Margot Stork appointed as CEO of North Burnett Regional Council

After a rigorous recruitment process the North Burnett Regional Council has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer, ending a lengthy saga that saw the former Mayor and CEO throw the towel in just months apart.

North Burnett Regional Council has announced the appointment of its new CEO, ending a lengthy saga which began when both the former Mayor and CEO stepped down within just months.

Margot Stork came out on top of six short-listed candidates for leading role, which was cemented by the Mayor and five sitting councillors.

Newly appointed Mayor Les Hotz said his council treated the recruitment of the CEO as one of their biggest responsibilities.

“We needed to find someone who not only had the required government, financial and management skill sets, but someone who was a great communicator,” he said.

“Ms Stork displayed a warm and engaging personality and has demonstrated high standards of professional ethics.”

The soon-to-be-CEO has two decades of experience in similar roles in both local and state government.

The council’s shifting leadership follows the shock resignation of CEO Rachel Cooper in November last year, which came just two months after Mayor Rachel Chambers stepped down from the top job.

Cr Chambers announced her exit in an emotional video posted to Facebook, stating “life-changing” events triggered the unexpected move.

During 2021 the council demanded action from the Queensland Government on an “existential threat” to regional councils, which forced the North Burnett council to cut services in the region to survive.

Prior to the release of council’s 2021/22 budget, Cr Chambers led the Between a Rock and a Hard Place community consultation tour across Gayndah, Biggenden, Eidsvold, Monto, Mundubbera and Mt Perry, which revealed grave budgetary concerns for the North Burnett region.

Ms Stork has been appointed by the council under a four-year employment contract, which is set to start on May 23.