Cairns Regional Council appoints Ken Gouldthorp as CEO in shock move

Cairns Regional Council has revealed its new chief executive after an extensive search, in a move that has surprised some.

Cairns Regional Council has appointed a new top boss today with a controversial frontrunner missing out on the key posting.

At council’s special meeting on Thursday, councillors voted to appoint Ken Gouldthorp as its new chief executive.

John Andrejic, who was appointed interim chief executive under controversial circumstances, missed out on the job.

Mr Gouldthorp has spent more than two decades in local government, most recently as the interim chief executive at Isaac Regional Council.

He has previously served as chief executive at North Sydney, Mackay and Toowoomba councils.

There are parallels between his experience in Toowoomba and the work he will be undertaking in Cairns.

Ken Gouldthorp has been appointed as Cairns Regional Council’s new chief executive.

His time at Toowoomba Regional Council included co-ordinating local disaster responses during the devastating Jaunary 2011 floods, which inundated the city and the Lockyer Valley, causing billions of dollars in damage.

After the floods, he was responsible for implementing a $175m infrastructure flood recovery program while maintaining the council’s ongoing annual capital works program.

His duties also included securing the Garden City’s long-term water supply, negotiating commercial terms for the acquisition of a pipeline to pump water from Wivenhoe Dam to the region’s largest water supply dam.

Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said this was a critical period for council and the city, with a range of significant infrastructure challenges and the imminent cyclone season.

“Mr Gouldthorp has an understanding of the challenges faced by local governments and the delivery of major infrastructure projects, as well as experience in disaster recovery.”

Mr Gouldthorp is expected to take up his new appointment next month.

In the interim, Christine Posgate will serve as acting chief executive.

It comes after Mayor Amy Eden chaired a four-personal panel that named her former campaign adviser, John Andrejic, as interim CEO in May, with some councillors questioning the “integrity and ethics” of the selection process at the time.

Cairns Regional Council interim chief executive John Andrejic at the Cairns Regional Council ordinary meeting. Picture: Brendan Radke

But following a council vote to dissolve Ms Eden’s panel in August, recruitment company Davidson has guided the search for the council’s next chief executive with the mayor recused from any meetings or interviews with candidates.

It was expected that Deputy Mayor Brett Olds will chair a special meeting in the chambers on Thursday morning with a permanent CEO to be announced soon after.

Cairns Regional Council Mayor Amy Eden and CEO John Andrejic during the ordinary Council meeting on June 5.

Mr Andrejic, who didn’t attend a council meeting on Wednesday, applied for the job but is considered unlikely to assume the position which pays around $420,000 per year.

A council spokesman said the interim chief executive was currently “on leave” and confirmed he would not be at work on Thursday.

Mr Andrejic’s influence helped Ms Eden become mayor this year but has also sparked controversies.

In February, he became embroiled in a “profanity-laden” argument with former mayor and friend Bob Manning after placing a Team Eden corflute outside his home, leading to a police report.

Cairns Regional Council CEO John Andrejic during the ordinary Council meeting on June 5th. Picture Emily Barker.

In June, conflict of interest concerns relating to his appointment drew the attention of Local Government Minister Meaghan Scanlon, who confirmed that the matter had been referred to the state’s top anti-corruption watchdog, the Crime and Corruption Commission.

There was no allegation of any wrongdoing against Mr Andrejic.

When asked if she had been contacted by the CCC that month, Ms Eden sensationally walked out of a press conference rather than answer the question, before requesting that it be sent in an email instead.

In August, the chartered accountant drew criticism for approving a two-day, $30,000 ratepayer funded workshop for councillors at a five-star luxury “adults only” resort in Palm Cove.

Cairns Regional Council Mayor Amy Eden and CEO John Andrejic during the ordinary Council meeting on June 5th. Picture Emily Barker.

Mr Andrejic didn’t attend the state election forum luncheon held in the city last Friday with several councillors sitting at a separate table to Ms Eden at the event.

The councillors left the debate early to attend a meeting regarding the crucial CEO appointment while the mayor stayed.

Council’s special meeting was held at 9am.

Mr Andrejic didn’t respond to calls prior to deadline.

A council spokesperson has previously said neither Mr Andrejic, nor Ms Eden had been contacted by the CCC.

Originally published as Cairns Regional Council appoints Ken Gouldthorp as CEO in shock move