 Stokes has previously served as the Minister for Education from January 2017 until March 2019 in the First Berejiklian ministry; the Minister for the Environment, the Minister for Heritage, the Assistant Minister for Planning, and the Minister for the Central Coast during 2014 and 2015 in the first Baird government; and the Minister for Planning from April 2015 until January 2017 in the second Baird government.Stokes grew up in Mona Vale.He attended Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore) and obtained his Higher School Certificate in 1991.