Roger has represented the people of Braddon in the Tasmanian Parliament since 2014.
His most recent ministerial responsibilities under Premier Jeremy Rockliff have been Children and Youth, Community Services, Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Finance.
His previous ministerial responsibilities include Education, Housing, Environment and Parks, State Growth and Aboriginal Affairs.
Some of the highlights of Roger’s contributions as a member for Braddon and Cabinet Minister since 2018 include:
Roger came to the North-West Coast in 2000 as the first chair and CEO of the newly formed Cradle Coast Authority, a position he held until 2013 when he resigned to stand for election.
He has represented the electorate of Braddon, covering the North-West, West Coast and King Island, in the Tasmanian Parliament since 2014.
He did not enter politics for the politics – he is driven by the challenges of his adopted home.
Tasmania’s natural resources, climate and lifestyle are extraordinary by any measure, but its economy and the well-being of its people told a different story.
Roger believes Tasmania should be a place where every Tasmanian can achieve their own vision and potential – a Tasmania full of people doing great things without limiting opportunities for other Tasmanians, or future generations, to do the same.
Roger’s years with the Cradle Coast Authority gave him insights into industries, communities and issues in all parts of the region that is now his electorate. His experience living and working in other parts of Australia and overseas taught him how much we have to be proud of here.
Roger is motivated to realise the potential of Tasmania for all Tasmanians. He delivered his inaugural speech to Parliament on 7 May 2014 (link) and shared this desire to better connect Braddon’s people to the potential of their place. He also believes the most important role of government is to provide the settings in which this can happen and to foster the confidence and ingenuity of Tasmanians.
Roger grew up in Victoria, the son of a self-employed engineer and a committed community volunteer.
After completing his secondary schooling he spent time working and travelling in southern Africa.
Returning to Australia, Roger studied science at Monash University, focusing on land use and management in rural areas and the human and economic drivers of business decisions in these environments.
On completion of his studies, Roger worked with rural businesses in outback Western Australia to diversify local economies and create new exports in horticulture, sheep and goat meat enterprises, and tourism.
After other land-use planning and industry roles in WA, Roger was appointed as the first Executive Chair of the Cradle Coast Authority in 2000 and he and his wife Stephanie moved to Wynyard, where they have now raised three proudly Tasmanian children.
As someone who arrived too late to ever qualify as a “local”, Roger counts being elected by real Tasmanians to serve in their Parliament as an enormous honour and his proudest career achievement.
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