Chief task: Shire council still seeking its new CEO

THE Surf Coast Shire is still looking for its new chief executive officer, and expects to appoint a recruitment agency this month.

The shire’s previous CEO, Keith Baillie, announced in June 2020 that he would resign from the role after five years.

Mr Baillie’s last day as CEO was July 31, and he became the new chief executive officer of Geelong not-for-profit Gforce Employment Solutions about a month later.

The previous Surf Coast Shire council appointed the shire’s general manager of infrastructure and governance Anne Howard to be the acting CEO from August 1 until the new CEO was appointed.

Finding a new chief executive officer for the shire will be one of the biggest tasks for the new council, which was elected less than three months ago.

The councillors have not yet considered their options but have slightly over six months to make their decision, as a Surf Coast Shire spokesperson confirmed this week that Ms Howard’s term as acting CEO needed to conclude before August 1 this year.

“Council’s CEO Employment Matters Committee, comprising all councillors, met in December 2020 to commence the CEO recruitment process,” the spokesperson said.

“Council plans to appoint a recruitment agency in January. The role, including selection criteria, is to be publicly advertised widely shortly after.

“The process is expected to take a number of weeks between advertising of the position and an appointment being made.”

The council will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, January 12 but this is unrelated to the CEO recruitment process, and is instead to hear submissions on an application for a planning permit for the use and development for intensive animal production (sheep production and dairy) at 1440 Inverleigh-Winchelsea Road, Inverleigh.