bᵻfˌoːɹ ˈɛntɚɹɪŋ pˈɑːlətˌɪks mək jˈuːən hɐdbɪn ɐ tˈeɪf tˈiːtʃɚ slˈæʃ ɐdmˈɪnɪstɹˌeɪɾɚ ænd mˈʌtʃ ɛkspˈiəɹɪəns ɪn lˈoʊkəl ɡˈʌvɚnmənt ɪŋklˈuːdɪŋ tʃˈɛɹ ʌvðə ɡɹˈænt kˈaʊnsəl, tʃˈɛɹ ʌvðə sˈaʊθˈiːst lˈoʊkəl ɡˈʌvɚnmənt ɐsˌoʊsɪˈeɪʃən, ænd tʃˈɛɹ ʌvðə ɡɹˈeɪɾɚ ɡɹˈiːn tɹˈaɪæŋɡəl ɹˈiːdʒənəl dɪvˈɛləpmənt ɐsˌoʊsɪˈeɪʃən.
Before entering politics McEwen had been a TAFE Teacher/Administrator and much experience in local government including Chair of the Grant Council, Chair of the South-East Local Government Association, and Chair of the Greater Green Triangle Regional Development Association.