Esther Kennedy

Senior Advisor to State Member of Parliament

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

About

Small business advocate currently working in local government supporting traders and retail precincts. I spent my twenties running and co-owning an Arts agency, moved to Louisiana, USA and took on management of a $100M creative placemaking revitalisation project and have worked in MPs offices including Adam Bandt (Federal Member for Melbourne) and Sam Hibbins (State Member for Prahran). I'm passionate about economic, cultural and community development to achieve sustainable and equitable outcomes for a future we can be proud we helped create.

Experience

  • Parliament of Victoria (3 yrs 1 mo)
    • Senior Advisor
      Nov 2025 - Present · 9 mos

    • Community Engagement Advisor
      Jul 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 1 mo

      Helping my MP connect with and understand the needs of her constituents. With the highest concentration of public housing of any electorate, I spend a lot of my time listening to local public housing residents about how we can best represent their needs - definitely a passion area for me!

  • Business Development Officer - Retail at Yarra City Council
    Jul 2016 - Jul 2023 · 7 yrs 1 mo

    Working within the Economic Development Unit, my role is to support and grow Yarra's retail precincts - Bridge Rd, Brunswick St, Church St, Fitzroy North Village, Gertrude St, Johnston St, Nicholson Village, Queens Pde, Rathdowne Village, Smith St, Swan St and Victoria St.

  • Economic Development Special Officer - North Richmond Precinct at Victorian Department of Families, Fairness & Housing
    Jan 2021 - Jan 2022 · 1 yr 1 mo

    Working with DFFH, council, Victoria Street traders, neighbourhood houses and residents to improve the North Richmond precinct.

  • Assistant Bookkeeper at Counting Clouds
    Dec 2016 - Jul 2017 · 8 mos

    Assisted with bookkeeping duties for musicians, cafes, artists and other extremely cool small businesses.

  • Western Region Community Organiser at Adam Bandt MP
    Apr 2016 - Jul 2016 · 4 mos

    For the 2016 federal election, I implemented a data-driven campaign field strategy focusing on one-on-one conversations with voters. My main responsibility was to recruit, train, support and empower a network of volunteers to build neighbourhood teams in the western region of the electorate. This area is traditionally Labor supporting and as such had the largest primary vote increase targets and fewest volunteers, but was where we saw some of the biggest swings toward Greens in 2016.