About Ian Willis
Ian Willis was born outside Longreach in Western Queensland then moved soon after to Rockhampton in Central Queensland where he attended secondary school and university. After several years working underground in WA mines, Ian travelled the world settling in the UK where he worked as a Construction Manager. As the President of the Queensland Strata Institute, Ian transformed it into an open, inclusive organisation, focussed on ethics, and introduced a standard contract which clearly displayed all previously secret commissions. Ian is also a columnist on the Gold Coast Bulletin has advised the government on several occasions with the redrafting of strata legislation.
Having felt he had achieved all he could within the strata industry, Ian chose to follow his passion into permaculture farming. He sold his strata company and bought a beautiful 30 acres farm in the Tweed Valley in Northern NSW, and transformed it from the blank canvas into the verdant jungle it is today. In 2020 he was prohibited from crossing the Queensland border to attend farmers markets. Our freedoms were curtailed by our government. Thus, another freedom fighter was born. Already a strong advocate for small business and personal empowerment, Ian has taken the next logical step and pursued freedom via politics. Ian believes in personal empowerment through hard work and that government should work for us, the tax payers, rather than enriching themselves.
A Proven Leader for Richmond’s Freedom
Born on a pastoral holding near Longreach. Excelled in sciences, I won the 1980 Queensland Harvard Science Exam before earning a Surveying degree from the University of Queensland in 1986. My 20s took me underground in WA mines, then overseas as a Construction Manager in the UK. Returning to Australia, I transformed a failing Strata Management company into Queensland’s third largest, becoming President of the Qld Strata Institute. There, I championed ethics, transparency, and fair contracts, while penning the “Strata Data” column for the Gold Coast Bulletin for a decade. In 2006, I followed my passion for sustainability, selling my strata business to build a thriving permaculture farm in Tweed Valley.
But 2020 changed everything. Border closures and government overreach crushed our freedoms, turning me into a freedom fighter and fueling my resolve to empower individuals and small businesses. The mishandled pandemic—lockdowns, vaccine mandates, and debt rivaling WW2—exposed bureaucratic incompetence and political cowardice.
As your candidate for Richmond, I stand for personal empowerment, fiscal responsibility, and government accountability. I bring a proven track record of practical solutions, from turning around businesses to drafting fair legislation. I’ll fight for profitable, balanced governance that prioritizes liberty over safety. My plan? Streamline bureaucracy, support small businesses, and restore trust through transparency. With 18 years advising on Qld legislation, and a lifetime of fixing problems, I’m ready to deliver for Richmond.
Yours in Liberty,
