Staff

Electorate officer – Cheryl Coughlan

Cheryl has worked as Peter Ryan's Electorate Officer at his Sale Electorate Office since 1996. Cheryl handles constituent inquiries and Peter's electorate diary, liaising with constituents and departmental staff.

Cheryl has a background as a legal secretary working in the Sale area with various legal firms following her completion of schooling at St Annes' and Gippsland Grammar at Sale. Cheryl grew up at Denison where her parents obtained a property under the Soldier Settler Scheme.

Researcher/Adviser – Helen Ransom

Helen grew up on a tomato farm in semi-rural Tyabb, on the Mornington Peninsula. She graduated with a journalism degree from RMIT in 1999, and has worked for a Melbourne PR consultancy and in the media office of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney.

Helen works as a Research Officer for Peter at Parliament House. Her role includes undertaking wide-ranging research for all Nationals MPs and assisting with parliamentary duties and the development of policy.

Researcher/Adviser – Katherine Stent

Katherine has recently completed a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences at the University of Melbourne where she majored in Anthropology. Her thesis was written on the mountain cattlemen of Victoria’s high country, which has given her a strong understanding of natural resources issues.

Katherine’s role includes assisting MPs with Parliamentary research needs and helping them to develop policy initiatives of benefit to country Victoria.

She enjoys photography, cinema, the great outdoors, socialising with friends and grappling with the Spanish language.

Personal Assistant – Jan Gales

Jan has worked as Peter Ryan's personal assistant in hisParliament House office since his election as Leader in December 1999. Prior to that, she worked for Peter’s predecessor Patrick McNamara enjoying seven years of that time in Government and also was on former Leader Peter Ross-Edwards’ staff for a number of years.

Her main role is ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the Leader's office and as a city contact for our Members of Parliament and Electorate Officers.

When Jan is not in the office, she's on the tennis court, in the gym or the garden.