MOYNE Shire Council has appointed a new chief executive, Brett Davis, for a four-year term, following endorsement at Tuesday’s ordinary meeting.

Mr Davis has been serving as interim chief executive since April.

Mayor Ian Smith, said he and the councillor group were looking forward to continually working with Mr Davis, who prior to acting in the chief executive position had been Moyne’s director of economic development and planning since January 2020.

“Through the recruitment, we considered a number of high calibre applicants for the position and councillors have worked together in what has been a fantastic, seamless process,” Cr Smith said.

“The appointment of a CEO is one of the most important roles of councillors and we needed to be sure the successful candidate had the skills needed to help our communities in the recovery from the pandemic and to unlock the huge potential we have for growth – we have found that in Brett.

“Brett has already established relationships with the councillors and staff, and we look forward to those relationships developing further with him in his new role leading the organisation.”

Mr Davis has experience in project management, urban and regional planning, property, economic development and facilitation.

Prior to joining council in 2020, Mr Davis held a number of senior planning and leadership roles in the public and private sectors, as well as extensive experience in local government and industry.

He was regional executive director with the Victorian Planning Authority and has been a senior and sessional member at Planning Panels Victoria and has served on the Building Appeals Board.

Mr Davis said he was humbled and honoured by the appointment and excited to continue leading Moyne.

“Moyne is a great part of the world and I’m truly humbled that councillors have entrusted me to lead the organisation for the next four years,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to work with our team and the councillors to support our communities who have done it really tough over the past two years and are now feeling the pinch of ongoing housing and workforce shortages.

“There’s lots to do and I’m really confident that working together with our community we can foster real change and further unlock the enormous potential our region has.

“Its full steam ahead at Moyne, we have a record capital works program to roll-out over the next two years, fantastic community initiatives and of course working with neighbouring councils to overcome the challenges the region faces.

“I’m looking forward to getting on with the job.”

Moyne Shire Council will begin recruitment for a new director of economic development and planning soon, with Darby Lee continuing to act in the role until the process is finalised.