The former youth pastor will contest the upcoming byelection for the Liberals in what is seen as a high-stakes contest for Opposition Leader John Pesutto.
The Liberal Party will on Sunday choose its candidate for the Warrandyte byelection. The Greens have entered the race, but Labor and some minor parties are weighing up whether to contest the seat to be vacated by Ryan Smith.
Nine people, including IPA executive John Roskam and KPMG director Sarah Overton, have nominated for Liberal pre-selection ahead of the Warrandyte by-election.