In other news:

• New CEO at LGA SA
• Warren Mundine gets gig with liberal think tank
• Inaugural mine rehabilitation commissioner appointed in Queensland

Gold Coast council’s former City Architect Leah Lang has been appointed as the first female Queensland Government Architect as the state heads towards the 2032 Olympic Games.

She takes up the new role this month.

Ms Lang, who helped guide the development of public infrastructure for the 2018 Queensland Commonwealth Games, replaces Malcolm Middleton who departed in July.

As Government Architect she will lead Queensland’s public and urban building design and provide advice to governments, industry and the community, Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni said.

“Ms Lang brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role and I know she will continue to champion design excellence and influence the next generation of projects across Queensland’s cities and towns,” he said.

Ms Lang says good design can help solve problems relating to climate change and population growth.

“These are challenges in which well-considered, sustainable architecture and urban design can make a tremendous difference,” she said.

She’s also confident the Games will bring a unity of purpose and drive Queensland to realise its future vision.

Ms Lang served as Gold Coast City Architect between 2016-20, during which she oversaw city-wide urban design.

She also worked on the Gold Coast’s light rail network design and the $60.5 million Bundall arts centre.

Ms Lang is a member of the Bond University and University of Queensland professional advisory boards and Gold Coast Open House Committee, as well as the Queensland Government Urban Design and Places Panel.

She is also a member of the Design Excellence Panel: Queensland Social and Affordable Housing, together with the Infrastructure NSW expert reviewer panel.

CEO appointed at LGASA

Clinton Jury will take over from Matt Pinnegar as CEO of South Australia’s peak local government body.

Mr Jury starts the new role on October 11.

LGA says Mr Jury is a mature leader and a strong strategic thinker and planner who will provide vision and stability to the LGA in the years ahead.

Mr Jury is currently the State Manager SA/NT Board & Governance Services at Australian Institute of Company Directors, and has leadership experience in both member associations and NGOs.

Matt Pinnegar has moved on to a new role as CEO of the Australian Local Government Association in Canberra.

Warren Mundine takes up role with CIS

Liberal think tank the Centre for Independent Studies has appointed Bundjalung man Nyunggai Warren Mundine as the new head of its Indigenous research program.

Mr Mundine is a former deputy mayor of Dubbo, and was national president of the ALP before quitting the party in 2012. He was also chair of the Abbott government’s Indigenous Advisory Council.

He will fill the role recently vacated by Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who resigned after winning preselection as a candidate for a Senate seat at the next federal election.

CIS Executive Director Tom Switzer said that Mr Mundine had been a leading player in Australia’s Indigenous affairs debate for decades.

“We know that Warren will bring considerable commitment, intelligence and abilities to continuing this important work, joining CIS’s long history of publicly advocating for improving the outcomes of Indigenous Australians,” he said.

Victoria appoints first Aboriginal water corporation chair

Gunditjmara man Rueben Berg is the new chair at Westernport Water.

The government-owned corporation is responsible for supplying drinking water, recycled water and sewerage services to Victoria’s western port region including Phillip Island.

Mr Berg is the first  Aboriginal chair of a water corporation in the state.

Water minister Lisa Neville said the appointment of 54 new board members last week would ensure Victoria’s 18 water corporations and nine Catchment Management Authorities better reflected the communities they represent. 

The appointments mean that 57 per cent of board directors and 59 per cent of CMA board members are now women.

The number of Aboriginal board members has also increased to 13 – up from 11 in 2019.

The new board members will be responsible for guiding Victoria’s water organisations through challenges such as climate change, a growing population, bushfire readiness and COVID-19 response. 

New mine rehabilitation commissioner for Qld

Director General of the Queensland Department of Natural Resources Mines and Energy James Purtill has been appointed as the state’s first Mine Rehabilitation Commissioner.

Mr Purtill is a senior executive with experience in the public and private sectors in Australian and overseas.

He was formerly the Director-General of Queensland’s Environmental Protection Agency and Queensland Public Service Commissioner. 

He takes up the role next month after legislation to improve rehabilitation regulation was passed in 2020. 

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon says Mr Purtill will provide scientific and technical research, advice and recommendations for government and industry.

“As commissioner, Mr Purtill will engage with community, industry, academics, research organisations, environmental, scientific groups and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on resource rehabilitation,” she said.

“It’s absolutely critical that mine rehabilitation is guided by independent, scientific rigour and best practice. Mr Purtill’s experience will put him in good stead to create opportunities that will protect our environment and drive new economies.”

The Queensland government is investing $15.5 million to address rehabilitation of abandoned mines.

Senior public appointments in Queensland

The former managing director of the Commonwealth Bank Australia in the Americas  Leon Allen has been appointed the state’s Under Treasurer.

Since being appointed Deputy Under Treasurer in 2020 Mr Allen has played a key role in in supporting the economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic Treasury’s strategic plan and workforce development. 

Paul Martyn  has been appointed Director-General of the  Department of Energy and Public Works.

Mr Martyn has a 24-year career within the Queensland public sector, with senior roles in a wide range of economic agencies covering industries including agriculture, mining, energy, tourism and technology.

Dr Linda Colley will take up the role of Special Commissioner Equity and Diversity with the Public Service Commission.

Her research interests include gender and public sector management, and she has conducted research projects with all Australian public service jurisdictions.

Dr Colley is Chair of the Work Health and Safety Board, and worked in employment policy and practice during her previous public sector career.

New GM appointed at Huon Valley Council

Former TasWater manager Jason Browne is Huon Valley Council’s new GM, after his appointment sparked a review of recruitment processes and complaints to the Director of Government about alleged leaks.

Mr Browne has more than 4 years’ service with TasWater as business performance manager, where he was responsible for leading corporate strategy, business performance and innovation.

He also acted as CFO with the water and sewage utility.

Prior to TasWater, Mr Browne was CFO at Glenorchy City Council.

Mayor Bec Enders said in managing the recruitment process Council had been “cognisant and diligent”.

“Council will be fully transparent with the director and has provided to date full access to their records and will continue to do so,” she said.

Cr Enders said Mr Browne, who took up the position this week, would ensure council is ready to take on the future forecast of population growth and the need to be agile in a fast changing environment.

Meanwhile, Huon Valley has also recruited Lachlan Kranz to its executive leadership team as Director Infrastructure Services.

New directors at Wingecarribee

Wingecarribee Shire General Manager Lisa Miscamble has announced the appointment of three directors as part of the newly revised council structure adopted in July.

Geoff King has been appointed Director Communities and Place; Carmel Foster is the new Director Corporate Strategy and Resourcing; and Karin Targa assumes the role of Director Service Delivery and Projects.

Mr King previously led the City Strategy Unit at the City of Parramatta and Ms Foster was the Corporate Services Group Manager at Port Stephens Council.

Ms Targa has held roles at Bayside and the former Rockdale Council, Blue Mountains, City of Thuringowa and City of Moreland Councils in Victoria. Most recently she was City Projects Director and Director of City Operations at Bayside.

Marissa Racomelara and Malcolm Ryan will continue as interim Deputy General Managers until the commencement of the new Directors in October.