Joe Calafiore refuses to answer questions about Geelong council search after Transport Accident Commission clue
Shrouded in secrecy, the search for a new boss of Geelong council will enter an eighth month. Now a clue has emerged on who may be a shortlisted candidate.
Geelong
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A City of Greater Geelong councillor employed by the Transport Accident Commission has twice declared a conflict of interest while councillors have discussed recruiting a new council chief executive behind closed doors.
Kylie Grzybek, who represents Geelong’s north at council and who is acting head of marketing, communications and external affairs at the TAC told the Geelong Advertiser she declared the conflict because she knows one of the candidates.
It comes just two months after TAC chief executive Joe Calafiore, who grew up in Geelong, announced he would leave the organisation when his replacement was found.
Ms Grzybek said she understood one of the shortlisted candidates worked at the TAC.
“I know one of the candidates that’s been shortlisted,” Ms Grzybek said.
“It’s my understanding it’s one of my colleagues at the TAC.”
Asked for more detail, Ms Grzybek said: “I actually shouldn’t be commenting any further than that.”
Geelong council has been without a permanent chief executive since September with council’s director of strategy, people and performance, Kaarina Phyland, stepping into the position after former chief executive Martin Cutter departed.
The Addy rang Mr Calafiore twice this week but he could not be reached for comment.
After the calls a TAC staffer told the Addy Mr Calafiore would not be available to comment about council’s search for a new chief executive officer.
When Mr Calafiore announced his resignation in January he wrote “the time was right”.
“After 13 years at the Transport Accident Commission and the last seven as the chief executive officer, I have decided the time is right to move on and I will be finishing up,” he wrote.
“For someone who grew up in Geelong, leading an organisation that has played a critical role in this city’s ongoing transformation was a joy to be involved in.”
Days after Mr Calafiore announced his resignation, the state government appointed monitors to oversee the entire organisation for a year.
It came after the chief municipal inspector looked into Geelong council and its chief executive search with a focus on integrity and transparency.
Asked about the process to find a permanent chief executive, deputy City of Greater Geelong Mayor, Anthony Aitken, said: “We’re really waiting for direction from the monitors and the minister for local government.”
Mr Calafiore, who holds a Masters of Commerce, was appointed to the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust in 2018 and continues to serve with the organisation tasked with the management of GMHBA Stadium.
He has held various roles with the TAC since 2008 including a senior corporate affairs manager and head of community relations.
Ms Grzybek declared a conflict of interest at the February council meeting, and again at the council meeting in late March, when her colleagues were due to discuss recruitment of a council chief executive in the confidential section of the meetings.
Geelong council monitor Peter Dorling, who oversaw the council when councillors were sacked in 2016, was present at council’s meeting in late March.
Originally published as Joe Calafiore refuses to answer questions about Geelong council search after Transport Accident Commission clue
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