05 Apr, 2016

City of Adelaide Announces Director appointments

Following a major review of the City of Adelaide corporate structure, four new Executive positions, known as Directors have been filled and will replace the five previous General Manager roles.

City of Adelaide CEO Mark Goldstone said the new executive team with a combined experience of more than 100 years, has the right mix of skills to deliver on the Council’s Strategic Plan working across the organisation.

“The new executive team comes with decades of local government and private sector experience and I’m looking forward to working together to achieve great outcomes for the City,” said Mark.

“This is an exciting and challenging time for Council and its staff. We are undergoing significant reform, called for by our elected members and by the community.

“We are streamlining the structure of Council, creating cross functional portfolios to achieve costs-savings, reduce red tape and find efficiencies that will transform the way we interact with our residents, businesses, key stakeholders and visitors to our city,” he said.

“I want us to be a cohesive, informed organisation that works with the best interests of our City front of mind at all times.

“Our Council is fortunate to have a very talented, skilled and aspiring workforce and people will see over the coming months a new and reinvigorated Council administration.

“The restructure of the Council is very much focussed on outcomes and meeting the expectations of our key stakeholders, investors, citizens; residents, businesses and visitors.

“Staff will be led by a new team of directors and associate directors that will champion different ways of doing things, support great ideas and create opportunities for our talented workforce to show what they are capable of,” said Mark.

To date savings of over $1m have been found through the restructure and the realignment of portfolios, ensuring Council is more outwardly focussed on delivering quality services and outcomes.

The new Council structure will come into effect on 1 May with Directors joining the organisation over the next few months. See next page for the Director appointments and their profiles.

Clare Mockler - Director Community
Clare has been with City of Adelaide since January 2002 commencing in Customer Service. She has also held a variety of positions within Capital City Committee, Corporate and Strategic Planning and Office of the Lord Mayor as the Manager.
In January 2013, Clare was appointed to the position of Corporate Manager Strategy and Innovation which was a new position and Program and in 2014/15 she relieved as the Corporate Manager ICT. Clare has been acting as General Manager City Culture and Community Services since February 2015. She holds an Honours Degree in English, Postgraduate Diploma in Law, and a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management.

Beth Davidson-Park – Director Operations
Beth has considerable executive experience, most recently with Anglicare as General Manager Community and Housing and General Manager Community. Prior to this she was Director Strategy with Southern Cross Care. Beth also had 14 years’ experience with the City of Onkaparinga as General Manager Corporate and Community, General Manager City Services, General Manager Customer and Community, and Manager Organisational Development.
She was nominated as Telstra Business Woman of the Year (Hudson Community and Government Award) in 2006 and 2007 and has held a number of board positions.
Beth has a Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma in Information Management, and a Masters of Business Administration. She will take up her appointment from Tuesday 26 April.

Steven (Steve) Mathewson – Director Services
Steve has completed over eight years with the City of Onkaparinga (his second stint), most recently as Director Finance and Commercial and before that as Chief Financial Officer. From November 1998 to October 2007, Steve operated his own business – Innovision Enterprises – providing consultancy services for private, State and Local Government clients undertaking a large number of projects in strategic planning, financial planning and management, asset management, business analysis, and information systems management.
During his first period with City of Onkaparinga, Steve held the positions of Manager Information Services, Team Leader Applications Systems, GIS Co-ordinator, Manager Finance and Senior Accounting Officer.
Steve holds a Diploma in Accounting and was Accounting Student of the Year and Top Accounting Student. He will commence on 2 May.

Justin Commons – Director Growth
Justin is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Livingstone Shire Council (Qld). Livingstone is a medium sized rural Council with a fast growing population and considerable development.
Prior to holding the CEO role, Justin was Director Corporate Services and Deputy Chief Executive Officer. Justin was with the City of Prospect from November 2001 to March 2014 before moving to Queensland and held the positions of Director Business and Economic Development, Director Corporate Services and Major Projects, Director Major Projects, Director Corporate Services, General Manager Infrastructure and Corporate Services, and Director Financial and Administrative Services.
Justin holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) and a Graduate Certificate in Disaster Management. He is a Fellow Certified Practicing Accountant. He will commence on 6 June.