Councillor Khal Asfour was first elected as a Councillor of the former Bankstown City Council in 2004, and held the office of Deputy Mayor from 2008-2011, and served as Mayor from 2011-2016. In 2017, he was elected as the inaugural Mayor of the City of Canterbury Bankstown. He was also elected to the Board of Local Government NSW (LGNSW); appointed Senior Vice President of the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC). As Mayor, he is dedicated to building stronger ties between Council and the community and businesses across the City. He leads the advocacy on important matters, such as sustainable development and infrastructure support, to make Canterbury-Bankstown an even better place to live, work in and enjoy. 

As City Future Director at the City of Canterbury Bankstown, James Carey believes he has the best job in the world which is to dream, design and create the most amazing future for Canterbury-Bankstown. With more than 30 years of experience in local and state government and university teaching, he has been fortunate to lead a diversity of projects. Mr Carey started his career as a child, being passionate about the natural environment, went on to study a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science, and then taught at the University of Technology Sydney. This experience provided a unique understanding of the complexities of government and community interaction, and the link between policy and planning. His goal is to develop imaginative city-shaping policies and deliver inventive, smart city projects that are creative, liveable and sustainable.

As Digital Innovation Program Manager, Petrhyce Donovan has earned a reputation in the smart city space by boldly questioning the 'why?' and pushing organisational boundaries to deliver true transformation. She's not an IT guru or a Town Planner, rather a digital anthropologist with an interest in how humans use technology. This is the very approach that has elevated her work in leading NSW's largest Council on this smart cities journey.

With a powerful purpose for government innovation and a burning desire to simplify government services, the opportunity to have a real impact on our communities is a key motivation for Ms Donovan and her team.

Canterbury-Bankstown local, Christopher Manoski joined City of Canterbury Bankstown in 2016 working in the Community Services team. He brought with him his passion, energy and enthusiasm working with the community from the grassroots level, up. With many years experience in local and state government, as well as the not-for-profit sector, he comes equipped with a Bachelor of Criminology, postgraduate degrees in Policing, Intelligence, Counter Terrorism and International Security and a Certificate of Smart Cities Infrastructure Management. He plays a key connecting role in the smart cities space by bringing a wealth of knowledge on how this Organisation and the community function, as well as having a human-centric approach to a rapidly evolving initiative.

A curious thinker, Barbara Iordanidis is a thought provoker who challenges the mundane. Recognised for her versatility, she is an experienced strategist and planner within the government and private sectors. Her background is in breaking down silos and evaluating the way we do things- it's not in the 'how', but in the 'why'. An experienced campaigner, she is a passionate and articulate spokesperson with the ability to illustrate challenges at a local community level as well as on a national platform. As a University of Sydney graduate, she has studied International Relations, with a focus on Anthropology. Her study in cultural diasporas- coupled with growing up in one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse cities in Australia- brings a unique insight into understanding the real challenges local communities face, and how smart city thinking can overcome them.