Nikola Stepanov: Former integrity commissioner new head of planning department at Toowoomba council, reveals reason for career change

The state’s former integrity commissioner, who was at the centre of a major government scandal, has revealed why she decided to move into a new role with a Darling Downs council. Read her statement here:

Former Queensland Integrity Commissioner Dr Nikola Stepanov has spoken out for the first time since accepting a role at the Toowoomba Regional Council.

Dr Stepanov will replace Stewart Somers as the general manager of planning and development, making her one of the region’s most powerful public servants.

She was a key player in the integrity crisis that engulfed the state government involving the Office of the Integrity Commissioner and the Public Service Commission.

Dr Stepanov told The Chronicle in a statement the move to local government was a “natural choice” given her experience, which including providing advice to councils on more than 350 occasions during her previous role.

“My dad worked as a council electrician, including in Cloncurry, which gave me an understanding of what working for a council meant,” she said.

“I did consider a number of private and public roles before choosing Toowoomba Regional Council.

“In weighing up my decision, I was guided by a desire to be close to my family in Queensland, my commitment to rural and regional Queensland, and choosing a diverse and challenging role where I could make a difference at a local level.

“From 2018, when I first began providing advice to Queensland mayors and councillors, my natural affinity with the local government sector grew, as well as my admiration for the work of those employed or elected at local government level.

“I’ve seen some of the substantial issues being confronted, and overcome, by local governments on a daily basis.

“It is a really challenging environment, and well-run and well-managed councils make such a tremendous contribution to the lifestyle and wellbeing of their residents.”

Dr Stepanov, who starts the new role on October 31, said planning and development was the junction point of conflicting interests and that she would aim to achieve outcomes “for the benefit of the community”.

“It’s entirely natural for different parties to hold different views and to bring competing agendas to any discussion or decision,” she said.

“For example, what motivates a developer and the outcome they are seeking can be different from what members of the community want or what might be permissible under regulation.

“The first step is to recognise that inherent in the work of planning and development is that there are different agendas and competing interests, and then to strive to work together, for the benefit of the community overall, to find a middle ground and to strike the right balance.

“Relationships are the backbone to getting this right which is why I’m looking forward to meeting our mayor, councillors, leadership team, the planning and development team and all our staff, as well as getting out and meeting with our stakeholders and members of our community.”

Stepanov named new planning, development GM

Toowoomba Regional Council has appointed the former Queensland Integrity Commissioner as the new general manager of its planning and development department.

Dr Nikola Stepanov was named in the role on Tuesday, following what council CEO Brian Pidgeon called a “highly competitive nationwide recruitment process”.

It comes just a few days after the council revealed her predecessor Stewart Somers had delayed his retirement by months while the recruitment process continued.

“Dr Stepanov has many years of experience advising and working with local governments at a strategic and expert level,” Mr Pidgeon said.

“Most recently, Dr Stepanov was the Queensland Integrity Commissioner where she provided advice to local governments on confidential matters, including issues related to planning and development.”

Dr Stepanov was a key player in the integrity crisis that engulfed the state government involving the Office of the Integrity Commissioner and the Public Service Commission.

Integrity Commissioner Dr Nikola Stepanov. Picture: Liam Kidston

The former commissioner’s claims laptops and mobile phones had been seized were referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission in September 2021.

Dr Stepanov also raised concerns the executive officer may have released confidential information after discovering a number of emails had been copied, or blind copied, to a separate work account.

She remained in the role until July following her January resignation.

The state’s corruption watchdog determined in July the laptop’s removal was not a raid and “entirely ordinary”.

The CCC also found there was no evidence an executive officer within the integrity commissioner’s office had improperly disclosed information, or that current information security arrangements had not led to any inappropriate release of confidential information.

Mr Pidgeon said Dr Stepanov brought “tremendous value to our organisation”.

“Nikola’s extensive experience and skills will ensure that the Council’s Planning and Development Group and the development industry maintain a collaborative and constructive relationship that effectively balances economic and sustainable regional development,” he said.

“I’d also like to thank the outgoing general manager Stewart Somers for his service since 2008 and wish him all the best for his retirement.”

Her appointment was welcomed by Toowoomba president of the Urban Developers Institute of Australia Edward Hodge, who said he looked forward to seeing her address key issues affecting the region.

“The UDIA is looking forward to working with Dr Stepanov to build on the efforts that have been made this year to address housing supply shortages and other important issues in the development industry,” he said.

“On behalf of the UDIA, I would also like to thank Stewart Somers for his contribution to the city and wish him well in the future.”

Major developer Denis Wagner, who has been major critic of the council’s planning department in recent years, said Dr Stepanov’s appointment would allow for a “fresh set of eyes”.

“It’s good they have moved forward with the appointment of another planning general manager,” he said.

“It will be good to get fresh set of eyes on the processes that the council has adopted over the past couple of years.

“We hope the new director comes in with an open mind and looks to streamline the planning process to improve the prosperity of the region.”

Dr Stepanov will start with the council on October 31.