Our Byron Community with Chris Hanley
Our Byron community is a podcast that explores the unique and diverse community here in Byron Bay. From how people ended up here to the thriving business scene, we cover a wide range of topics that make our community so special. We dive deep into the stories and experiences of locals, and share insights on everything from sustainability and wellness to art and culture. Whether you're a longtime resident or a visitor, join us as we celebrate and explore all things Byron!
Our Byron Community with Chris Hanley
Damian Kassabgi – Politics, Identity & the Making of an Adviser
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In this episode, we sit down with Damian Kassabgi, a political adviser and public policy specialist, to explore his remarkable journey from the migrant suburbs of Sydney's inner west to the corridors of Australian politics.
Damian shares the story of his parents — an Egyptian father who fled rising tensions in the Middle East and a Chilean mother who escaped the Pinochet coup — and how their unlikely meeting (over a parking dispute) shaped a childhood split between Marrickville West and the Sutherland Shire.
We dig into what it meant to grow up as "the only brown kid with a funny surname," joining the Labor Party at just 17, and landing his first job as a junior adviser in Bob Carr's office at 22. Damian pulls back the curtain on the real work of political advising — from the messy politics behind splitting up Telstra to build the NBN, to why the best politicians are the ones who never stop showing up for their community. He also shares his personal Byron 101-to-mastery guide, from coffee at Sparrow to secret swimming holes no one will tell you about.
This is part one of a two-part conversation — part two will go deeper into Damian's professional life beyond politics.
If you'd like to share your story or provide feedback, please contact us via email at chrishanley@byronbayfn.com