Golden Plains Shire Council has appointed Adam McSwain as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Adam will join Golden Plains Shire on 25 August from Hume City Council where he is currently the Director Infrastructure and Assets. He previously held a General Manager (Chief Executive Officer) role at Edwards River Council in New South Wales from 2017 to 2020. Adam has also held other Director level roles at Bayside City Council and Swan Hill Rural City Council. He holds a Master of Business Administration, Master of Politics and Public Policy and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
In a joint statement, Golden Plains Shire councillors expressed their support for the new CEO and their excitement about working collaboratively with him over the coming years.
“Adam brings extensive leadership experience to Golden Plains Shire, and we were very impressed with his focus on key priorities including financial sustainability, advocacy and overall organisational performance. He has a clear vision for Golden Plains Shire and we’re looking forward to working collaboratively with Adam and capitalising on the unique opportunities ahead,” they said.
In reflecting on the recruitment process, Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey commended councillors for their collaborative and professional approach that resulted in a unanimous decision on the CEO appointment.
“We extend a warm welcome to Adam and his family as he begins his tenure as CEO,” Cr Sharkey said.
“It’s fair to say that as a Council we’ve had some challenges in the first six months of our term, but in recent months the councillor group has engaged proactively in resetting itself and the way we work together, and I’m pleased to say this has continued through the recruitment process and our decision to appoint Adam as CEO,” he said.
Adam said he was ready to start working on delivering great outcomes for everyone in Golden Plains Shire.
“I’m really excited to work with the Golden Plains Councillors, staff and community to achieve some great outcomes,” he said.
“I’m particularly passionate about the work that regional Councils like Golden Plains do and the incredibly positive impact we can have on supporting the local community.”
Interim CEO Steve Sagona will remain in the role until Adam commences, and a brief handover period will ensure continuity and stability for the organisation.