Blast from the past as interim City of Ballarat CEO announced

THE search for an interim CEO to lead the City of Ballarat is over.

Council has made a back to the future choice with past head Janet Dore named to the job this afternoon during a special meeting.

Ms Dore was the first CEO of the amalgamated City of Ballarat in the early 1990s and said she would be getting down to business quickly.

“I think we’ve got a mountain to climb to win back community confidence and that is what I’m here to do,” she said.

“I love Ballarat, I live here, I came back here, not expecting to work at the council again, but I know there are a lot of good people in this organisation. Some of them I know from before, but everybody will be treated as I treat myself and others.

“I start at 7 o’clock on Friday morning at the depot because those people have been out there through COVID and we need them to keep going out there.”

Interviews for the role began last week after most councillors voted to terminate former CEO Justine Linley’s contract following a damaging report handed down by the State Ombudsman in mid-May.

Four candidates were interviewed, two men and two women, with all councillors on the selection panel.

At the special council meeting all councillors voted in favour of appointing Ms Dore.

Between 2007 and 2015 Ms Dore was the CEO of the Transport Accident Commission. She’s also been the general manager of the City of Newcastle, as well as council monitor at Ararat Rural City since departing the top job in Ballarat.

“I think if you went to the TAC and to Newcastle council you’ll find that staff moral and satisfaction was very high,” Ms Dore said.

“I’m direct and I’m fair and I want to give value for money to our rate payers. They pay our salaries.”

As for what Ms Dore will tackle first, she named procurement policies, hiring practices and top down culture as high priorities.

“My list in week one coves all those points,” she said.

“I’m not going to leave anything off the list. I’ll be setting up working groups very quickly to look at those polices.

“I’ll be looking at everything from first principals. I can’t foreshadow what action that might lead to.”

Despite having previously worked for the City as CEO, mayor Cr Ben Taylor said the choice of Ms Dore was a good mix of understanding of the municipality, previous experience, and ability for cultural change.

“That experience puts her in great stead to help us as a city, and especially with Ararat and the work that she’s done there,” Cr Taylor said.

“We have full confidence in what she’s put together as a plan and to work with her on what’s good for the organisation.

“We’re making this decision tonight to get on with the business of council to show confidence to the community to know we are acting and showing that leadership.”

Ms Dore will start on Friday and her pay with be $350,000 pro rata.

The State Ombudsman’s report, tabled in parliament on 14 May, detailed a range of claims against Ms Linley and former director Terry Demeo.

The allegations Ms Linley in the report Ms Linley related to improper hiring practices of two senior staff members.