NEW Port Macquarie-Hastings Council general manager Craig Swift-McNair moved to Port Macquarie from Sydney in mid-2003, so has lived in the region for almost 11 years.
He is a family man and has two children, a 22-year-old at university in Newcastle and an 18-year-old currently at TAFE.
As a born-and-bred Victorian, he is big AFL fan and follows his beloved Swans each week and is delighted that “this year is looking very good!”
In his spare time he likes to wander around the local beaches, sun himself (responsibly) and read.
Mr Swift-McNair spent the first 20 years of his career in a range of roles and industries in the private sector ranging from national product manager and general manager procurement roles for large multinational office products providers to general manager of a corporate catering and events company.
He joined Port Macquarie-Hastings Council in 2003 and moved through various management roles until he became a director at Greater Taree City Council in early 2010.
He then came back to PMHC as the director of Commercial Services and Industry Engagement in February 2012, a role he held until he was made acting general manager in February 2014.
He was understandably delighted and excited at his appointment as general manager.
“There are not too many roles where you can make a real contribution to your entire community on a daily basis, while living in the same region, so this is a wonderful opportunity,” Mr Swift-McNair said.
His vision for the council and the Hastings is to have a local government area that works collaboratively – for the community, councillors and the council organisation – in making things happen.
“We want this region to be a place people want to live, learn, work, play and invest now and into the future,” he said.
He said there are several immediate challenges facing him in his new role, including ensuring the council delivers on the recently adopted $93 million works program for 2014-2015 and continuing to improve community engagement processes and practices.
Another goal was to implement a place-making philosophy across the organisation, which entails council working with the community to understand what people want to see in their places and spaces.
