Administrator dumps council’s CEO

In other news:

  • New president at ALGA
  • APS Commissioner to head ANZSOG Board
  • Northern Ireland political violence expert appointed Liverpool City Council CEO

Central Coast Council CEO Gary Murphy has been axed by the council’s recently appointed administrator.

Dick Persson

The NSW government suspended Central Coast’s councillors and appointed Dick Persson as administrator on October 30 to restore function at the council, which had found itself $89 million in the red.

Mr Murphy has been on recreational leave.

In statement issued on Monday Council said Mr Persson had terminated Mr Murphy effective immediately in accordance with the provisions of his contract of employment.

“Recruitment of a new Chief Executive Officer will commence shortly,” Council said in a statement.

In the meantime, acting CEO Rik Hart and COO Malcolm Ryan “will continue to head the organisation through the challenging times ahead,” the statement said.

Linda Scott elected as ALGA president

LGNSW president Linda Scott as been elected as president of Australia’s peak body for local government, taking over the reins from David O’Loughlin.

Linda Scott says NSW councils are

The Sydney City Councillor was elected unopposed at the ALGA annual general meeting on November 13.

Cr Scott has vowed to adopt a similar approach in her new role as she has used as head of LGNSW, where she has been a staunch advocate for sustainable state and federal government funding, recycling and local government electoral issues.

“I see promoting local government’s contribution to the success and prosperity of our communities – and campaigning for it to be adequately funded in that endeavour – as one of my main tasks in this new role,” she said in a statement.

Cr Scott says during her two year term she will also continue to campaign for a reversal of ALGA’s exclusion from National Cabinet, a decision that has rankled local government.

Cr Scott has been ALGA Vice President since November 2018 and a board member since 2017.

She also serves on a range of NSW Government boards and advisory groups, including the NSW Environmental Trust, the Local Government Ministerial Advisory Group and NSW Smart Places Advisory Committee.

From Belfast with love – new CEO at Liverpool City Council

Liverpool City Council has appointed Eddie Jackson, an expert in policy responses to political violence in Northern Ireland, as its full-time Chief Executive Officer.

Eddie Jackson

Before moving to Australia from Northern Ireland Dr Jackson held senior positions with Belfast City Council, including CEO of the Belfast Local Strategy Partnership which was tasked with peacebuilding and regeneration as part of the Peace Process. 

He joined Liverpool council in 2014 and led negotiations with the state and federal governments on the Western Sydney City deal between 2017-2019. Most recently he served as Director City Community and Culture.

Prior to accepting his current appointment he spent five months as acting CEO.

Dr Jackson says he’ll bring his experience from working in Belfast to his new role at Liverpool as it transitioned into the gateway city for the Western Sydney Airport.

“Despite a vastly different operational context, the processes of building mutual trust, collaborative practice and unifying politicians around a shared long-term vision apply equally to a leadership role within a dynamic local authority in western Sydney,” he said.

 Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller said she looked forwarded to working Dr Jackson.

“Eddie will do a great job serving the community,” Mayor Waller said. “He has a great understanding of Council and of the issues that are important to ratepayers.”

He officially took up the role on Monday, November 30.

Dr Jackson holds a PhD in social policy responses to political violence in Northern Ireland.

Transport and infrastructure specialist joins City of Bendigo

Former VicRoads regional director Brian Westley has joined the the City of Greater Bendigo as the new Director Presentation and Assets.

As regional director Mr Westley chaired the Recycled Contents in Roads Taskforce and he’s also held a range of position with VicRoads including project director at country roads, director of operations and manager of people services.

He said in his new role he would work to improve road and pedestrian safety, asset maintenance, service delivery and overall presentation of Greater Bendigo.

“I look forward to leading the team and applying my skills in people management and engagement, sustainable material use, project delivery and customer-focused outcomes to the role,” he said.

CEO Craig Niemann said Mr Westley brought with him a strong focus on sustainability and would lead the development of a circular economy for the City.

Peter Woolcott to chair ANZSOG Board

Australian Public Service Commissioner Peter Woolcott will replace NSW State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes at the helm of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) board.

Peter Woolcott

Mr Woolcott was elected at ANZSOG’s Annual General Meeting on November 18.

He said he would make sure the organisation continued to help public servants develop their skills and knowledge and looked forward to leading ANZSOG in the next phase of its collective public service future.

“I strongly believe in the work ANZSOG does to equip our public servants to respond to any challenge thrown at them,” Mr Woolcott said in a statement.

“Public servants, in both countries, are committed to service because they want to make a difference in people’s lives. ANZSOG plays a critical role in equipping our public servants to do just that through their public administration education and research.”

Mr Woolcott, who began as APS Commissioner in 2018, has been an ANZSOG director for the last year.

He has held senior diplomatic positions around the world and previously served as the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff.

Sussan Ley appointed to global health leaders group

Environment Minister Sussan Ley has been appointed by the World Health Organisation to the One Health Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance.

Sussan Ley

The group, launched on November 20, will promote action to combat the threat of antimicrobial resistance around the world.

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms develop resistance to medicines used to kill them.

Ms Lay says new microbials enter the environment every day and can accumulate over time, leading to increased resistance and potentially harmful effects on human and animal populations.

“Drug resistance also endangers the world’s ability to fight numerous diseases, including COVID-19,” she said in a statement.

“The formation of the global leaders group represents a major step forward towards tackling antimicrobial resistance and solving these international issues.”

Jane O’Dwyer to lead CRC Association

Vice President of Engagement and Global Relations at the ANU Jane O’Dwyer will take up a position as the new CEO of the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Association next January, succeeding Tony Peacock.

Jane O’Dwyer

Chair Belinda Robinson said Ms O’Dwyer was appointed after a highly competitive selection process.

“I’m looking forward to working with Jane to support and represent our members and advance the benefits of cooperative research in Australia,” she said.

Ms O’Dwyer said cooperative research is critical to Australia’s future, particularly in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I relish the opportunity to work with the board to write the next chapter for the CRC Association at a time when research and the development of a highly skilled research workforce that can transition between universities and industry will be essential to emerge from the impacts of COVID-19,” she said.

Ms O’Dwyer joins the CRC Association after a more than 25-year career in Australia, Japan and the United States.

She was a senior policy officer for public affairs and the environment with ALGA between 1997 and 98.

New board members for Green Building Council

Nicole Lockwood, the deputy chair of infrastructure Western Australia and a former board member of Infrastructure Australia, has been appointed as a director of the Green Building Council of Australia.

Ms Lockwood is also independent chair of the Westport Taskforce, chair of the freight and and logistics council and a board member of the Water Corporation.

Chair Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz said Ms Lockwood had a strong background spanning law and government, as well as a strong understanding of large-scale infrastructure planning and delivery where the council hoped to expand its influence.

She’s joined on the board by Josephine Sukkar, principal of Buildcorp which she established with her husband.

“Her training as a research scientist, coupled with deep experience in construction and governance will bring rounded experience to the board,” Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz said.

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One thought on “Administrator dumps council’s CEO

  1. Blame the GM Dick? Sounds like scapegoating to me. Where is the State Government Audit sign off required each year? You can spin and blame Dick but you know the truth is the State Government is responsible for the amalgamation mess, no oversight of the Council by the OLG and no support.

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