Kathryn Baget-Juleff has worked in local government for half her life after commencing her career as a student library shelver in year 11.
Working in many areas across community and cultural development and tourism Baget-Juleff was appointed Manager Library Services, Camden Council at age 25.
Along the way she developed skills to strategically plan for and deliver new and contemporary library services and programs which has culminated in her current role at Shellharbour City Council, as Group Manager Community Connections.
Shellharbour, New South Wales, is among the fastest growing cities in Australia.
One of the few councils with equal numbers of women in leadership positions across senior management, the City’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor are both women.
Ms Baget-Juleff believes this diversity of thought leads to better collaboration and problem solving right across Council.
“We have friendly staff, a supportive and respectful Council, an engaging and progressive leadership group and a great community to work with and for.”
Ms Baget-Juleff was nominated as this month’s LG Focus High Achiever individual award by Director Community and Customers, Melissa Boxall, for ‘activating the city’s libraries and connecting with the community through innovative, inexpensive and accessible programs’.
“I love a challenge and being able to ‘think outside the box’,” said Ms Baget-Juleff. “My role at Shellharbour enables me to be creative, to engage and listen to the community to create spaces, places and programs that are meaningful and tell the community’s story.
“No day is the same, the diverse areas I manage include libraries and museum, community engagement and activation, communications, community life and the activation and maintenance of the new Shellharbour Civic Centre.
“I am encouraged to think strategically and expected to work across the organization in a collaborative way to achieve the best outcomes.
“I love working with people and I love the diversity of Local Government. I am passionate about activating places and spaces and delivering community infrastructure, services and programs that respond to the community in which they are located.
Ms Baget-Juleff has delivered a number of vibrant and contemporary libraries and museums including the new Shellharbour City Library and Museum, Narellan Library and Camden Library.
“For me it is more than just about providing a new library or museum building or space but about providing a dynamic and responsive customer experience through programs, collections, technology and the ongoing engagement with the community to continue to shape this.
“Recently my team at Shellharbour City Library designed and delivered a Harry Potter Escape Room as one of our programs. This saw people travel from as far as Griffith to attend!”
Council has handed over childcare services, aged and disability services and community transport to other service providers with Ms Baget-Juleff successfully leading the transition.
“I have also been lucky to work with some talented staff and a key success for me is coaching and supporting those staff to grow in their roles, take on new opportunities and progress their careers in Local Government.”
Council has just launched a new community engagement platform called Let’s Chat Shellharbour.
“Much of mine and the team’s focus will be engaging with our community and keeping them better informed on Council projects.
“Future projects include developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and the activation of our new Shellharbour Civic Centre.
“As I said no day is the same and what I love about my role is this diversity and how busy we are!”
