Randwick Council name new general manager as Therese Manns
Randwick Council has named the replacement for the long serving general manager Ray Brownlee
Southern Courier
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A SELF-CONFESSED horse race-loving country girl has been named as Randwick Council’s new general manager.
Therese Manns will replace the long serving Ray Brownlee PSM, who is leaving to take up the role of CEO at Northern Beaches Council.
Ms Manns is leaving her role as director of corporate services for Sutherland Shire Council.
“There is such a good sense of community here,” she said. “It is going to be an absolute delight. It’s a great opportunity and a privilege.”
Mayor Lindsay Shurey said Ms Manns was the standout candidate from the 100-plus applications.
“Her leadership qualities came through strongly,” Councillor Shurey said. “Also her personality and she is succinct and straight to the point.”
Ms Manns only moved to Sydney three years ago and has spent most of her life living and working in regional NSW.
She grew up in Coonamble, north of Dubbo, and has local government in her blood.
Her grandfather was a shire president and her father was a council general manager.
She is a chartered accountant with a degree in financial administration and has worked her way up through various local authorities including Lachlan Shire Council and Leeton Shire Council.
She was general manager of Broken Hill City Council from 2013 to 2015 and has been at Sutherland Shire Council for the last three years.
“It is not the first time I’ve been in the area,” Ms Manns said when asked of her first impressions of Randwick.
“I’ve enjoyed going to the races at Randwick, going to Coogee Beach and going out for dinner in Coogee.
“Being from the country we do like our racing. The Kosciuszko (race) is coming up so it’s a good time for a country girl to be starting at Randwick I guess.”
Asked if her country upbringing would make it difficult for her transition to Randwick, she said: “I think Sutherland has given me a great insight into larger local government organisations.
“And they’re not that different (regional and city councils). Smaller and larger councils are all grappling with their own challenges.
“When I look at councils like Sutherland and Randwick they have that regional country feel. “It comes down to that sense of community where people are really proud of their area.
“It would be naive to come into a job and expect to an expert on the first day. I will spend the next few months working with the mayor, councillors and staff to get an understanding of where we are up to with our strategic plans and delivering on what we’ve promised.”
Asked what people can expect from her, she said: “I believe in people and like seeing people grow and meet their professional and personal goals.
“I want to see the mayor and council kick goals for the community that elected them.
“I want to get behind them to make sure they deliver on what they promised.”
Ms Manns will start on November 12.
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