Paul Makin

Journalist

As far as Council meetings go, todays once a month get together of the Mayor and Councillors was very pedestrian.

No argy-bargy and raised voices with just four items, mostly housekeeping, passing unanimously with Councillor Peter McKeown on Zoom coming in loud and clear.

The only thing different about this meeting was who was sitting near the Mayor for the very first time. The new CEO Ms Rachel Brophy.

Ms Brophy has only been in the job for eight days and this was her virgin voyage on the good ship Douglas Shire. 

Has impressive track record

Ms Brophy has over 15 years’ experience as a CEO and Corporate Executive in both State and Local Government with expertise in law, financial management, marketing, and business management.

According to Council she is a proven strategic thinker and facilitator for change, with an impressive track record of building strong stakeholder relationships and high-performing teams. She most recently held the CEO position at North Burnett Regional Council near Bundaberg.

Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said he was looking forward to working closely with such a highly respected leader. “I believe we’ll be in incredibly good hands with Rachel at the helm” he said.

And she’s an AFL fan

The new CEO and I share a passion for the Adelaide Crows and she made the offer of a footy scarf which lives in her office, any time I wish to borrow it. Thanks, I have my own, but the new CEO is obviously a person with great taste in footy teams.

We thank Ms Brophy who took time out to chat to Newsport after her first Council meeting where we discovered she virtually ‘willed’ herself to the Douglas Shire.