City director moves into new role

THE City of Greater Bendigo has appointed Jessica Howard as its new director of healthy communities and environments after serving as the City’s director of corporate performance since March 2023.

Ms Howard’s new responsibilities include overseeing Maternal and Child Health, immunisation, early learning centres, environmental health, local laws, climate change resilience and emergency management, parking, animal management, provision of recreation facilities, celebrating cultural diversity and inclusion, as well as community capacity building.

COGB Chief Executive Officer Andrew Cooney congratulated Ms Howard on her new role and said he was pleased she would be continuing her career in Bendigo.

“Prior to joining the City, Jess was a director at Mount Alexander Shire Council and had a similar portfolio of responsibilities as the Healthy Communities and Environments directorate, including sport and recreation, community safety, local laws, climate resilience and project delivery,” he said.

“Her considerable experience in State Government and skills developed in various policy and advisory roles are also valuable.

“I look forward to Jess continuing to make a great contribution to our organisation and community in her new role.”

Ms Howard said she was excited to take on the fresh challenge.

“(I’m) really looking forward to meeting the many organisations, clubs, groups and volunteers that the Healthy Communities and Environments directorate works with and who have such a critical role in making our community such a great place to live,” she said.

Ms Howard will transition to the role in the coming months following recruitment to appoint a new director corporate performance.