Career
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party |
| 1996–1999 | 45th | List | 11 | Alliance |
| 1999–2002 | 46th | List | 7 | Alliance |
Gillon's political career began when he joined the Democratic Party. The Democratic party later joined the Alliance as one of the four founding parties.
Gillon was elected to Parliament as an Alliance list MP in the 1996 elections, having been ranked in eleventh place on the party list. He was re-elected to Parliament in the 1999 elections. While an MP, Gillon was a Government Whip, Deputy Chair of the Government Administration Select Committee, members of the MMP Review Committee, a member of the Privileges, Officers of Parliament, Standing Orders, Members' Services, Business, Parliamentary Services, Legislative, Cabinet and other parliamentary committees.
In 2001, Gillon became leader of the Democratic Party, replacing John Wright.
When the Alliance collapsed in 2002, Gillon and the Democratic Party joined Jim Anderton's breakaway party, the Progressive Coalition. In the 2002 elections, Gillon was ranked third on the Progressive Coalition list, behind Jim Anderton and Matt Robson. Gillon left the Democratic Party and moved to the Progressive Coalition. Gillon became President of the Progressive Coalition until he stood down in 2007.
He has served as the North Shore City Councillor (representing the Harbour Ward and Chair of the Strategy and Finance Committee) and Birkenhead/Northcote Community Board member, elected to both the City Council and Community Board.
Gillon is a past Chief Executive Officer for the ISEA union for teachers and past member of the Board of Directors of the state-owned enterprise AsureQuality.
Gillon has also worked as a dairy farmer, senior fire officer, and an entrepreneur in light manufacturing, printing, educational resource and publishing.
Read more about this topic: Grant Gillon
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