communities | strategic teams

Managing for Flood, Fire and Famine in the Blink of an Eye

Posted on August 28, 2022 13 Comments

It’s never a dull moment running a local government. In the last two weeks, I have dealt with flooding, commenced preparing for the expected increase in bushfires this coming summer and attended Western Australia’s (WA) premier agricultural event. Community resilience is increasingly important on the back of an ever changing natural environment: there is increased […]

My Musings This Week – The Importance of Using the Word “Reset” During Negotiations

Posted on August 6, 2022 8 Comments

During the week, I met with Abbot John and his management team at New Norcia to discuss interests in common and a way forward together that embraces the future. New Norcia is an iconic town in Australia. It is our only monastic town, and as it turns out, is located within the local government district […]

On the farm, running a Local Government, then some downtime…

Posted on July 5, 2022 23 Comments

After 12 hour days this week, it was time to head to Jurien Bay and spend the next four days with the family. First though, some snaps through the week, this morning on the farm, where I am staying at the moment, and then at Jurien… So, it’s an extra long weekend for me. I […]

Julian Lennon Performs ‘IMAGINE’ for Global Citizen’s Stand Up For Ukraine w/Nuno Bettencourt

Posted on April 14, 2022 11 Comments

I thought I would share Julian’s public performance of his Dad’s truly great, beautiful and moving song from earlier this week… What Julian Says About His Moving Performance on His YouTube Page “The War on Ukraine is an unimaginable tragedy… As a human, and as an artist, I felt compelled to respond in the most […]

The One Responsibility Good Government Has…

Posted on August 28, 2021 10 Comments

I thought I would reshare a very short, but salient post of mine from several years ago… Thomas Jefferson once said: “The care of human life and happiness and not their destruction is the first and only legitimate object of good government.” Food for thought…

The Rest is Silence – In Memory of HMAS Sydney

Posted on May 4, 2021 29 Comments

The Rest Is Silence – Lest We Forget On 19 November 1941 during World War II, HMAS Sydney was involved in a mutually destructive engagement with the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran. The Sydney was lost with all hands (645 in all). Most of the German crew from the Kormoran survived. I have seen some of […]

What A Beautiful World (IGY) – Donald Fagan

Posted on February 7, 2021 6 Comments

One of my favourite bands is Steely Dan. Founding member Donald Fagan had a hit with IGY or what is also known as What A Beautiful World (from the Nightfly Album, which is considered one of pop music’s sneakiest masterpieces). Some say it’s a satirical take on the future of the world proposed by scientists […]

Community Resilience and Recovery During COVID-19

Posted on August 3, 2020 3 Comments

I thought I would share with you today a snapshot of what local government in Western Australia has undertaken to identify how its communities across this vast state feel about the pandemic and what is being done to address COVID-19 at the local level. Overall, 126 out of the 139 state districts participated in the […]

The One Responsibility Good Government Has…

Posted on September 18, 2018 Leave a Comment

Thomas Jefferson once said: “The care of human life and happiness and not their destruction is the first and only legitimate object of good government.” Food for thought…

Sandstone – My Next Acting CEO Role

Posted on January 23, 2016 Leave a Comment

From tomorrow I formally take up the reigns as the CEO at the Shire of Sandstone. Although this is in a temporary capacity, it’s another opportunity to revisit what I used to do as a full time career – CEO of a local government. Sandstone is in the Murchison Region of Western Australia, 700kms north […]