Alice Springs’ Robert Jennings named as new Gympie council CEO

The new leader of Gympie Regional Council, described as having a “genuineness” not often seen in CEOs, has revealed what his first job will be.

Gympie Regional Council has delved into the centre of the country in its search for a new chief executive officer.

Alice Springs Town Council CEO Robert Jennings has been appointed to Gympie’s top bureaucratic role, which has been vacant for almost one year.

It was left empty in January following the sudden departure of Shane Grey, who had been in the role for only 18 months.

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Mr Jennings has been in Alice Springs Council’s top job for more than three years, having joined them in August 2019.

Prior to taking the role he worked as CEO of Katherine Town Council for four years, and he CEO of the Shire of Nannup in Western Australia.

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Former Alice Springs CEO Robert Jennings, pictured with Mayor Glen Hartwig, is the council’s new chief executive.

He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture at Curtin University in 1997.

Mr Jennings then spent two years as a co-lecturer at the institution, before working in the private sector until 2008 as an architect and urban designer.

This included management on large scale projects involving affordable housing.

He joins the council at a time when it has been faced with significant internal challenges.

These include an “all time low” internal staff survey, and contentious pay negotiations which sparked staff protests, walkouts and a march down the city’s main street.

Mr Jennings said he was “seeing good things on the horizon”.

“Whatever work there needs to be done I’ll get on to that,” he said.

Alice Springs Town Council CEO Robert Jennings is filling the long-vacant role of CEO for Gympie Regional Council.

“From everyone I’ve met so far in my limited time here, they’ve been wonderful staff.”

The council had already laid some groundwork, he said.

“In terms of where we move in the future that’s something I think the council’s done a really strong job of, creating that customer-service orientation and to shape a council that’s financial (financially stable),” Mr Jennings said.

“I love working in regional councils because there’s the heart beat of Australia … in them.

“What’s important to me is to listen, to see what Gympie’s vision is and the elected members, their direction is.

“My first job is to listen.”

Mayor Glen Hartwig said there was a “genuineness to him you don’t often get in CEOs”.

“We’re really excited about the future under his leadership,” he said.

Mr Jennings is expected to start in early 2023.