Andrew Mark Ronalds is an Australian politician who represented the

Eastern Victoria Region Eastern Victoria Region is one of the eight electoral regions of Victoria, Australia, which elects five members to the Victorian Legislative Council (also referred to as the upper house) by proportional representation. The region was created in 2 ...

for the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. __TOC__ Active liberal parties This is a li ...

in the

Victorian Legislative Council The Victorian Legislative Council (VLC) is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Victoria, Australia, the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit at Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Co ...

from 5 February to 29 November 2014. He replaced Philip Davis after his retirement in January 2014. Ronalds directed Jindi Cheese from 1995 to 2005. Ronalds was also the Director of Dairy Cropping Australia from 2008 to 2014.

Early life and education

Ronalds was born and raised in Gippsland, growing up on the family farm in Jindivick. He was educated at Drouin West Primary School and St Paul's Anglican Grammar School, Warragul.

Professional career

Ronalds graduated from Deakin University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Commerce. He was later appointed Managing Director of Jindi Cheese and in 2007 established Dairy Cropping Australia.

Political career

Ronalds is a member of the Liberal Party's Warragul Branch and served as President and Secretary of the Branch. Before entering Parliament he was Chairman of the Eastern Victoria Electorate Conference and the McMillan Federal Electorate Conference. He was also a Member of State Council and Policy Assembly. From 2006 Ronalds was a member of the executive of the Liberal Party, the Administrative Committee, serving as a Vice President from 2007–2011. During his time on the Administrative Committee he also Chaired the Federal Seats Committee and the Senate Committee, was a delegate to the Federal Council and was involved in party reforms as well as numerous other organisational committees. Ronalds won pre-selection for the Upper House seat of Eastern Victoria in December 2013 following the announcement that predecessor Philip Davis would retire after 21 years in Parliament. He was sworn into the Legislative Council on 5 February 2014 and appointed to the Parliament's Accountability and Oversight Committee and Economic Development and Infrastructure and Outer Suburban Committee.

References

Living people 1973 births Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Victoria Members of the Victorian Legislative Council 21st-century Australian politicians {{Australia-Liberal-politician-stub