New CEO appointed at Ararat Rural City Council

Ararat Rural City Council Mayor, Cr Gwenda Allgood made the announcement at the August Council meeting.

“The Council is very happy with Dr Harrison’s appointment,” Cr Allgood said.

“With extensive experience in senior management and a good knowledge of our region, Tim will be able to lead the Council in meeting the challenges and opportunities of the future.”

The appointment follows a national search for a new CEO which attracted a strong field of well credentialed candidates.

Dr Harrison comes to the CEO role at Ararat Rural City Council after a diverse career.

His previous positions have included senior roles in local government in Victoria and Queensland, developing social enterprise organisations in the community sector, as well as leadership, research and engagement roles in higher education.

Cr Allgood said the incoming CEO’s local government experience includes senior roles in engineering, service delivery and corporate strategy.

“Tim holds a qualification in engineering, a Master of Business Administration and a doctorate where he explored relationships between social policy and community engagement,” she said.

“He is the author of government-funded reports on regional social service delivery and regional population dispersal and he has undertaken significant economic development projects in regional communities.”

Dr Harrison also established the Regional Incubator for Social and Economic Research (RISER) and remains passionate about working with communities throughout rural and regional Victoria.

Dr Harrison said he enjoys life in rural Victoria and is very much a regional person having grown up in rural Queensland, the Wimmera and Ballarat.

“I am honoured to have been appointed to the CEO role at Ararat Rural City Council and I am very excited about working with the Council and Council staff to deliver important outcomes for our community,” he said.

“I have spent almost all of my working life in rural and regional Australia, so I am looking forward to getting to know the people and places of Ararat Rural City.”

In his spare time, Dr Harrison describes himself as a Rugby Union tragic, having played and coached the game over the years, although he has a very soft spot for the Western Bulldogs and gets to their games whenever he can. He also enjoys fishing and spending time in the bush.

Cr Allgood said Dr Harrison will commence in the role on October 1, 2018. Interim CEO, Allan Bawden will continue in the role until that time and arrange a handover to the incoming CEO.

“Allan has been a wonderful presence at Council over the past 12 months,” Cr Allgood said.

“He has achieved many goals during his short time with us, including assisting in the implementation of Commission of Inquiry’s recommendations.

“On behalf of the Council I wish to thank him for the dedication he has given to the role and wish him the best for the future.”