West Melbourne local joins Jamal Hakim’s bid to make history in Melbourne

West Melbourne resident Lawrence Lam has joined current Cr Jamal Hakim’s team vying for the City of Melbourne at October’s election and will run in the second position on its councillor ticket. 

Mr Lam is the latest addition to Team Hakim, which is hoping to make history next month by having both the first Greek-Australian Deputy Lord Mayor, and the first Aboriginal councillor elected to the City of Melbourne. 

A “democratic, welcoming and flourishing city” is the vision Cr Hakim is striving for after announcing his candidacy for Lord Mayor on August 2, and he has pledged that Team Hakim would “shape a future for Melbourne that prioritises people, not politics”.

He said that he believed in “the power of representation driving real progress for Melbourne”. 

It’s a narrative that strongly resonates with Esther Anatolitis, who is considered one of Australia’s most influential advocates for arts, media and urban planning, and has joined Team Hakim as its candidate for Deputy Lord Mayor. 

A long-time contributor to the Greek community, if elected, Ms Anatolitis will make history as the first Greek-Australian Deputy Lord Mayor of the largest Hellenic city outside of Greece.

On August 22, Cr Hakim announced that award-winning Aboriginal writer, advocate and executive, Bebe Oliver, would run in the number one spot on the Team Hakim councillor ticket. 

If elected, which is a strong likelihood given the likely preference flows from the progressive end of the field running in this election, Mr Oliver would become the city’s first-ever Indigenous councillor.  

Mr Oliver recently led Aboriginal strategies, policies and programs at the City of Melbourne and is now the artistic director and CEO of Blak & Bright First Nations Literary Festival and a strategic advisor and consultant. 

He said he was honoured to join Team Hakim, “where commitment is to genuinely and authentically place Melbourne’s interests at the forefront of every action and decision we make.”

And, last month, Cr Hakim also announced that West Melbourne local and managing director of Lumenary Investment Management Lawrence Lam would run in the number two spot on the Team Hakim councillor ticket.

Mr Lam, who is highly regarded in the investments industry, is regular writer for investment magazines including Money Management, Livewire and the Australian Investors Association and currently serves on the Australia China Business Council.

Living, studying and working in the City of Melbourne since 2007 and becoming a father late last year, Mr Lam told North West City News that safety and inclusivity, and supporting small business were his “two biggest drivers” for running for council. 

“There are elements where I watch the council as a voter and I think while it’s done a lot of great things, there’s a lot of value that I could have in terms of business and for young families as well,” Mr Lam said. 

“For me, it’s about making the neighbourhood safer and more inclusive, which has been partially prompted by my baby boy arriving in December, and then there’s the business side of things.”

“I’ve been a small business owner myself. I run a business now in financial services and I feel that there’s a lot we can do to help business, promote activity and bring people back because it’s a new Melbourne, it’s very different.” 

“The rest of Team Hakim are residents, and there’s an alignment in what we actually care about in the change we’re trying to make.”

Ms Anatolitis told North West City News that Team Hakim’s message for a democratic, welcoming and flourishing city was something she wanted to be part of. 

“I’m someone who lives, works and loves Melbourne. I’ve been here for more than 20 years, and I am no stranger to representative governance,” Ms Anatolitis said. “The evolution of any city is kind of beautifully cyclical and that cycle grows and expands. Melbourne’s success is very much grounded on its multiculturism.” •