Councillor Helen Berry

Term expires: October 2029

Ward: Central-West Ward

Position: Councillor

Tenure

Cr Berry was elected to Council in 2021 and is currently serving her second term as a Councillor with the City of Wanneroo.

Originally from Gloucestershire in the United Kingdom, Helen emigrated to Australia several years ago and has always lived within the City of Wanneroo, first in Yanchep and later in Mindarie.

Priorities for the City

Helen believes that being a Councillor is first and foremost about representing the people who have placed their trust in her. She is committed to listening to residents, representing their views fairly and honestly, and making decisions that are in the best interests of the City as a whole, consistent with the oath she made upon being elected.

Helen is passionate about community engagement and believes residents deserve to understand what local government does, what it does not do, and the legislative responsibilities and jurisdictions under which Council operates. She believes informed communities are better able to participate in local decision-making and work collaboratively with Council to achieve positive outcomes.

Helen believes ratepayers deserve value for money. She does not believe in increasing costs for residents unless the value of that investment can be clearly demonstrated. She is committed to ensuring Council remains financially responsible while continuing to invest in infrastructure, services and facilities that benefit both current and future generations.

Helen is prepared to ask questions, challenge proposals where appropriate and advocate for decisions that are transparent, financially responsible and in the best interests of the community. She is a strong advocate for:

Qualifications

Helen is a retired Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer with extensive experience in the community services sector. Throughout her career, she led organisations delivering services across aged care, disability services, family day care, family and domestic violence, homelessness, alcohol and other drugs and mental health.

This experience has provided her with a strong understanding of community needs, governance, financial accountability and the responsible management of public funds.

Helen qualified as an accountant in 1992 through the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants of England and Wales. She is also:

• A Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
• A Fellow of the Institute of Community Directors Australia.
• A member of the Australian Human Resources Institute.
• A graduate of the Diploma of Local Government for Elected Members.

Committees

Boards

Following her executive career, Helen now divides her time between her role as a Councillor and serving on a number of boards, maintaining a strong focus on good governance, accountability and strategic leadership.