Executive Management Team – Responsibilities and Direct Reports

Noelene Duff Chief Executive Officer Prior to joining the City of Whitehorse in 2000, Noelene was Director of Customer Services at the City of Monash and had held management roles in State and Local Government including Senior Policy Adviser Department of the Premier and Cabinet and the Health Department of Victoria. She has also worked as a social worker in local government, the community sector and the voluntary sector.

Qualifications: Noelene has a Master in Business, Graduate Diploma in Business, Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts. Professional roles have included President of Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA), the national peak body for Local Government managers, and President of Local Government Professionals (LGPro), the Victorian association for local government professionals. She is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Institute of Public Affairs Australia,  Australian Institute of Management, LGMA and LGPro, as well as a member of the Box Hill Institute Board and of Council's Audit Committee. Noelene has also been appointed Vice President International on the International City Management Association (ICMA) Executive Board. She is also a member of the MAV Future of Local Government Strategic Change Group. Areas of responsibility: As CEO, Noelene is responsible for the overall management and performance of all Council operations. The four General Managers report to her and she is directly responsible for the Civic Services and Communications Departments. Direct reports: Tony De Fazio, Manager Civic Services; Sally Freud, Manager Communications; Jo George, Executive Assistant. Role of Civic Services and Communications Departments Civic Services is at the frontline of Council's operations. The department is responsible for customer/resident services, as well as the provision of governance advice and procedural matters, Civic Centre amenities services and print room operations. Civic Services operates Council's three customer service centres at Nunawading, Forest Hill and Box Hill. The Communications Department provides information on Council activities and services to the community, staff and media. The department facilitates advocacy, community engagement and consultation on a range of key services, activities, issues, projects and events.

Terry Wilkinson General Manager Human Services Prior to joining Whitehorse in 2003, Terry had broad experience working in the Human Services area of Local Government with positions at the City of Maroondah and the Shire of Yarra Ranges. She has also worked in not-for-profit child and family support agencies.

Qualifications: Graduate Diploma in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration. Areas of responsibility: Community Development, Aged and Disability Services, Health and Family Services, and Arts and Recreation Development. Direct reports: Debbie Seddon, Manager Community Development; Travis Heeney, Manager Home and Community Care; Tony Johnson, Manager Health and Family Services; Bill Morrison, Manager Arts and Recreation Development. Role of Human Services Division Council's Human Services division comprises four departments: Aged and Disability Services, Community Development, Health and Family Services, and Arts and Recreation Development. Human Services provides support services for the frail aged and/or people with disabilities, children, youth and families, public health services for all residents, community planning, social policy and community development activities, events, cultural facilities, arts programs, Council's aquatic centres, public golf course and community centre, as well as planning and policy development for parks, open space and recreation resources.

Peter Smith General Manager Corporate Services Peter came to Whitehorse in July 2007 following nine years at Telstra, most recently as General Manager Financial Assurance and Development. Prior to this he had held various corporate and financial roles with Eastman Kodak Asia Pacific in Tokyo and Kodak Australasia.

Qualifications: Bachelor of Commerce from Melbourne University, and a registered CPA with CPA Australia. Areas of responsibility: Finance and Information Services, Organisation Development, Compliance, and Property and Rates. Director reports: Marc Giglio, Manager Finance and Information Services; Pauline Bennett, Manager Organisation Development; Steven Morison, Manager Compliance; Tony Peak; Manager Property and Rates. Role of Corporate Services Division The Corporate Services division is responsible for managing Council's monetary transactions, computer systems, records, human resources, training, risk management, corporate projects, parking, local laws, animal management and school crossing supervision, and for co-ordinating rates, valuations, property management and GIS functions. This division is also responsible for ensuring Council's compliance in relation to Privacy, the Public Records Act and Record Management Standards.

Phil Warner General Manager Infrastructure Phil joined Whitehorse in 1995 and has held a number of different management positions within Council. Phil was appointed to his current position as General Manager Infrastructure in June 2003. He has extensive experience in local government management roles including Manager Strategic Projects and Manager Statutory and Development Services.

Qualifications: Diploma of Environmental Science, Graduate Diploma in Highway and Traffic Engineering and Diploma Company Directors Course. Fellow of LGPro and the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia. Areas of responsibility: Capital Works, Commercial Operations, City Works and ParksWide. Director reports: David Logan, Manager Capital Works; Ilias Kostopoulos, Manager City Works; Craig Medcalf, Manager ParksWide; Kris Briggs, Coordinator Recycling and Waste Centre. Role of Infrastructure Division Council's Infrastructure division comprises four departments: Capital Works, Commercial Operations, City Works, and ParksWide. It is primarily responsible for maintaining and upgrading Council's assets and infrastructure, the City's open space areas, the Whitehorse Recycling and Waste Centre as well as fleet of plant and vehicle assets.

Julie Reid General Manager City Development   Prior to joining Council in 2009, Julie worked at a number of other councils in Victoria, New South Wales and the United Kingdom including the City of Bayside, City of Westminster (UK), Lancashire County Council (UK), Wollondilly Shire Council, Gloucester Shire Council and City of Berwick. She has extensive experience in land use and environmental planning, strategy and policy development.

Qualifications: Julie has a Master of Planning, Bachelor of Arts (Urban Studies) and a Graduate Diploma in Management (Distinction). Areas of responsibility: Development Strategy and Business Services, Engineering and Environmental Services. Director reports: Ian Goodes, Manager Engineering and Environmental Services; Jeff Green, Manager City Planning; Sean Grogan, Municipal Building Surveyor; Will Gerhard; Coordinator, Business and Economic Development. Role of City Development Division Council's City Development division consists of three departments: Development, Strategy and Business Services; Engineering and Environmental Services; and Urban Design. The main areas of responsibility for this division include ensuring compliance with the Building Act, relevant planning legislation and planning permits, as well as transport, traffic, road safety, environmental, waste, asset management, and design and construction services, managing Council's Economic Development program, providing a range of services for more than 8000 businesses, streetscape and shopping centre redevelopment works, playground improvements and median and roadway planting.