Today we heard from our newest member, Christine Tonkin. Christine titled her talk “Wearing Threads”. She learned to crochet from her grandmother and loves fabric. Christine initially worked in community services; WACOSS and Anglicare. She then moved into Regional Development in the north-west of WA and Queensland. Her next progression was into Public Sector Management, particularly Public Procurement Management and Reform. Initially in Queensland, this led to Christine travelling the world. She had United Nations, Atomic Energy Agency and Asian Development Bank roles in the Republic of Ireland, Afghanistan (her favourite place!), Belgium, Denmark, Austria (met her Canadian husband), Trinidad and Tobago, Darfur Sudan (a Peace Keeping Mission), Papua New Guinea and Bangladesh. Christine’s experiences equipped her to be a Politian, and she was successful in being elected the Member for Churchlands. Her learnings and approach included understanding the challenges of social and economic disadvantage, identifying and encouraging initiative, perfecting the art of credible commitments (do it, follow through), change making and learning to recognise goodness and generosity. Christine enjoys volunteering, cycling, involvement with Friends of Galup-Lake Monger. She is currently writing a book.