Former Mitchell Shire Chief Executive Officer David Keenan will take the reins as Tweed Shire Council boss next month following a unanimous decision.
David’s appointment was made following a confidential Extraordinary Meeting of Council on Monday.
He steps into the big job on April 30, following the retirement of the current General Manager, Mike Rayner, on April 27.
David, 46, is currently in a similar role as the Chief Executive Officer of Mitchell Shire Council, located on the northern outskirts of Melbourne in Victoria.
Before that, he spent four years as Director City Sustainable Development at neighbouring Hume Shire Council. In this role, he was responsible for areas including strategic planning, statutory town planning, economic development, environment and urban development.
David has a Masters degree from the University of Melbourne, a Masters in Business Administration from Victoria University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Planning and the Environment from RMIT, as well as a number of other qualifications
Mayor of Tweed, Councillor Barry Longland welcomed the appointment, saying that he would bring many desirable qualities to role.
“David brings a range of skills and a varied background to this important role and I’m confident his skills will translate well to a NSW setting,” Councillor Longland said.
“He is coming to us from a shire with similar growth pressures, with a significant agricultural sector, and this background is particularly relevant to the challenges he will face in Tweed.
“David sees the opportunity to take on a challenging local government role, in a part of Australia that has always held a great attraction for him.
“He has a strong interest in this part of the world and has holidayed here many times, and has always found this area very attractive,” Mr Longland said.
David is the former inaugural chair of Economic Development Australia, as well as being a long-term Board member of Environs Australia. Most recently, David was appointed as part of a six-person Ministerial Advisory Committee to review the Victorian Planning System and has also been involved with a number of not-for-profit organisations.
“I am looking forward to the challenge of achieving sustainable development in the Tweed Shire,” David said.
“Ensuring that there are strong economic development opportunities that can be accommodated in a manner that do not impact the local environment and are supported by an engaged community, is an outcome I will be seeking to achieve.”
“I believe that the economic, environmental and social infrastructure located in the Tweed Shire has the potential to be utilised to create competitive advantages that add value to the Tweed’s diverse communities.”
David’s wife Jane is a family lawyer, and the couple has two children, Charlotte, 14 and Harry, 11. His interests include coaching and playing basketball and surfing.
In announcing the appointment, Councillor Longland acknowledged the substantial contribution of the current General Manager, Mike Rayner, who he said would leave the Tweed in a strong position, both in financial terms and with an established future vision.
“Tweed Shire Council won the AR Bluett Award last year, which is the most prestigious award for local government in NSW, and is evidence of Mike’s leadership skills,” he said.
