Council Appoints New CEO

Published on 14 April 2022

Yarriambiack appoints new CEO

At a special general meeting on Wednesday 13 April, Yarriambiack Shire Council moved to appoint Ms Tammy Smith as the new Chief Executive Officer for a period of four years with the option to extend. McArthur was appointed by Council to coordinate the CEO recruitment after previous CEO Ms Jessie Holmes announced her resignation in December 2021. Twenty-eight applications were received with a shortlist of twelve provided to Council. Four applicants completed an extensive interview process.

Yarriambiack Shire Council Mayor, Cr Kylie Zanker said, “There was a very high calibre of applicants with diverse skills, knowledge from a variety of backgrounds apply for the role. After a comprehensive interview process is was a unanimous decision to offer the position to Tammy Smith”.

Ms Smith commenced her time with Yarriambiack Shire Council in February 2019 where she held the Shared Human Resource Manager role, a joint position between Yarriambiack and West Wimmera Shire Council. She was then appointed as Director Business Strategy and Performance in March 2020 where she has held the role for the past two years. During her time as Director Council nominated and won two Municipal Association Victoria Technology awards in 2021. Prior to her employment with Yarriambiack Shire Council, Ms Smith held numerous positions at GWM Water in Finance and Governance, receiving a GWM Water Service award in 2018 recognising outstanding service.

Ms Smith said, “I am excited to be provided with the opportunity to continue working with the wonderful Councillors and Staff at Yarriambiack Shire Council. We have undertaken a significant transformation program over the last three years, and l am looking forward to continuing the journey of reviewing, refining and embedding our practices. We have a passionate, dedicated, and hardworking community, and l look forward to continuing our partnerships to provide support and seek funding opportunities for the betterment of our Shire”.

“Tammy has been in the Acting role since January 2022 and has been doing a fantastic job. Her qualifications in accounting and human resource management as well as her extensive experience in local government and her time at GWM Water has provided Tammy with a well-rounded capability to lead our organisation through this next exciting phase”, Cr Zanker said.

Ms Smith currently sits on the Municipal Association Victoria Technology Executive Committee and Advisory Group, Rural Council’s Victoria Committee, Gateway BEET Board and is a Non-Executive Board Member of Grampians Community Health. Ms Smith holds a number of professional memberships with the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Institute of Public Accounts and Local Government Professionals Victoria.

“We are delighted that we have had such a strong pool of applicants and have been able to have someone with Tammy’s knowledge and experience apply. Someone who is passionate, familiar with rural councils and brings substantial amount of experience is just what our Council needs.

Tammy was a standout candidate within a high quality field of experienced applicants and we are excited about the knowledge, leadership, governance, community and corporate knowledge that she brings to the role. Council is looking forward to working with Tammy as our new CEO leading our organisation through this next exciting phase”, Cr Zanker added.

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Cr Kylie Zanker

Mayor