Permanent replacement secured

Glenelg Shire Council is set to welcome a new chief executive officer with substantial international leadership experience and a passion for community.

Council has appointed former Alpine Shire Council director customer and community Helen Havercroft as CEO.

Ms Havercroft will take up the permanent role on Monday, July 29.

Originally from the United Kingdom, Ms Havercroft has 20 years’ experience in leadership, leading large teams located across countries and continents and demonstrating a very clear understanding of community engagement methods.

After graduating from Nottingham University with an honours degree in Geography and Archaeology, she trained as a tax inspector with HM Revenue and Customs (the UK equivalent of the Australian Taxation Office), working there for more than 12 years in a number of roles, including Tax Compliance Business Unit Head.

She then moved to Local Government in the UK as Head of Growth and Development in a regional council, where she was also appointed chair of the UK’s first Heritage Action Zone.

In 2018 she was appointed CEO of the Government of South Georgia and The South Sandwich Islands, a UK Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, a role she held for three years.

Ms Havercroft moved to Australia with her family in 2021 to take up the Director Corporate Performance role at Alpine Shire Council in Victoria’s north east. The role was subsequently renamed to Director Customer and Community.

Besides her diverse professional career, she volunteered at the London 2012 Olympics as a Team Leader at the water polo venue to share her coordination and management skills.

Ms Havercroft said she was looking forward to her new role at Glenelg Shire Council.

“This is a fresh challenge that I am excited about. I am looking forward to meeting the teams I will be working with including Councillors, officers and the community,” she said.

“I have extensive executive level experience liaising with all levels of government which I believe will be a significant advantage to Glenelg Shire Council.

“I look forward to bringing my knowledge and experiences to the next phase of Council’s journey”.

Glenelg Shire Mayor Karen Stephens said council was delighted to have appointed someone of Ms Havercroft’s calibre as CEO following a thorough and exhaustive recruitment process.

“Helen brings a vast range of experience to the role and she will be an asset to Glenelg Shire as we look to working together on unlocking the future potential growth for the shire,” Cr Stephens said.

“We welcome Helen to the region and her new role and look forward to working closely with her on achieving our shared goals and vision for Glenelg Shire.”

Ms Havercroft will replace Craig Niemann, who is currently Council CEO after being appointed for an eight-week period.