Occupation & interests
Di Tornai operated a management consultancy advocating for residents’ and owners’ corporations of strata-titled residential developments.
Di also worked for the University of NSW Global, Spinal Cord Injuries Australia, and the Autistic Association. She was a foundation member of Association Competitive Employment (ACE), a peak body which established a national industry network for more than 400 independent community-based organisations that held Government contracts as specialist employment agencies. She developed a national profile for her systemic advocacy with the Departments of Family and Community Services, and Employment and Workplace Relations, improving the access of people with disabilities to employment services.
Di worked extensively in regional development and community capacity building. She has been involved in industry focus groups, government roundtables and task forces at state and federal government levels.
Community activity
Di Tornai has been a strong proponent of environmental sustainability, and making Sydney a more liveable city. She has also been Vice-Chair of the Victoria Park Community Group. Di has been a long-term community advocate for people with disabilities.
Local government service
Di Tornai was an independent councillor of the City of Sydney from 2008 until her retirement in 2012. During her term on council, Di was a member of the Central Sydney Planning Committee; Chair of the Local Pedestrian Cycling and Traffic Calming Committee (LPCTCC); Deputy Chair of the Major Development Assessment Sub-Committee; and Council representative on the Audit Risk and Compliance Committee.
As a resident of Green Square, Di was particularly committed to the needs of people living in apartments in high density areas of southern Sydney. Green Square is Sydney’s largest urban renewal project four kilometres south of the central business district.
Di was a strong advocate for Sustainable Sydney 2030, the City’s long-term strategy to achieve a more sustainable, liveable and prosperous City. She was committed to leadership at the local level to enable residents to improve their greenhouse footprint (especially sustainable apartment living) and was a strong supporter of strategies to ensure Sydney a more liveable city where public space is shared equitably with pedestrians and cyclists.
References
‘Introducing Di Tornai – CoS Councillor,’ Redwatch, http://www.redwatch.org.au/media/080808cm