and is a fierce advocate for helping rural and regional women achieve positions of influence. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Bachelor of Business.

Together with Mike she founded Pecora Dairy and has been on the organising committee of the Wednesday Kiama Farmers market. She is mother to two adult children.

Eric McAuley: is a 20-year Bombo resident. His career encompasses environmental remediation, but he currently runs his own business recycling batteries and other materials. He is an exponent of the circular economy and its benefits to society. Eric is deeply passionate about the future of the Bombo quarry. He believes that we have the perfect opportunity to promote a world class urban design to create a new state of the art community close to beach, electrified train and highway.