Matt Adderton has lived in the Narrabeen Ward for 20 years and is married to Samantha. They have two sons Josh (22) and Liam (18) and like many others on the Northern Beaches, the family enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle. Weekends used to be spent coaching his sons’ local soccer and basketball teams and he now plays soccer for the Collaroy Cromer Strikers and enjoys surfing most weekends. 

 

With over 20 years of experience leading companies and people, Matt currently runs his own company which was established in 2007. Over that time, he has developed a range of skills including relationship and people management, problem solving, business development and marketing both locally and globally, having worked in China, the UK, Europe, New Zealand and North America.  

 

Matt understands how the demands and pressure at work can affect all areas of our lives from physical and mental health to family relationships. He is keen to work with the business community to ensure Council is providing pro-active solutions to ensure small business are supported. He is pursuing this goal through his membership on the Northern Beaches Council’s Economic and Smart Communities Strategic Reference Group. 

 

Matt is concerned that even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit our community, owners and companies were finding it tougher to stay in the area due to various business pressures such as increasing rents, growing traffic and transport congestion and the difficulties in attracting the right skilled staff to the area.  

  

Another passion that Matt has is providing social support to the elderly residents on the Northern Beaches. He has been a local volunteer for the last 6 years with Manly Warringah Pittwater Care (MWP Care) and has now become a Member of the Board. With his own parents living in Dee Why and his mum having been diagnosed with Dementia, Matt is determined to assist all seniors to have access to services that will allow them to feel included in our community and to stay as independent for as long as they choose.  

 

Matt will continue to support the Northern Beaches active lifestyle we all enjoy, by ensuring council provides world class sporting facilities, walking tracks and pathways.  

 

As COVID-19 continues to affect all areas of our lives, Matt is concerned about the ongoing long term impacts of the pandemic, long after the virus has gone or the majority of us are vaccinated. He is motivated to ensure that everyone in our society, from kids, teenagers, adults and seniors have ongoing support. Matt believes it’s important that the Council develop and implement programs that help build resilience in our youth, confidence in our community for adults, while keeping our seniors independent and connected with the people around them.  

 

In regards to local issues impacting our day to day lives, Matt believes that the Wakehurst Parkway needs to be flood proofed. The road is a vital piece of infrastructure for people to access the Northern Beaches Hospital and to travel between businesses, homes and recreation areas such as the Narrabeen lagoon and the local beaches.  Matt supports the ongoing and continued upgrading of our community centres, sporting clubs, fields, courts, Surf Life Saving facilities, mountain bike riding tracks, hiking trails, and golf courses. Local clubs and community activities bring the community together so it’s important that Council support them when they can.  

 

Finally, Matt would like to develop a targeted Tourism strategy for the Northern Beaches as a destination and help create and grow local businesses to support the strategy.