Ward 2 Councillors


Councillor Paige Johnson (ALP)

First elected in 2024

 

Membership on CN Committees: 

Youth Council (Advisory Committee) - Member

Infrastructure Advisory Committee - Member

 

Membership on External Committees: 

Newcastle City Traffic Committee - Member


 E: pajohnson@ncc.nsw.gov.au 


Paige Johnson is a 6th generation and lifelong Novocastrian, elected to Council in 2024 as a member of the Australian Labor Party. She is deeply committed to ensuring Newcastle is a smart, progressive, sustainable, and inclusive City.


Paige holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) (Honours) from the University of Newcastle. While studying, she served as a non-executive on the University of Newcastle Council and was recognized as Newcastle’s Young Citizen of the Year for her contributions to the City and community.


In addition to her role as a Councillor for the City of Newcastle, Paige works in local government as a Senior Civil Engineer, responsible for managing billions of dollars in public infrastructure. Her leadership extends to the wider community, where she has an active role in the union movement and in social justice, civic advocacy and governance roles.


Aims as a councillor
Paige is committed to fighting for Newcastle to be a City where everyone in our community can thrive. To her, this means:
  • Delivering critical road, transport and drainage infrastructure upgrades.
  • Fighting for better public transport, including expanding light rail.
  • Protecting and expanding our City’s green spaces and parks.
  • Attracting major events to Newcastle and supporting a vibrant night-time economy.
  • Supporting sustainable development that enhances our urban spaces while protecting our City’s unique heritage.
  • Celebrating the diverse and inclusive City that Newcastle is.
  • Creating a liveable City that puts people first.



Councillor Jenny Barrie (LIB)

First elected in 2021

 

Membership on CN Committees: 

Community and Culture Advisory Committee - Chairperson

Strategy and Innovation Advisory Committee - Deputy Chairperson

 

Membership on External Committees: 

Nil


E: jebarrie@ncc.nsw.gov.au



Cr Jenny Barrie was re-elected as a Ward 2 Councillor in 2024, after serving as a Liberal Ward 2 Councillor since 2021.


Jenny is employed at Aruma Services, working full time in a command centre for one of the largest national disability providers for the NDIS. Jenny has had very successful career working in the small business sector both as an employee in a variety of roles, and previously as an owner and operator, as well as working in leadership roles as a Site Manager more recently and for over 15 years  prior as a Company Director for two small businesses.


Jenny’s passion for music evolved when she was a joint Company Director of the Johnny Young Talent School which opened in 1989 with 400 talented young children.  Jenny became a sole trader, Jennifer Barrie Enterprises Pty Ltd.  Jenny continued to work with multiple chambers of commerce organisations across the Lower Hunter, with her expertise in community economic development, citywide tourism marketing projects, staging multiple and very popular large scale outdoor events and staged business networking functions, street fairs in Darby Street and NYE fireworks spectaculars on Lake Macquarie for many years.


Jenny is a very proud mother of two adult children and her four grandchildren.
Jenny has a strong event management background, commencing the inaugural Music in the Podium at Warners Bay Foreshore. Jenny has worked in charitable organisations staging the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, which raised thousands of dollars for local homeless services and enjoyed her time working with Healthy Harold at Hunter Life Education.


Jenny is a volunteer member of the Hunter Business Lions Club, enjoyed her role as Past President for four years. Jenny was an inaugural committee member of the Newcastle Music Festival, for 7 years until elected to the City of Newcastle. Jenny has continued a minor role assisting the Figtree Community Association, Wickham.


Jenny is proud of her achievements in the last term of council in Ward 2 with her advocacy for surf lifesaving, beach safety, community safety, installation of infrastructure, including a sprinkler at Dixon Park Beach,  a colourful garbage bin at Merewether Beach car park bus stop, pavement works, pot hole repairs and traffic and parking issues, together with working to improve Awaba Park at Hamilton Railway Station for community safety and the revitalisation of the business precinct.


Jenny is excited for her new role as Chair, Community and Cultural Committee and Deputy Chair, Strategy and Innovation, and is looking forward to these two leadership roles as part of the team of councillors under new leadership working collaboratively across all aspects of the operations of the City of Newcastle with the Executive Leadership Team and all staff.


Councillor Joel Pringle (GRN)

First elected in 2024

 

Membership on CN Committees: 

Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee - Member

Public Art Advisory Committee - Deputy Chairperson

Liveable Cities Advisory Committee - Chairperson

 

Membership on External Committees: 

Nil


E: jpringle@ncc.nsw.gov.au 


Cr Joel Pringle is a community worker, social policy advocate and political campaigner focused on local community and social and environmental justice. He is a long-term member of the Australian Greens. 

Having originally studied as a music teacher, he also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in European Policy Making from the Brussels School of Governance and has extensive experience in not-for-profit and community governance.