Election Debrief - The Independent Wave

Now the dust has settled on the federal election, it's time to reflect on what happened - and where the Community Independent movement is headed next.

Former Community Independent MP, Kylea Tink, will be in conversation with Cathy McGowan, Brent Hodgson and Jessie Price. Together, they’ll unpack the 2025 election results and what they reveal about the growing momentum - particularly in regional Australia.

Brent will share key insights from his analysis of where and how Community Independents shifted the vote, and what this means for future campaigns. Cathy will reflect on her recent article in The Australian, highlighting the powerful message regional voters are sending to Canberra. Jessie will share the remarkable transformation that’s taken place in the community of Bean, ACT - from the formation of Voices of Bean in 2022, to running as a candidate in 2025 and making the once safe seat super marginal! Jessie brings firsthand insight into how grassroots movements grow by engaging, activating, and empowering communities to drive real democratic change.

Whether you were part of a campaign team, a passionate supporter, or simply curious about what’s next, we’d love you to join us for what promises to be an insightful and inspiring conversation.

About our speakers

Kylea Tink, former Independent MP for North Sydney, NSW
Kylea has been a CEO, business owner, board director and strategic adviser. In May 2022, she was elected as the Community Independent for North Sydney on a platform of climate action, political integrity, a forward-focused economy, equality and respect for all, and healthy families and communities. The seat of North Sydney was abolished in last year's AEC redistribution. Kylea is Ambassador for the Community Independents Project.

Cathy McGowan AO, former Independent MP for Indi, Vic

Cathy McGowan is recognised as one of the pioneers of the Community Independent movement. In 2013, Cathy became the first Independent member for Indi and the first female Independent to sit on the parliamentary crossbench. Over two terms, Cathy worked to develop policy around regional development, a national integrity commission, a code of conduct for politicians, and drought policy. Cathy has also worked as an academic, researcher and company director. She is a Co-founder of the Community Independents Project.

Brent Hodgson

Brent is a self-confessed data nerd with a penchant for finding the tiny tweaks that make a big difference to campaigns. His data driven insights played a key role in Monique Ryan’s 2022 campaign for Kooyong, before leading the 2022 state campaign in Hawthorn, and joining the CIP core team in late 2024. Brent has a background in events, marketing, business and technology, including helping SMEs access world-leading business and technology insights to become resilient, tech-savvy and internationally competitive enterprises.

Jessie Price, Community Independent candidate for Bean, ACT

Jessie is a midwife and former journalist who was selected as the Community Independent for Bean - an electorate that made the news early on election night for the surprise swing against Labor in what had been a very safe seat, and went down to the wire over a week and a half of close counting. This was a grassroots, low-cost, people-powered campaign. The group learned rapidly, were focused, relentlessly positive and purposeful, and together they made Bean absolutely marginal. They are now planning for 2028 and the next three years of community building and advocacy.

Jessie passionately believes the antidote to horror, frustration and despair is real connection and fierce hope through action. She is proud to be part of a powerful movement for change, for better politics, and better outcomes for people, community and planet.