Sophie Scamps
Sophie Anna Rebecca Scamps (/skɒmps/ SKOMPS;[2] born 15 March 1971[3]) is an Australian independent politician, general practitioner, and former athlete. In the 2022 Australian federal election, she was elected as the Member for Mackellar in the Australian House of Representatives.
Sophie Scamps | |
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![]() Scamps in 2022 | |
Member of the Australian Parliament for Mackellar | |
Assumed office 21 May 2022 | |
Preceded by | Jason Falinski |
Personal details | |
Born | [1] Wahroonga, New South Wales, Australia | 15 March 1971
Political party | Independent |
Alma mater | University of Sydney UNSW University of Oxford |
Occupation |
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Website | Official website |
Biography
Scamps grew up in Turramurra, New South Wales.[4] She attended Abbotsleigh school, noted for her achievements in athletics.[5] She qualified for the 1992 Summer Olympics as a middle-distance runner.[6]
Scamps studied Medicine at the University of Sydney graduating in 1995. Later, she received a Master of Public Health from University of New South Wales, and a master of Science with honours from the University of Oxford.[7]
She was a founder of the Our Blue Dot environmental movement, which campaigns for waste reduction and carbon neutrality.[8] In 2020, using the "kitchen table conversations" model created by former Indi independent Cathy McGowan, Scamps and four like-minded locals created the 'Voices of Mackellar' group.[9][10] The Voices of Mackellar is a non-partisan community group established to engage residents in the democratic process.[11]
Backed by Climate 200, as well as a large grass-roots local campaign, Scamps announced her candidacy as an independent in December 2021.[12] Scamps was one of the 23 independents who ran for the 2022 Australian federal election. Her campaign focused on the issues of climate, integrity and gender diversity.[13] Scamps noted that her candidacy was triggered when she received a survey from the incumbent Jason Falinski which omitted climate change as an issue important to Mackellar residents.[14]
Scamps lives in Avalon on Sydney's Northern Beaches, with her husband Adam Magro former Wallaby Rugby Player and three children and, for a time, a family of Ukrainian refugees.[15][16][17] Her own surname is Belgian and pronounced 'Scomps'.[18]
Media
Scamps has been in various Australian media, including The Sydney Morning Herald,[14] The Australian, The Guardian,[19] and Women's Agenda.[20] Her coverage has been focused on the need for action on climate change. She has been labelled as a part of the so-called 'teal wave', a movement of moderate independent candidates whose focus on climate change has challenged traditionally Coalition safe seats.
Running career
Scamps was a middle distance runner in her early life, and qualified for the Olympic games. She competed internationally for Australia, and was a member of the gold medal winning 4 x 400 m women's relay, at the World Junior Championships in 1990. The team set a new under 20 Australian Record, which is still standing.[21]
Her personal bests include:[22]
- 400 m – 52.67s – Sydney, Australia (1991)
- 800 m – 2:02:2 – Canberra
- 4 × 400 m relay – 3:30:38 – Deveti Septemvri Stadium, Plodiv (1990)
References
- "Dr Sophie Scamps MP". Parliament of Australia.
- Scamps, Sophie (15 December 2021). "Dr Sophie Scamps - Independent for Mackellar". Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via YouTube.
- "Sophie SCAMPS | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- Coultan, Mark (23 January 2022). "Mackellar Independent Sophie Scamps Heeds Climate Change Concerns". Pittwater Online News. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- Gately, Mark (6 March 1986). "Sophie faces big test in Hobart". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 70.
- "Why GP decided to run in blue-ribbon seat". smh.com.au. 4 December 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- "About Sophie Scamps". www.betterfutures.org.au. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- "Challenge for Mackellar". northernbeachesadvocate.com.au. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- "Why GP decided to run in a blue ribbon seat". sophiescamps.com.au. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- "Dr Sophie Scamps | GP & Co-Founder of Mackellar Rising". Better Futures. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- "Voices of Mackellar". voicesofmackellar.com.au. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- "Independent Candidates". climate200.com.au. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- Pillay, Div (20 January 2022). "Will the Independent women standing in 2022 listen and act for diverse voices?". Women's Agenda. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- Maley, Jacqueline (4 December 2021). "'He voted with Barnaby Joyce every time': Why GP decided to run in blue-ribbon seat". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- "Meet the husbands of two teal independents". Australian Financial Review. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
- Yumpu.com. "Pittwater Life September 2020 Issue". yumpu.com. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
- "Fleeing from the Ukraine, family in need finds new home with independent MP". The Canberra Times. 26 June 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
- "The People at Narrabeen Family Medical - Dr Nicholas Bernard, Dr Vesna Kalajdzic, Dr Kate Hall, Dr Heidi Dawson, Dr Gabriella Legradi, Dr Sophie Scamps, Dr Sue Hartley, Dr Elicia Rodas, Dr Fiona Bernard".
- "Scott Morrison hints Federal ICAC could still be legislated before next election". the Guardian. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- Pillay, Div (20 January 2022). "Will the Independent women standing in 2022 listen and act for diverse voices?". Women's Agenda. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- "Athletics – Sophie Scamps (Australia)". www.the-sports.org. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- "Sophie SCAMPS | Profile | World Athletics". www.worldathletics.org. Retrieved 13 February 2022.