Terry Lister has represented Sandys South since being elected to the House of Assembly in 1998. In 1993, he was appointed to the Senate where he served until 1998, when he became Minister of Development, Opportunity and Government Services in the first PLP Government.

During Minister Lister's tenure, he oversaw the passage of the CURE Amendment Act which requires employers of ten or more employees to report the racial composition of their workforce and to include the employment level, the income range, and the benefits given.

Minister Lister also oversaw the implementation of the Consumer Protection Act which gave legislative strength to the Department of Consumer Affairs to protect the rights of consumers. Amendments to the Human Rights Act were also made by Minister Lister to further protect the rights of the individual.

He served as the Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety from November 2001 to July 2003. Minister Lister oversaw the passage of the amendments to the Defence Act which allowed the Bermuda Regiment to enlist recruits upon selection, thereby rebuilding the strength of the Regiment.

The Minister also had legislation passed enhancing the ability of the Bermuda Police Service to provide good policing. Further, the Minister tightened immigration work permit requirements to ensure fair play in the workplace for both Bermudian and non-Bermudian workers and to hold employers more accountable for their actions with regards to hiring practices.

Following the July 2003 election, Minister Lister served firstly as the Minister of Works and Engineering. Then in January 2004 he was appointed Minister of Education and Development.

During his tenure the Mature Student Scholarship Programme was implemented as well as a significant growth in the number of student supported by the National Training Board. Under his leadership both the Careers Fair and the College Fair became bigger and more successful events.

Terry Lister was educated in Bermuda at the Southampton Glebe School and the Berkeley Institute. After studying at Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ontario, he became a Bermuda Government Scholar, completing his Bachelor of Commerce Degree at Queen's University School of Business Kingston, Ontario. At York University in Toronto he graduated with a Master's of Business Administration Degree.

Upon graduation he worked in Toronto with the accounting firm of Price Waterhouse and qualified as a Chartered Accountant. He returned to Bermuda in 1980 and in 1981 open his own accountancy practice. In September 1982, he joined Deloittee and Touche as a full partner where he remained until 1998 when he retired to become a full time politician.

His record of public service includes serving as Chairman of the Berkeley Institute Board of Governors and the Berkeley Educational Society. Mr. Lister also served as Chairman of the Bermuda Debate Society and as a member of the 1985 Hurricane Emily Relief Committee. He was a member of the Board of the Atlantic School of Chartered Accountancy and President of the Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bermuda. He is a Life Trustee of the Bermuda Biological Station for Research.

Terry Lister served as Campaign Chairman of the Progressive Labour Party Sandys Branch in the 1989 General Election. IN 1993, he was the Party's National Campaign Co-Chairman. In October 1993 he was appointed to the Senate where he served as Opposition Spokesman for Finance, Tourism and Marine Services, Technology and Information, Works and Engineering, Parks and Housing.