Stephen Yarwood was born in Whyalla, and worked as a town planner before becoming a councillor in the City of Adelaide in 2007. He became Deputy Lord Mayor in 2008 and won the 2010 Mayoral election, becoming the youngest Lord Mayor in the city's history.

As the 62nd Lord Mayor of the City of Adelaide, he managed a corporation with a $180 million budget and $1.3 billion worth of assets. His role ended in November 2014.

Stephen is passionate about cities, innovation and technology, and he combines these interests as an Urban Futurist and Strategic Planning Consultant.

A member of the Planning Institute of Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Stephen has a Bachelor of Arts (Planning), Graduate Diploma (Regional and Urban Planning), Graduate Diploma (Environmental Studies) and a Masters in Business Administration.

He is a sought after public speaker, regular writer and a social media participant who enjoys inspiring current and future leaders, be it in the office, classroom or Council Chamber, to embrace positive and constructive change.

Stephen went to Norwood Morialta High School and graduated from the University of South Australia in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts (Planning),[3] he has also studied and been awarded a Masters of Business Administration.[4]