Alice Springs CEO Robert Jennings named as new Gympie council chief

Respected Alice Springs Town Council chief executive Robert Jennings has landed a new job, announcing he will be leaving the Territory for Queensland. Find out where.

Alice Springs Town Council chief executive Robert Jennings is leaving the post to take a job in Queensland.

Mr Jennings took on the Alice Springs chief executive job in 2019 after almost five years with Katherine Town Council.

Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson thanked Mr Jennings for his work during a tough time in the red centre.

“Robert has tackled challenges such as guiding Alice Springs through the pandemic and successfully managing initiatives which assisted the community weather the storm associated with Covid-19,” Mr Paterson said.

“He has helped in securing $135m from the federal government through the Central Australian Plan.

“Robert has established a liveability and sustainability 2030 strategic plan, asset management plan, a long-term financial plan and an operational business plan.

“We also thank Robert for getting projects underway such as the parks masterplan, aquatic and leisure centre works and the skatepark.

Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson

“On a personal level I will miss the close working relationship we have developed in Robert’s time here and I wish him every success.”

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

He 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 Gympie Council at a time of 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 paid tribute to his team at Alice Springs and said he was “seeing good things on the horizon” in his new job.

“I would like to thank my dedicated team who have supported me so ably and have been with me through my time as CEO,” he said.

“Whatever work there needs to be done in Gympie I’ll get on to that.

“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.”

Gympie 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’s departure date from Alice Springs is not clear but he is expected to start at Gympie in early 2023.