About Iain
Background
Iain Evans was born in Adelaide in 1959, and is a fifth generation South Australian. He has lived all of his life in the Adelaide Hills, and was educated at the local state schools, Heathfield Primary School and Heathfield High School.
He completed a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Building Technology at the South Australian Institute of Technology where he was awarded the Hickinbotham Prize in his graduating year.
On completion of his degree, Iain and his brothers established the family’s building, plumbing and retailing business.
Politics
Iain was elected to State Parliament in December 1993 as the Member for Davenport. He has served as a member of the Murray Darling Ministerial Council and has held several Ministerial portfolios including Industry and Trade, Correctional Services, Emergency Services, Police, Environment and Heritage, Recreation, Sport and Racing. He was also Australia’s first Minister for Volunteers.
Iain was Leader of the Opposition from March 2006 to April 2007.
He is currently the Shadow Minister for Work Cover, Industrial Relations, Small Business, Consumer Affairs, Gambling, Red Tape Reduction and Volunteers.
Community
He was the youngest ever State and National President of Apex and once rode a pushbike from Adelaide to Perth to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. His family’s involvement with Apex continues—his eldest son was recently awarded Australian Young Apexian of the Year 2006.
Iain has worked closely with local groups such as the Blackwood Recreation Centre and has been a member of the school councils at Blackwood Primary School, Hawthorndene Primary School and Blackwood High School.
Sport
Iain has a very keen interest in all sports and in his younger years was a talented footballer.
After winning a junior Mail Medal in the Hills Football League, Iain was invited to join the Sturt Football Club and was a player in the Club’s South Australian National Football League Squad. He is a former President of the Mt Lofty Football club and has represented the Hills Association in both football and cricket.
Iain is an avid cricket fan and player having served as President and Secretary of the Mt Lofty Cricket Club and the President and Secretary of the Hills Cricket Association.
Family
Iain is married to Fiona. They have four children - Staten (24), Alexander (21), Fraser (18) and Allison (17). They live at Heathfield in the Adelaide Hills.
Iain and Fiona maintain a very keen interest in their childrens' sporting endeavours. Staten played football for Pembroke Old Scholars until a leg injury resulted in him taking up umpiring. Fraser has represented South Australia in State under 16 and under 18 football and currently plays reserves for the Sturt Football Club and Alexander has represented South Australia in both rugby and rowing. Allison plays netball for the Woods Panthers Netball Club and rows for Pembroke's first VIII. She also represented the State in the Youth Cup National Rowing Regata winning two golds and a silver.
Fiona is a former Kangaroo Island Netball Association Medallist and has coached Allison’s netball team for several seasons. She is currently working part time for Ramsey Health Care and is in her final year of a commerce degree.