Darren Ray

Darren Ray has been the Director of Policy & Public Affairs at the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) since April 2007 (serving as Acting CEO from September 2008 to November 2009).

He previously worked as an adviser to State and Federal MPs and Ministers, was a National Project Officer for the Australian Physiotherapy Association, inaugural executive director of the ALSO Foundation, manager of North West Youth and Family Services Inc in the inner west, and was an emergency housing support worker in Epping.

With over 15 years of advocacy in housing–related and equality issues, Darren was a founding Board Member of the Australian Federation of Homelessness Organisations (AFHO), Victorian Chairperson of the National Youth Coalition for Housing, and was a Board Member of the Port Phillip Housing Association from 2001 to 2008.

As well as his community advocacy involvement, Darren was first elected as a Councillor to the Port Phillip City Council in 1999. He was twice Mayor in 2002–2003 and 2005-2006. He was Chair of Port Phillip’s Statutory Planning Committee for many years.

Complementing his diverse current interests, Darren is also a current Ambassador for Windana Society, and is undertaking a Masters Degree in Planning & Environment at RMIT.