In other appointments
- Public Trustee suspended over possible misbehaviour
- NSW Local Government Professionals CEO resigns
- Bendigo local to take art gallery into the future
Interim Management Committee at Logan City after ‘integrity crisis’
An Interim Management Committee has started work at Logan City Council after nine councillors, including Mayor Luke Smith, were charged with fraud offences, resulting in the sacking of the entire council.
Logan City Council was sacked on May 2 over what Queensland Local Government Sterling Hinchliffe described as an “integrity crisis”.
The six-member management committee, including four former councillors not affected by the charges, would support Interim Administrator Tamara O’Shea in ensuring good governance and integrity for the people of Logan, Mr Hinchliffe said last Friday.
The four councillors are Lisa Bradley, Laurie Koranski, Darren Power and Jon Raven.
Former Logan City CEO Mr Gary Kellar and lawyer Brent Lillywhite, have also been appointed to the interim committee.
“I am looking forward to working with the Committee to achieve the best long-term interests of the City of Logan,” Ms O’Shea said in a statement.
She said she had committed to continuity of service, stable leadership and good governance to ensure a strong foundation for the transition to a new council in 2020.
“We have a significant volume of work to progress over the coming months and the Committee will play an important role in supporting me to deliver on these outcomes,” she said.
Qld Public Trustee suspended over possible misbehaviour
Queensland’s Attorney-General and justice minister Yvette D’Ath has immediately suspended the state’s Public Trustee Peter Carne.
The action follows “serious allegations which could amount to misbehaviour” under the Public Trustee Act,” Ms D’Ath said in a statement.
Samay Zhouand has been appointed Acting Public Trustee in Mr Carne’s place, she said.
“The public can be assured that the Office of the Public Trustee’s core obligations will continue to be met,” Ms D’Ath said.
She said there would not be any further comment to ensure due process was followed.
The public trustee, which deals with the estates of incapacitated people and people who have died in the absence of an executor, in 2017-18 managed $2.7 billion in assets.
LGPA NSW CEO steps down
Annalisa Haskell has resigned as CEO of the Board of Local Government Professionals Australia, NSW, after 10 years in the job.
Ms Haskell officially stands down on June 30.
President Stewart Todd said Ms Haskell had steered the organisation through a period of significant change and some of the most challenging times in NSW Local Government.
He said Ms Haskell had helped build stronger relationships between state and local government and successfully rebranded the association across Australia.
She was also instrumental in developing the benchmarking innovation, the Australasian Local Government Performance Excellence Program.
“Annalisa has stated with pride that she can now, at this important juncture; with both the recently appointed 2019 Board and the appointment of the new NSW Local Government Minister, be satisfied leaving Local Government Professionals, NSW, Mr Stewart said in a statement.
New director for Bendigo Art Gallery
Bendigo local Jessica Bridgfoot has been appointed Bendigo Art Gallery Director after an extensive search.
As a curator with the gallery since 2016 Ms Bridgfoot has co-curated a range of exhibitions including New Histories and Gothic Beauty: Victorian Notions of Love, Loss and Mourning, and Myuran Sukamaran: Another Day in Paradise.
She is also the lead curator for the upcoming Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion exhibition and was instrumental in securing funding for a first Nations Curator.
City of Greater Bendigo Director Strategy and Growth Bernie O’Sullivan said Ms
Bridgfoot had helped transform the regional gallery into a critical cultural institution.
“Jessica’s achievements in delivering contemporary and innovative art programing, coupled with her vision to raise the Gallery’s engagement and visitor experience through digital platforms, diverse programing and education made her a stand-out choice,” he said.
Ms Bridgfoot said she was “beyond excited” to step into the role of Director and hoped to step up contemporary exhibitions at the gallery.
“I’m from a contemporary background and I would like to see more diversity and interactive experiences in the Gallery,” she said.
First woman appointed to head Botanic Gardens and Centennial Parklands
Denise Ora has been appointed at the first female Executive Director of in the Botanic Gardens & Centennial Parklands’ 204 year history.
Ms Ora will lead a team responsible for over 1,100 hectares of Sydney’s prime public parklands and botanic gardens.
“It is a privilege to be the first woman to lead these iconic spaces,” Ms Ora said.
“Our challenge is to not only cater for today but plan for future population and visitation growth over coming decades – and I am excited to take on that challenge.
She said she would lead the organisation into the future and foster a customer-centric, commercially astute and innovative agency while remaining true to its core values of science, conservation, horticulture, education, sport and recreation.
Before her appointment Ms Ora Denise was responsible for strategic planning at BGCP. She played a role in delivering a range of initiatives including The Ian Potter Children’s WILD PLAY Garden at Centennial Parklands, the ‘The Calyx’ display centre at the Botanic Gardens the Moore Park Master Plan 2040.
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