Who is Patrick?

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I'm a 33 year old Adelaide resident. I live in the city. I work in the city. I shop in the city. I dine in the city. I take my cat Margie for on-leash walks in the city squares and the Park Lands. I'm a musician, performer, event producer, and serial consumer of the arts and festivals. I'm a Commonwealth public servant. I'm a local business advocate. I'm a rideshare driver. I'm a disability advocate and NDIS participant.

Just like you, I'm a local.

I've lived within the Adelaide square mile since 2018, currently renting in a local heritage listed worker's cottage on Oakley Street. My passion for the city began a decade earlier, as a young man attending live music and studying on North Terrace. I was drawn to Adelaide's qualities of energy, community, greenery, and its special combination of heritage and modern amenity - in other words, it's about the vibe! We owe a lot to William Light's plan which has been maintained for 188 years.

As a local, I live the same issues that affect you on a day-to-day basis. You can expect to hear this perspective from me on things like: street parking and residential parking permits, city planning and development, support for local business and our local public culture, a careful and pragmatic balance between the events that bring so much economic stimulus to our city and the needs of Adelaide's residents to go about their lives. Likewise, a responsible, respectful, view of the Park Lands, their use, and preservation for future South Australians.

I am the Strategy Director for the very successful Save The Cranker campaign, with responsibility for our policy platform and direction, stakeholder engagement, and media/public relations. I led our negotiations with government and the developer to secure a future for the Cranker. I oversaw all our written output, including our State Commission Assessment Panel submission, community templates, regular briefings to stakeholders, our website and social media content, and undertook significant historical and legal research and analysis.

The campaign engaged with every corner of town hall and community interest. I've worked with current Lord Mayor Dr Jane Lomax-Smith, former Deputy Lord Mayor Keiran Snape, and Councillors Janet Giles and Henry Davis. I have worked directly with Premier Peter Malinauskas and Planning Minister Nick Champion, Rob Simms from the Greens, Michelle Lensink from the Liberals, and Tammy Franks as chair of the Local and Live Creative Venues committee - you can read my evidence to the committee here. I've also worked with other leading members of our community, including from the East End Coordination Group, Adelaide Park Lands Association, the History Trust, and with dozens of local venue operators.

For the Crown and Anchor Hotel, this advocacy resulted in protecting the heritage listed building, protecting the business operation, and protecting the cultural activity, while amending a development proposal into something that is more responsible and serves the needs of the city at large.

Engaging on such a broad scale, I looked to evidence-based practical decision making, rather than a single-issue dogmatic adversarial approach. I have a track record of pragmatic and competent community representation - and of getting results.

These efforts were recognised when Save The Cranker was awarded the City of Adelaide Citizen of the Year Award for Active Citizenship in 2025.

I was a music teacher from 2011-2022, working in over a dozen schools and studios. I found niche markets delivering private lessons in students' homes (often teaching their mum or dad too), and working with autistic students. I hold a Diploma in Music (Jazz Guitar) and a Graduate Certificate in Music Teaching from the Elder Conservatorium at the University of Adelaide.

Most of my performance credits are in the context of theatre. having performed with Henley Beach Drama Group, Matt Byrne Media, The Met, Therry, Marie Clark, St Jude's Players, G&S Society, and Adelaide Youth Theatre. I hosted the Thursday Jam Club at The Duke Of York between 2019 and 2022, and I've filled in at short notice as a guitar-for-hire many times over the years - the show must go on!

I am also a producer. In 2020 I co-produced and musically directed an Adelaide Fringe show with Phi Theodoros, Ukulele Dream Girl does Amanda Palmer, which received straight 5-star reviews. I co-produced the Make Music Day Adelaide Festival 2020, and worked on Festival Of Now in 2020-2022 in director roles. I've held production management and performance roles with eight Adelaide Fringe Shows in since 2020. One of these, Kym’s Overall Extravaganza Showcase, was recipient of the Spirit of The Fringe Award in 2021.

I have worked for the Australian Public Service since 2022, including on projects relating to the Robodebt Royal Commission and the Disability Royal Commission. I have also worked on a neurodiversity recruitment and career support program. I've completed a Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies at the University of Canberra, with ongoing study towards a Juris Doctor (postgraduate law degree).

I'm a staunch advocate for the rights and needs of people with disability in the public service, both for employees and customers of government agencies. I founded the Graduate Disability Mentorship Group in 2022 and the Autistic Advocacy Group in 2023, both of which still exist today. In 2024 I was appointed an inaugural Disability Inclusion Agent at Services Australia. In 2023-2024 I attended community consultation events and wrote a submission to the National Autism Strategy project, resulting in several verbatim contributions to the draft and final editions of the Strategy.

In addition to my music business operations, I drive a rideshare vehicle on weekends. This has given me a detailed overview of Adelaide's city streets at all hours of the day and night, including the successes and failures of transport infrastructure projects in the city, and the impacts of nightlife policy on the people and local businesses that operate through the wee hours.

This job has allowed me a glimpse into the lives of Adelaideans in all corners of the square mile and from all walks of life as my passengers. It's fascinating to hear your stories, and I'll be bringing your experiences with me to Council as your elected representative.