Brett Luxford appointed Geelong’s acting CEO

BRETT Luxford has been appointed acting chief executive officer of the City of Greater Geelong, until a permanent replacement for the outgoing Kelvin Spiller is hired.

Mr Luxford has been the city’s Director of Investment and Attraction since 2016, overseeing Enterprise Geelong and Events, Arts and Culture, Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine, and Central Geelong and the Waterfront.

He has extensive local government experience, having held senior roles in both regional and metropolitan areas.

The council’s CEO Employment Matters Committee is working on the process of hiring a new CEO, and will make a decision at the earliest opportunity.

“There’s a lot of important work to be done, and I’m keen to make sure it’s business as usual,” Mr Luxford said.

“I’m looking forward to working with councillors to continue to meet the needs of our community.”

Geelong mayor Bruce Harwood said Mr Luxford had earned widespread respect during his two years with the City of Greater Geelong.

“As an existing member of the executive team, he is well placed to carry out the role of Acting CEO until a permanent replacement arrives. We congratulate him on his appointment.”

Mr Spiller finished in his role on Thursday, and Cr Harwood said the date marked the end of his seventh stint as the CEO of a council across both Victoria and Australia under 25 different mayors.

“It’s fitting, given he spent the early part of his career in his home town of Geelong, that he eventually returned here.

“Kelvin has also held positions on 30 different government, industry and community boards and committees.

“He’s never been afraid to move out of his comfort zone, to seek out new experiences and opportunities to learn, and that has stood him in good stead throughout his professional journey.

“What has been clear to me through working with and getting to know Kelvin is his passion for local government and for the community.

“That has always come through during some of the difficult issues we’ve dealt with, and the heavy workloads we’ve carried through those times.”