The Barcoo Shire Councils leadership team is made up of a team of 5 with a wealth of knowledge bringing a collective of over 100 years experience to local government.
Michelle Webster - Interim Chief Executive Officer
Michelle has over 25+ years experience as a local government professional serving various communities. Prior to taking up the temporary role as Interim CEO at Barcoo, she spent 6 months as the Interim CEO at Hinchinbrook Shire Council. She semi-retired in mid 2022 after 14 years as a senior executive with Central Highlands Regional Council where she lived and worked within Central Queensland based in Emerald. Michelle has qualifications in Accounting, Leadership, Management, Project Management and Planning and is the holder of a Bachelor of Commerce degree. She is a graduate and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a board member of Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service and chair of their Audit and Risk Committee.
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Tony Klein - Group Manager Community Services
Tony has over 20 years Queensland Local Government experience predominantly working in senior management and leadership roles in rural areas, the likes of Yuleba, Roma, Gladstone, Toowoomba, Gayndah and now Jundah. His Local Government roles have mainly been in the community and corporate services areas, with his passion being in the community development space.
Tony came to the Barcoo on a 6 – 8 week contract basis back in October 2020 and has stayed with us since then. It’s safe to say he’s a country boy! Prior to his Local Government career Tony worked as a business advisor in Roma for a regional organisation of councils for almost ten years.
Tony believes that the Barcoo’s greatest asset is its pristine natural environment – beautiful waterways, perfect for our primary production and visitors to our shire. Tony is committed to helping the community and the organisation being the best it can.
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Bill Pitman - Operational Works Manager
Bill was born in Moree, NSW and moved to Queensland to work in 1973. Bill worked on several properties in the Barcoo region for a number of years before taking up a position on the Barcoo Shire Council in February 1985. Initially Bill worked on the Concreting Gang followed by truck driving on the Construction Gang. Bill then progressed to Foreman and worked in this role for a number of years until taking up the position of Town Services Manager. This led to Bills present position as Operational Works Manager beginning in August, 2006. Bill is married with three grown children all of whom spent their childhood in Jundah and attended Jundah State School.
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Chris Richards - Group Manager - Town & Rural Services
Chris grew up in the Barcoo region and returned back to the Barcoo Shire area in late 2011 with his wife Julie and 3 children Jamie, Jacob and Lillie, With Cooper then joined his family while Chris and family were living in Windorah.
Prior to returning to the Barcoo Shire Chris lived in Cardwell where he worked as a the Maintenance and Construction Supervisor for the Cassowary Coast Regional Council (CCRC). Towards the end of his time in CCRC he was heavily involved in the clean up after cyclone Yasi and the rebuilding of roads and infrastructure.
Chris has been involved in Local government and Councils since 1998, having 24 years’ experience with everything from labouring to managing projects from start to finish. Chris holds a Certificate 3 in both Water and Sewage, and Civil Construction.
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Brett Williams - Acting Chief Finance Officer
Brett has over 25 years of Local Government Experience working in both Queensland and New South Wales in management and leadership roles. His Local Government Experience have been mainly in Finance, Assets, IT, however, also has experience in Pest Control, Recycling/Waste, Stores, Water and Street Maintenance.
Brett came to Barcoo for 3 months in November 2020 and has stayed with us since then, it must be the peace and quiet. Prior to working in Local Government Brett has a vast array of roles from manager of Woolworths, furniture removalist, to serving 12 years in the Australia Army.
Brett believes that no problem can’t be solved if we all work together and believes this is the success to any Community.
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