After four years as a City of Fremantle councillor, Dr Brad Pettitt was elected Mayor in 2009. He vacated the seat in April 2021 following his appointment as a Member of the Legislative Council for the South Metropolitan Region.
Prior to becoming Mayor, Dr Pettitt was Dean of the School of Sustainability at Murdoch University. His research and teaching expertise include climate change, international aid policy, and sustainability planning.
Dr Pettitt has previously worked with Oxfam in Cambodia and with the Australian Government Aid Program, AusAID, in Canberra.