Courtney Houssos is the Minister for Finance and Natural Resources in New South Wales. She is the first female Minister for Finance and the first female Minister responsible for the mining sector in the NSW Government. She was elected to the NSW Legislative Council in 2015. Courtney was born and grew up in Forster, on the Mid North Coast of NSW, where she attended local public primary and high schools. Courtney studied at the University of New South Wales, where she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (Politics and International Relations, Industrial Relations). Prior to entering Parliament, Courtney was an elected party official for the NSW branch of the Australian Labor Party, serving nine years as the NSW Country Organiser, the first woman to do so. During her time in Parliament, she has been a strong advocate on behalf of families, improving education outcomes and universal and accessible healthcare. Courtney lives in Earlwood with her husband George, daughter Anna and son Arthur.