On 14 April 2023, Kiama Council announced the finalisation of a significant organisational restructure and unveiled a new leadership team to administer the significant challenges to come.

Joe Gaudiosi was formally announced as the Chief Operation Officer after acting as the interim Chief Operating Officer and interim Chief Financial Officer .

Olena Tulubinska was welcomed as the new Chief Financial Officer.

Michael Malone joined Council as the Director Infrastructure and Liveability, after spending 7 and a half years at Wollondilly Council.

Jessica Rippon who was with Council since February 2020 was promoted to Director Planning, Environment and Communities. 

Earlier this year, Ms Rippon abruptly left Council stating “it is time for me to take on a new opportunity and place to work”. Her Linkedin profile says she is still acting in her Council role.

And last week Council announced that Michael Malone joined Ms Rippon as the latest executive to leave the team saying “I am very proud of the things that the team and I have achieved and delivered for Kiama in my tenure in the Director role”. No indication on what was next or any specific reason driving his change in heart after having very long stints with his two previous employers (Wollondilly and Wollongong Councils). 

Is it worrying that half of the executive team that CEO Jane Stroud said was “well placed to lead our workforce and set our business up for success” have left, less than 18 months in their roles? Perhaps not – after all, people have lives to live, and maybe personal circumstances have dictated these changes. 

Or perhaps, these two were never ‘the chosen ones’?

Edward Paterson and Seren McKenzie step into the roles vacated by Ms Rippon and Mr Malone, respectively. 

When the restructure was announced back in 2023, Mr Paterson was working for the NSW State Government as a “Team Leader” at the now defunct Greater Cities Commission. As he was helping chart growth for the region (including Kiama) on behalf of the NSW Government he was hardly able to put his hand up for the prized Director Planning, Environment and Communities role. However, times have changed and given the multiple development proposals that Council will be dealing with in the near future, perhaps Ms Stroud felt that someone with a more practical and steady hand at the helm would be of greater value.

Ms McKenzie is a known quantity to CEO Stroud – after all, they were both Directors at Southern Downs Regional Council from 2019 – 2021. Similar to Mr Patterson’s role, Ms McKenzie's job will be focused on the growth agenda and ensuring that Council’s infrastructure is well equipped to deal with the significant population growth to occur over the next decade.

It just so happens that Ms McKenzie decided to make the big move south of the Tweed, four months before she was elevated to Council’s Executive team – half her luck! 

The Bugle makes no suggestions or allegation that her appointment is improper and notes that she is currently an Acting Director, and that the CEO and Council ‘will consider when is the best time to conduct permanent recruitment for this role”.

On the contrary, as the leader of a Council that has been in the firing line with many controversial decisions being scrutinised, and with further Performance Improvement Order requirements to be satisfied, it is important that the CEO is surrounded by a team that is trusted and competent. 

Perhaps personal circumstances dictated change, or perhaps the decks needed to be cleared. 

Either way, with six new councillors and a new Mayor you can be sure that their eyes and focus will be squarely on the CEO and ensuring that business is conducted in a far more efficient manner than under the previous Council.