Geoff Lee

Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, Sport, Multiculturalism, Seniors and Veterans

In March 2015 Geoff won the seat of Parramatta for a second consecutive term.

Geoff’s election win follows on from his win in 2011 where he received a massive 25.8 per cent swing – winning 62.1 per cent of the vote on a two party preferred basis.

From 1992 to 2001 Geoff was the proprietor of Hambledon Garden Centre, a retail, landscaping and plant hire business. Based in Parramatta, Geoff successfully built the business from inception to a business employing 10 staff and servicing major corporations. In 1996, the Centre won the Parramatta Chamber of Commerce’s Regional Award for Service Excellence.

Geoff is a member of Parramatta Chamber of Commerce and continues to champion small business as a key driver of innovation, economic growth and local jobs.

Prior to entering politics, Geoff was the Associate Dean (Engagement) at the University of Western Sydney (UWS) from 2007 to 2011, a lecturer in business at UWS from 2004 to 2007 and a TAFE teacher from 2002 to 2003.

At UWS, Geoff’s roles included Head of Program for post-graduate marketing and international business and a coordinator and lecturer for a range of postgraduate and undergraduate courses. In 2009 he was awarded the UWS Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Award in University Engagement and Winner of the College of Business Excellence Award for outstanding contributions to Research – Early Career Researcher (2006 and 2008).

Geoff has both Australian and Chinese ancestry. His paternal grandfather originated from the providence of Zhongshan, Southern China and moved to Australia in the 1920’s. His maternal ancestors are of English and Scottish descent arriving in Australia early in the 1800’s.

Geoff holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Horticulture) from Hawkesbury Agricultural College, a Master of Business Administration and a Doctor of Business Administration from the Macquarie Graduate School of Management.