About Gordon

Born and educated in the area, and a life-long resident of Narre Warren, Gordon understands local issues and concerns.

Gordon was educated at Eumemmerring Secondary College where he obtained his VCE. He was Year 11 Dux, and then School Dux in his final year. Following this, Gordon worked full-time while studying part-time. He has studied for a Bachelor of Engineering (Aerospace) at RMIT, and has completed a Bachelor of Business (Economics, Accounting & Law) at Monash University.

Prior to being elected to Parliament Gordon was Aviation Manager in the Department of State Development working to build Victoria's tourism and business investment performance.  During his two years with the department, Gordon worked to grow Melbourne’s international airline services by more than 50%.  

For the five years prior to this Gordon was employed by IBIS Business Information working in a range of economic research and analysis roles as well as working on a number of significant private sector consulting projects.

A pilot since the age of 16, Gordon holds a Commercial Pilot Licence and Multi Engine Command Instrument Rating and has flown a variety of single and twin engine aircraft throughout much of south east Australia.

It is this long connection with the aviation industry in Australia that led to Gordon’s involvement in politics, when in the mid 1990’s he worked on a number of successful campaigns with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Associations lobbying the then Keating Government over reforms in the aviation industry. This experience highlighted to Gordon what can be achieved through participating in the political process.

Gordon was elected to Parliament in 1999 as the Member for Eumemmerring Province. In 2002 Gordon was elected Secretary of the Parliamentary Liberal Party.  Between 2002 and 2005 Gordon was Liberal Party Spokesman for the Commonwealth Games, Sport & Recreation (2002-04) and Manufacturing and Export.   

In 2005 Gordon was promoted to Shadow Cabinet and held the positions of Shadow Minister for Finance & TAC and Shadow Minister for the Commonwealth Games.

Following the restructure of the Upper House which saw the abolition of the 22 provinces and the introduction of 8 regions, Gordon was pre-selected by the Liberal Party to the No. 1 spot on the Liberal Party ticket, and was subsequently elected as the Member for South Eastern Metropolitan Region in November 2006.
 
Following the 2006 election Gordon was elevated to the position of Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Finance (including WorkCover & TAC) giving him responsibility for all Treasury & Finance matters in the Upper House. As well as this, Gordon was Shadow Minister for Community Development and Shadow Minister for Information Technology.

Gordon was a member of the prestigious Public Accounts and Estimates Committee continuously from 1999 to 2010.

In April 2008 Gordon was elected inaugural Chairman of the Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration and chaired a number of inquiries included the Windsor Redevelopment, Public Hospital Performance Data and the Business Case for Water Infrastructure.

Following the 2010 election of the Baillieu Coalition Government, Gordon was sworn in as Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Aviation Industry and Minister for Technology.
 
Elected at the age of 25, Gordon is the youngest person ever elected to the Victorian Legislative Council and is currently the youngest Cabinet Minister in Victoria.