Mayor, Robert Bria
Profile and contact
Mayor Robert Bria
BA (Hons), GcertPubSecMgmnt
A life-long resident of the City, Robert’s family connection to Norwood Payneham & St Peters goes back more than six decades to 1960 when his father lived in Norwood after migrating to Australia from Italy.
Robert’s involvement in the sporting, business and community life of the City spans 37 years. Before entering local government, he played junior and senior football for the Payneham (now Payneham Norwood Union) Football Club, owned a small business in the Glynde Corner and studied at Marden Senior College.
Robert joined the Council in 1997 as a Councillor representing Torrens Ward, a position he held until October 2005 when he was first elected mayor in a by-election. He was re-elected mayor in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.
Robert brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role of Mayor, having also held a number of senior positions in the Local Government sector, including:
- Chair, Metropolitan Local Government Group of Mayors and Chief Executive Officers
- Chair, Eastern Region Alliance (ERA) of Councils Mayors and Chief Executive Officers Group
- Member, Local Government Association Board
- Member, East Waste Board
As the current Chair of the Council’s Business and Economic Development Committee and Norwood Parade Precinct Committee, Robert is passionate about supporting local traders and local jobs, and has initiated a number of economic development projects and initiatives. In 2015 he was nationally recognised for his efforts with a Commendation from Economic Development Australia (Elected Member category).
He recently received a 25 Years of Service Award from the Local Government Association of South Australia for services to Local Government.
Robert holds a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management and Bachelor of Arts (1st Class Honours) Degree from Flinders University, and a Diploma of Government. He is currently working at Multicultural Affairs, Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
In 2010 Robert was made an Honorary Member of the Norwood Rotary Club and from 2012-2017 served as Number 1 Ticket Holder of the Norwood Football Club.
Robert has also served the local community in a number of volunteer roles. From 2013 to 2019 he participated in the City Christmas Pageant as a Pageant Marshall and has participated in almost every Norwood Christmas Pageant during his time on Council.
He served St Joseph’s Memorial School community as a Board Member from 2012 - 2018 and coached football teams from 2017 - 2019. He also organises ‘Footy Nights’ and ‘Bowls Nights’ for the fathers and male caregivers of students and assists with the school’s fundraising events.
Robert lives in Trinity Gardens with his wife, Pina, who is a Mary MacKillop College old scholar, and their three children: Isabella, Christian and Charlotte. He has previously lived in Felixstow and Payneham.
Contact
Robert Bria
M: 0431 754 077
E: rbria@electedmembers.npsp.sa.gov.au
