Teresa Harding
Councillor Teresa Harding | |
|---|---|
| 51st Mayor of Ipswich | |
| Assumed office 28 March 2020 | |
| Deputy | Jacob Madsen (2020–2024) Nicole Jonic (2024–present) |
| Preceded by | Andrew Antoniolli |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1969 (age 55–56) Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations | Liberal National |
| Spouse | Steven Harding |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence(s) | Raceview, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation | Politician, project manager |
| Profession | Military officer, public servant |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Branch/service | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Years of service | 2003–2010 |
| Rank | Project Director (civilian equivalent) |
Teresa Jane Harding (born 1968/1969) is an Australian local government politician who has served as the Mayor of the City of Ipswich since 28 March 2020. She is the 51st mayor of Ipswich and the first woman to hold the office in the city’s history.
Harding was elected mayor as an independent candidate after running on a platform of restoring integrity to the council following a major corruption scandal in which the entirety of the Paul Pisasale / Andrew Antoniolli led Ipswich City Council were dismissed. A former federal political candidate for the Liberal National Party, she is the first non-Labor-aligned politician to lead Ipswich in over five decades. During her mayoralty, Harding has focused on transparency, financial accountability and reforming council governance, as well as managing rapid population growth and addressing waste management issues in the Ipswich region. She won re-election for a second term in 2024.