Early life and education
Nick McGowan was born in Ivanhoe, Victoria, and raised by his single mother alongside his brother. His early life was marked by financial challenges and frequent relocations, as his mother worked various jobs including warehouse work, community based childcare, and clerical duties to support the family. They lived in several locations, including Ballarat, Eltham, and Werribee, where McGowan attended Galvin Park Secondary College (now Wyndham Central College). At the age of 12, he began contributing to the household income by taking on small jobs in his neighborhood. [2]
During his childhood, McGowan was a friend of Matthew Guy, who would later become Victorian Opposition Leader, and whom he would serve as chief of staff and be the best man of. [2]
McGowan completed his secondary education at Eltham High School. During his time as a university student, he worked for several Members of Parliament and became one of Victoria’s youngest local government candidates when he ran for election in Eltham Shire at the age of 18.
Career
McGowan worked for various MPs during his time at university, before being a young adviser in Premier Jeff Kennett's office. [2]
In 1999, McGowan volunteered with Australian Volunteers International in Thailand, working across Southeast Asia. In 2001, he joined the United Nations, undertaking humanitarian, public affairs, and policy work in the Republic of Congo, Burundi, Liberia, and Afghanistan. His final field assignment with the UN was as a civilian peacekeeper working directly for the Secretary General’s Special Representative in Burundi. [2]
When Matthew Guy was the Victorian Planning Minister in 2010, McGowan was his chief of staff. [4]
Upon returning to Australia in 2016, McGowan was appointed by the Minister for Immigration to the Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal. He applied his knowledge and understanding of migration, humanitarian affairs, protection, human rights, and international law in these roles, serving for eight years before standing for election. [2]
In 2018, McGowan unsuccessfully challenged the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Eltham, suffering a 6.4% swing away from his party. [5]
From August 2022, McGowan again was the chief of staff of Matthew Guy, this time while Guy was the Opposition Leader, in the lead up to the 2022 election. [4]
McGowan was elected to the Parliament of Victoria at the 2022 state election, representing the North-Eastern Metropolitan Region.
Following a cabinet reshuffle in the Battin shadow ministry, McGowan became the Shadow Minister for Community Services and Shadow Minister for Victim Support on 11 October 2025. [3]
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