FORMER Rockhampton City Council chief executive officer Gary Stevenson has been appointed as Redland City Council's new CEO.
Mr Stevenson comes to the Redlands with 27 years' experience in local government, having served in the top Rockhampton job since January 1998.
Mr Stevenson, awarded a Public Service Medal in this year's Queen's Birthday honours list, recently oversaw the transition of Rockhampton City Council to Rockhampton Regional Council, through which four former councils were amalgamated.
It was not his first experience with major organisational reform, having previously overseen the commercialising of Rockhampton's water and wastewater operations.
Starting his local government career in 1981, Mr Stevenson worked as a civil engineer in rural Victoria, Melbourne and Albany, Western Australia.
He then served as CEO of Corangamite Shire Council in south-west Victoria, being appointed in 1994 after three former municipalities amalgamated as part of the major structural reform of local government in Victoria.
Mr Stevenson was a National Director of Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA) for four years and late last year completed a second term as President of the Queensland Division of LGMA.
Redland City Council's most senior administrative position became vacant earlier this year, when former CEO Susan Rankin resigned suddenly.
Mayor Melva Hobson said Mr Stevenson's appointment had been a majority decision of the council and followed a rigorous selection process.
Council previously said it had received 65 applications, but now says 75 people had applied.
The Redland Times has been told no current Redland City Council employees applied for the job, but a council spokeswoman could not confirm this, saying applicant details were confidential.
Of the applicants, six were short-listed by recruitment consultants for initial interview.
The final three candidates were interviewed by a larger panel comprising all councillors, with the final decision endorsed at Wednesday night's general meeting.
"The councillors and I were pleased with the excellent calibre of candidates, and are confident we have chosen the best candidate for the job," Cr Hobson said.
"We need a chief executive officer committed to creating a strong cohesive organisation in partnership with staff and councillors, and who has a passion to help develop a vision that will ensure we continue to effectively serve our community.
"We believe Gary is the person to provide that. We are all looking forward to working with him, and together taking council - and our city - forward into a strong future."
Mr Stevenson is expected to officially start in the role by September 1 or sooner.
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