With the recruitment of a new General Manager underway, Kiama Council has made acting appointments to cover directorial roles in the interim.

“We are covering all our senior leadership roles with appropriately qualified and experienced people from within the organisation,” says the Acting General Manager, Jessica Rippon.

“There have been some interim changes needed to support keeping our operations working smoothly and these have been developed with staff.

“We want to reassure the community that we are not standing still during this time, but moving ahead where ever we can, with a focus on financial sustainability, continuing to provide our services to the community and advancing our key projects.” 

Megan Hutchison (below), Council’s long time Economic Development Manager, has been appointed Acting Director Corporate and Commercial. Aspects of the role to do with finance and internal audit have been moved to the Acting GM role, leaving Ms Hutchison to focus on Council’s commercial operations, economic development and tourism.

While Ms Rippon is in the Acting General Manager role, Ed Patterson (below) will cover her usual responsibilities, as Acting Director Environmental Services.

The intention is for Ms Rippon to share the Acting GM role with the Director of Engineering and Works, Mike Dowd.

“We are still working out the timeframes, but we will be dividing the time evenly between us,” says Ms Rippon.

“When Mike takes over, Darren Brady will take up the Acting Director Engineering and Works role.”