[4] He commenced working in industrial first aid and as an officer in the NSW Ambulance Service, before running his own contract cleaning business.

[5][6] Notley-Smith's maternal grandfather, Allen Peisley, served 42 years with New South Wales Railways and was elected to Griffith City Council in 1949 representing the Labor Party.

[5] In 2009, he stood down as Mayor and commenced working in the office of Malcolm Turnbull MP, while remaining the Liberal Councillor for East Ward.

[6] Notley-Smith's main competitor was the incumbent, Paul Pearce, a former Mayor of Waverley City Council, who had held he seat since 2003.

[9] Following the 2019 state election Notley-Smith conceded defeat to Labor's Marjorie O'Neill[10] following a swing of 4.7 per cent of the two-party preferred vote.