Federation Council will have a new-look executive team with two persons recruited from outside the council and council’s Steve Carmichael confirmed as director engineering services.

Mr Carmichael has been the acting director infrastructure and environment since last October, a role that has been revised, to become two positions: ‘director development and environment’, and ‘director engineering services’.

Jo Shannon had been appointed to the director corporate and community services position. Susan Appleyard will be director of development and environmental services.

“Jo, Susan and Steve are outstanding respected senior leaders and advocates across their various fields and their combined talents, knowledge and experience will be a great asset to Federation Council in this exciting period of growth,” council’s General Manager Adrian Butler said.

Jo Shannon has over 20 years’ experience in financial management and corporate governance in the local government and tourism sectors. She has been the director community and corporate services with Towong Shire Council for the last five years. 

In this role she also led the secretariat team for Rural Councils Victoria Inc. to provide a focus on broader rural council and rural community sustainability challenges. 

Susan Appleyard also brings over 20 years’ experience in Local Government with 18 years in the Riverina region where she has previously worked for Deniliquin Council, Jerilderie Council and is currently at Murrumbidgee Council. 

“Ms Appleyard holds a Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning, as well as being an accredited Building Surveyor, and is a recognised heritage advisor,” Mr Butler said. 

“She has also been the Manager of Planning and Environment at Murrumbidgee Council, (the merged council of Jerilderie and Murrumbidgee Shire Councils) for the past 12 years, which has given her a great ability to deliver successful outcomes working through complex planning challenges at town and regional scales.” 

Mr Butler said the permanent appointment of Steve Carmichael was also a positive result for council.  

“Steve Carmichael has extensive experience in the local government engineering sector with a career spanning more than 40 years across local government and also in state government and project management roles,” Mr Butler said. 

“His previous positions include both Brewarrina and Temora Shire Councils as their engineering director.  

“Prior to the current acting director role he holds with Federation Council, he has been manager of infrastructure and utilities where he has supported his sector to continue to deliver an unprecedented amount of road and infrastructure projects across the Federation region.” 

Ms Shannon’s role is a combination of the director finance and organisation development role undertaken by Kim Parker and the Kristy Kay-occupied position of director corporate and community services since the merger of Corowa and Urana Shires in May 2016.

It is understood that Mr Parker, who was the finance chief at Urana Shire Council, applied for the position but was unsuccessful.

It is also understood Ms Kay was not an applicant for the revised director corporate and community services role which includes finance, and the field of work she has been involved in since starting with Corowa Shire Council some 13 years ago.

Her last seven years – with Corowa Shire Council and, since September 2016, Federation Council – have been as director.

Council’s three selections follow its re-organisation structure last November and are to be effective upon the arrival of the two new-to-Federation Council directors.

Mr Butler highlighted the tireless work and great efforts made since the formation of Federation Council by the existing senior leadership team. 

“I sincerely thank our current directors for their great efforts in providing executive leadership and direction to the organisation since the merger, and I also thank the councillors and all staff for their participation and patience throughout this process,” he said.