Delivering an Executive Search to Appoint a Strategic and Community-Focused CEO for a Local Government Council in Victoria
The Brief
Future Leadership™ was engaged by a local government council in Victoria to appoint a Chief Executive Officer. The council sought a strategic and community-focused leader to continue delivering high-quality services, infrastructure, advocacy, and support that enhance the wellbeing of residents, ratepayers, businesses, community groups, and visitors.
The incoming CEO would be expected to inspire and guide a capable executive team while empowering a large, diverse, and highly engaged workforce. The role demanded a leader who could uphold the council’s values, foster innovation, and drive operational excellence in a dynamic local government environment.
The Process
Future Leadership™ undertook a comprehensive national search process tailored to the council’s needs. The approach was designed to attract and assess candidates with the strategic capability and leadership acumen to support a cohesive and forward-thinking Councillor group.
Key steps included:
Briefing and Strategy Development
Engaged with the Mayor and Councillors to understand the role’s strategic priorities and challenges.
Targeted Candidate Search
Conducted a national search to identify candidates with expertise in strategic planning, governance, and stakeholder engagement.
Candidate Assessment
A robust and competitive field of candidates was considered. The selection panel shortlisted a high-calibre group for formal panel interviews following a rigorous assessment process.
Final Evaluation
Final candidates participated in a two-stage panel interview process, assessing alignment with the council’s strategic direction and leadership expectations.
The Outcome
The Selection Panel was highly impressed with the calibre of candidates, ultimately determining that both finalists were appointable.
The process resulted in the appointment of a seasoned Chief Executive Officer with over 20 years of senior executive experience across public services, education, and the private sector. The appointee brings deep expertise in finance, corporate governance, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and commercial operations.
Their appointment enables the council to confidently deliver the next four-year Council Plan, setting strategic direction, establishing priorities, and navigating long-term financial sustainability.
