Episode 021 - Ms Anika Wells MP

In this episode, we talk to Ms Anika Wells MP, Federal Member for Lilley, about engaging the Australian voters in the political discourse. Topics covered include: - How to represent a marginal seat - Constituents’ desire to see a problem fixed - whether it’s a federal, state or local issue - The concern of climate change - The need for better millennial representation in decision-making areas - What is intragenerational inequality - What inspires politicians to run - The transition from legal work to political work - How to fix services such as Centrelink, Medicare and NDIS - What it’s like to be a young mum in Parliament - The need for greater progress in gender equality for men and women - How to make a real impact in an increasingly slacktivist world - The need for childcare reform in Australia - Disengagement by millennials in the political space and how to rectify that - How politicians engage on social media About Ms Wells: Anika Wells is the daughter of Kent and Deborah Wells. Her parents met in London – Kent is from Melbourne, Deb is from Auckland, NZ – and eventually they decided to marry and settle down in Brisbane, somewhere between their two hometowns. Anika’s mother Deb worked in administration and training for a number of aged care facilities. While Anika was working her way through university, she worked at a nursing home too. Kent spent the last 20 years before his retirement working as an accountant at the Brisbane airport, within the electorate of Lilley. Growing up in suburban Brisbane with her two brothers, Anika’s parents taught her the importance of contributing and the value in earning your keep. As a child, Anika had a love for history and became a teenager active in public service and volunteering. On school holidays, Anika used to volunteer with an organisation that took kids with disabilities on trips away from home, to give them new experiences. It is a dedication to serving others that she has carried into her adult life and professional career.  Notably, Anika has spent the past five years working as a lawyer for people who have been injured at work, on the road or in public places. She spends her days fighting insurance companies to secure fair outcomes for her clients. She remains a volunteer at the Nundah Community Legal Clinic, located at the Nundah Community Centre down on Station Street. She also co-founded her local parkrun at Chermside, and more than 5,000 participants have completed the course since mid 2015, covering more than 150,000 km on the local footpaths throughout 7th Brigade Park. Anika was born and raised in Brisbane, where she graduated as a College Captain from Moreton Bay College, which she attended on academic scholarship. She earned a Bachelor’s degree with honours in Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Griffith University. Anika is married and lives her husband, young daughter and their rescue kelpie in Chermside.