Our wrap of the latest appointments in and around government and the public service across Australia.

In this wrap:

• MAV appoints first female CEO
• Mr Gary Murphy appointed head of the Central Coast Council
• City of Darwin takes on new CEO Scott Waters
• Peter Achterstraat appointed NSW Productivity Commissioner

Municipal Association of Victoria appoints first female CEO

Kerry Thompson has been appointed chief executive officer of the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV).

Ms Thompson is the first woman to hold the role of CEO since MAV was formed in 1879.

Rob Spence

She was formerly the CEO of both Wyndham City Council and Maribyrnong City Council, a deputy secretary (investment and business) for Transport for Victoria, and acting chief executive at VicRoads.

MAV president Cr Mary Lalios said Ms Thompson is an accomplished leader whose expertise in senior local and state government roles would be invaluable to the Victorian local government sector.

Ms Thompson takes over from Rob Spence, who has led the MAV since 1997 and will remain with the organisation until August this year to assist with the transition.

Cr Lalios paid tribute to Mr Spence, applauding his contribution to the peak body over 21 years.

Gary Murphy appointed head of Central Coast Council

Central Coast Council has appointed Gary Murphy as CEO.

Previously CEO at Buller District Council in New Zealand, for the past seven years Mr Murphy has been general manager of Lismore City Council.

Central Coast Council Mayor Jane Smith said the decision was made by the full Council after an independent recruitment process.

Mr Murphy said the Central Coast Council role is an exciting challenge. “It’s a newly merged council with 2400 staff, a population of 335,000 and a budget of $723 million and $6.9 billion in assets,” he said.

Lismore City Council will recruit an acting general manager in coming weeks to fill the position from the 15 June until a new GM is appointed.

City of Darwin appoints Scott Waters as CEO

Scott Waters has been appointed as the new CEO of the City of Darwin.

Mr Waters is a former senior executive and chief executive who has delivered more than $180 million in local government infrastructure projects.

Mayor Kon Vatskalis said the appointment marked an exciting chapter for the council.

Mr Waters said that he was honoured to be in the position.

Dr Diana Leeder has been appointed as the City of Darwin’s interim CEO.

Peter Achterstraat appointed NSW Productivity Commissioner

Veteran public servant Peter Achterstraat has been appointed as NSW’s inaugural Productivity Commissioner.

The NSW Government said that Mr Achterstraat, who has been a senior public servant at both federal and state levels, will be responsible for driving microeconomic reform and targeting regulatory roadblocks.

“This appointment will help drive our agenda of making it quicker and easier for citizens to deal with government,” NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said.

Mr Achterstraat will be responsible for helping to shape the NSW Government’s productivity agenda and overseeing its regulatory framework. This will include implementation of the government’s response to the review of regulation undertaken by former NSW Premier Nick Greiner.

The NSW Auditor-General from 2006 to 2013, Mr Achterstraat also served as the chief commissioner of state revenue and deputy commissioner of taxation at the Australian Tax Office.

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