City of Moreton Bay CEO Scott Waters has taken out the 2025 Manager of the Year award at the Local Government Managers Association (LGMA) Conference for his outstanding leadership and management.
Awarded annually as part of LGMA’s commitment to leadership and management excellence in local government, the award is presented to a senior local government employee who has made an outstanding contribution to the positive growth of their council and community.
Since his appointment in 2023, Scott Waters has taken a visionary approach to preparing City of Moreton Bay for a population on track to reach one million in around 30 years. His focus on organisational transformation, culture and strategic engagement has positioned the organisation as one of the most progressive and future-focused councils in Australia.
In 2024, Scott Waters led a significant organisational change, shifting the organisational structure to a future and growth-ready model with a new framework built around four strategic groups – the Office of the CEO, City Administration, City Operations and City Futures.
The streamlined model has already improved efficiency and created stronger collaboration across the organisation. These structural changes have helped embed Waters’ forward-thinking vision and values-led leadership, reshaping how City of Moreton Bay operates and collaborates.
Scott Waters said he was humbled and appreciative to be awarded LGMA’s Manager of the Year Award and proudly thanked the team he leads.
“Everything that we do in Local Government is about serving our community, and to do this well, it starts with people. For me, with just over 15 years in Local Government, I feel tremendously lucky to have the team that I do here at City of Moreton Bay,” Mr Waters said.
“Achievements like this only happen when you have the many and varied parts of the business all working in the same direction – and at City of Moreton Bay, we’re in that position, thanks to our people.”
Mayor Peter Flannery said the award was a fitting acknowledgement of Scott Waters’ leadership.
“We’re extremely proud to see our CEO Scott Waters recognised as LGMA’s Manager of the Year for 2025. Scott has been pivotal in guiding City of Moreton Bay through a time of rapid change and growth, ensuring we are prepared for the future while staying focused on delivering for our community,” Mayor Flannery said.
“His approach has created a culture where staff feel supported, ideas are welcomed, and innovation is encouraged. That kind of leadership has positioned City of Moreton Bay as modern and future ready.”
“It’s a privilege to work alongside Scott as we continue to build a stronger and more connected City of Moreton Bay.”
Scott Waters’ award reflects not only his personal contribution but also the strong direction City of Moreton Bay is taking as it sets a benchmark for modern local government leadership.
