New Visions New Directions
The offer of contributing to Local Government FOCUS has come but a month or two too soon. Have a look at the logo above. What does it say to you? What perceptions do you have of the Council that sports this logo? Most likely, your thoughts would not gel with our other headline ‘New Visions, New Directions’.
That is because the logo is a hand down from the past administration of the Northern Grampians Shire Council and is currently under review. As is the Council’s Plan. As is the vision, branding and business plan for each of the Shire’s major towns.
The change is due to a new and dynamic management team that is thrusting Northern Grampians Shire Council into the 21st century. Keenly aware of the need to pick up the pace, move with the times and strike out with confidence, Council is embarking on a radical shake up, starting at the roots – with its people…
“We realise that it is easier to sit back and take the easy road. But it won’t be easy for long,” said CEO Gina Lyons. “If we want to be here in 20 years time, we need to wake up and shake up. And that’s just what we’re doing”.
New and diverse team the key to a vibrant future
Women are putting their best feet forward in the Northern Grampians Shire Council and are getting recognised for it. Previously a traditional male dominated Council structure, the administrative team has recently gone through a transformation with many women being promoted from within and attracted to the organisation from metropolitan Melbourne.
This radical change of gender in the senior management team has raised some eyebrows in the mostly conservative Shire some two and a half hours from Melbourne.
Recently appointed Chief Executive Officer, Gina Lyons, says of her new team, “It is heartening to see that the normal gender balance of 50 per cent male, 50 per cent female is reflected in the new executive team of Northern Grampians Shire. Unfortunately, this is not the case for the majority of Local Government organisations throughout Australia.”
The recent restructure is a result of the resignation of the former CEO and the natural attrition within the middle management tier. Over the past two years, the CEO, all Directors and approximately half of the middle management have changed resulting in a completely new look Council team.
Prior to commencing her new life in Stawell in October last year, CEO, Gina Lyons, was living in a three storey warehouse in funky, inner city Richmond with her partner. She was General Manager of Shannon’ s Way, a marketing communication company specialising in social marketing. Gina claims that Northern Grampians Shire Council chose her, not the other way around.
“I have always managed my career on the basis that the right opportunity will come along at the right time,” Gina explains. “But if I had to rationalise it, I was looking for a CEO role in Local Government because I wanted to get back into the sector; I was looking for a Council within two to two and a half hours from Melbourne so that I could go to Melbourne for meetings without too much travel;
I was looking for a Council with a strong economic development focus so that I could utilise my marketing and PR skills; and I was looking for an area with a lot of natural attractions. Northern Grampians met these criteria and the decision was made for me.”
Gina is supported by a team of four Executives, leading the areas of Economic Development and Planning; Corporate Services; Infrastructure Services and Community and Health Services. Two of these four positions are held by women, both of whom are new to the Shire. Justine Linley, Director of Economic Development and Planning, heralds from Western Melbourne and moved to take up her position in Stawell early last year. Jan Consedine, Director of Community and Health Services, moved from Shepparton to take up her position two years ago.
The other two Directors, Keith White and Mark Goode are also new to the Shire. Keith having moved to Stawell from Melbourne only a month ago, and Mark relocated from Horsham 12 months ago.
The next tier of management is also representational with 50 per cent male and 50 per cent female. This gender balance is well regarded within the organisation and most teams are well balanced, reflecting gender and age groups.
“This structure has not been designed, but rather reflective of the abilities of individuals applying for the new positions,” Gina explains. “Even so, we are very proud of our new structure, the abilities of the people, the depth of experience and, as a side line, the gender and age balance throughout each tier of the organisation.
This will greatly benefit the services and products we supply for our communities.”
Economic development centre stage
Council has seen a number of exciting initiatives take form under the new team, mainly focusing on the economic development objectives. The first step was to integrate the Economic Development, Tourism and Planning functions into one Department under the management of Director, Justine Linley.
“By combining these departments an integrated approach to the development of the Shire is greatly enhanced,” Justine explains. “Having these three areas operate as the one identity has improved the processing and identification of opportunities in areas of both commercial and private development – key sources of sustainable economic growth.”
In addition, Council is currently undertaking a multi faceted program of strategic business development with the retail and light industrial sectors. These businesses are being offered targeted training opportunities, structured networking opportunities and business development consultation sessions.
Such initiatives include:
- rezoning and release of new industrial precincts
- evaluation for the rezoning of new residential estates
- appointment of an Economic Partnership Officer who spans Economic Development and Planning sections
- a Business Development Program for Stawell and St Arnaud CBDs.
“The new team is in the exciting, and challenging, position of embarking on a new development strategy,” Justine explains. “Under Gina’s guidance and extensive community consultation, we are reinventing ourselves. It is an exciting time to be living and working in the Northern Grampians Shire. It is definitely a case of… watch this space.”
Northern Grampians Shire facts
Major towns: Stawell, St Arnaud, Halls Gap, Great Western, Navarre, Marnoo
Residents: 13,000
Major Industries: Agriculture, gold mining, manufacturing, tourism
Major features: Grampians, Stawell Gift, gold heritage, wineries.
