Monique Marie Ryan (born 20 January 1967) is an Australian politician and former paediatric neurologist. She is currently the independent Member of Parliament for the Division of Kooyong, Victoria, having won the seat at the 2022 federal election.
Ryan completed her medical qualifications in Melbourne and Sydney, and Boston, Massachusetts, United States. She became director of neurology at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital in 2014. During her medical career, Ryan has published more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and supervised several clinical trials for neurological diseases.
In 2022, at the 2022 federal election, Ryan became a Teal independent candidate for the Division of Kooyong; Climate 200 and a number of individual donors supported her. Ryan's campaign heavily focused on climate change, anti-corruption, and the Government of Australia's management of the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaigns of Ryan and her main opponent, incumbent Liberal member Josh Frydenberg, spent over A$2 million each. Ryan won Kooyong at the 2022 federal election with 52.9% of the after-preferences vote.
Since entering parliament, Ryan has advocated for a range of issues, and proposed a private member's bill to improve integrity in government. She has been particularly vocal on issues of climate change, health, and anti-corruption policy.
Monique Marie Ryan was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on 20 January 1967.[1] She has a twin sister and is one of seven children born to Maurice and Marguerite Ryan.[2] Her father was a telecommunications executive and her mother was a charity worker who served as CEO of the Christian Brothers Foundation, and founded Women for Women in Africa, a charity supporting the Kibera slum in Kenya.[3][4]
Ryan grew up in the Melbourne suburbs Caulfield North, Toorak and Hawthorn.[5] She attended Loreto Mandeville Hall, Toorak, graduating as dux in 1984.[6]