Tsunami changed everything

Steph Hodgins-May quit her job as a corporate lawyer in Melbourne after visiting Samoa following her mother's death in the two thousand nine tsunami.

Farm roots and dinner table politics

Born in Ballarat to a fifth-generation farmer and school teacher, Hodgins-May grew up discussing politics with her father, an organic farmer, local councillor and later mayor.

Law felt meaningless

Hodgins-May realised her legal work on Bourke Street in Melbourne felt completely and utterly meaningless when she saw the destruction climate change caused in Samoa.

“My work as a lawyer, sitting up at my desk on Bourke Street felt suddenly just completely and utterly meaningless.”

UN work and broken promises

After leaving law, Hodgins-May worked as a support negotiator at the United Nations and for AusAid on climate and food security in the Pacific.

Bob Brown sparked the spark

In two thousand eleven, watching a two thousand three video of Bob Brown protesting against George W Bush in parliament gave Hodgins-May the courage to join the Greens.

“This is the courage that I want. This isn't incrementalism. This is challenging power.”

Second tragedy strikes

In two thousand seventeen, Hodgins-May's father Rod was killed in a car crash by a driver with methamphetamines in his system.

Years of unsuccessful campaigns

Hodgins-May ran four times in two different federal seats in safe Labor electorates before entering parliament in two thousand twenty-four, replacing retiring Victorian senator Janet Rice.

Mentors see enormous potential

Former Greens leaders Bob Brown and Richard Di Natale both say they knew from first meeting Hodgins-May that she had enormous potential and huge capacity for change.

Not your typical Greens stereotype

Di Natale describes Hodgins-May as warm, engaging and sharp, with a background as a farmer from regional Victoria that differs from the Greens stereotype of inner-city lefty.

Parliament still sizing her up

Labor, crossbench and Coalition sources offer different accounts of Hodgins-May's personality. Some see her as protest-focused rather than policy-driven, others admire her environmental commitment.

Time to play hardball

Hodgins-May says the Greens must work harder and faster, and we've got to play hardball because incrementalism isn't going to cut it in addressing climate change.

“We've got to play hardball. We know that incrementalism isn't going to cut it.”

Elected on mother's anniversary

Hodgins-May was elected deputy Greens leader on Wednesday, the seventeenth anniversary of her mother's death, and says she feels her parents' energy with her.

“I reckon David and I are going to get some really fun stuff done.”