Biography

As a State Member of Parliament for over 20 years and Member of Local Government for ten years before that, Ivan has a life time of service to the community in South Australia. He has a reputation as being a fierce advocate for country people – intensely interested in the State’s Primary Industries and is a strong supporter of state infrastructure – roads, rail, water, power and fights against drugs.

Ivan was one of five children and the eldest son to Howard and Shirley Venning. Howard entered politics in 1968 and served for 11 years in State Parliament.

Ivan attended Crystal Brook Primary School and Prince Alfred College. Ivan worked on the family farm until 1966, when he was called up for National Service – serving in the Royal Australian Artillery as a gunner, operator and batman to the Commanding Officer III Battery.

Ivan has been married to his wife Kay for over 40 years and they have three children Mark, a 5th generation farmer on the family farm ‘Montrose’; Shane, a medical engineer at Mayne Pharma and Joanne, State Manager of DE PUY, a Johnson and Johnson international prosthesis company.

Ivan was elected to the South Australian Parliament in 1990 and has enjoyed periods of service since then in both Government and Opposition.

In 1994, Ivan was elected as Chair of the Environment, Resources and Development (ERD) Committee – a position he held for seven years and served on the Committee for 20 years, resigning in February 2012. Ivan also served on the Public Works Committee for four years. Following the 2006 election Ivan was elected as the Opposition Whip, a position he held until 2010.

Ivan has a great love for wine and is President of the South Australian Parliamentary Wine Club. In 2002 he was inducted as a Baron of the Barossa. Ivan is also a vintage car and tractors enthusiast and enjoys playing lawn bowls and is the President on the South Australian Parliamentary Bowls Club.