Mayor and CEO overview

Welcome to Council’s online Annual Report 2020–2021 in which we account for our performance, our achievements and setbacks. We also report on how we have addressed emerging challenges and provided stewardship over how public monies and resources have been utilised in the community’s interests.

Play the video below for our key projects and activities in 2020–21 including:

  • COVID-19 Pandemic — we increased our COVID-19 Response and Recovery Package from $7.3 million to $8.9 million.
  • Sustainability — our commitment to achieve zero net corporate emissions by 2025 and zero net community emissions by 2030 remains on track.
  • Community Vision — the Glen Eira 2040 Community Vision was endorsed at a Council Meeting in May 2021.
  • Protecting trees — we adopted a new Classified Tree Local Law to protect significant tree species from being damaged or removed from public or privately-owned land.
  • Finances — we spent just over $32.48 million in capital works, which is investing in the facilities and assets that help to make Glen Eira great.

Achievement against our Council and Community Plan

In 2020–21, Council achieved 54 out of the 68 commitments in the 2020–21 Action Plan of the Glen Eira Council and Community Plan 2017–2021. Of the 14 items not delivered, six were outside of Council’s control and four were deferred or re-prioritised due to the impact of COVID-19. Across the lifespan of the Plan, Council achieved 173 out of 223 commitments (77.6%). Our major achievements included endorsing our new Glen Eira Our Climate Change Strategy 2021–2025; finalising our Glen Eira 2040 Community Vision; adopting a new Classified Tree Local Law; and implementing a Classified Tree Register. A new four-year Council Plan will be endorsed in October 2021.

For more information see Council and Community Plan.

COVID-19 and our response

The global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continued to challenge us throughout 2020 and into 2021. Our annual Budget reflects this and some of our planned major works have been delayed. We anticipate we will continue to feel the effects of COVID-19 for many years to come.
View Council’s response to COVID-19 here

Engagement

Although challenging in the COVID-19 environment, we consulted with the community on 31 projects, which included advisory groups and committees; community surveys; questionnaires; feedback submissions; and virtual public forums. Community consultation is a vital part of our planning and decision-making processes. It helps us to understand community priorities and issues, and ensures community involvement. We are committed to engaging with our community through best practice consultation methods to achieve the best outcomes.

See Our engagement with our community.

Online services

With COVID-19 impacting face-to-face service delivery, it has been more important than ever to adopt a continuous improvement approach to our online service offerings. This year, 43.5 per cent of transactions with Council were through online channels, including our live chatbot which was introduced in February 2021. To make it more convenient for people to transact, we installed a pilot kiosk at our Carnegie Library and Community Centre. You can book a hard rubbish collection; report an issue; have your say on current projects; view advertised planning applications and more. We have uplifted online support for our local businesses and continue to review our online content for improvements based on community feedback. There has also been work going on behind the scenes to improve service delivery and provide timely outcomes, such as integrating Microsoft Outlook into our systems to enable more efficient tracking of email requests. This will help us connect our customers with the right service to address their needs and communicate with them quicker. We have also used technology to improve how we can support our community to stay connected and active. The GEL Anywhere digital platform allows members to train from home and access pre-recorded material such as GEL Anywhere chat series (psychologist) and GEL Bites (nutrition). We have implemented digital ways to offer arts and cultural experiences for the community to enjoy and engage with. We have a range of exciting online programs and events as well as the Libraries@Home service to extend your ability to access library services. We are continuing to work with the Glen Eira community and use technology to improve choice and responsiveness in our service delivery.

Development and managing growth

The number of Council’s planning decisions appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has steadily reduced. We have gone from 214 appeals reviewed in 2015–16 to 32 applications reviewed 2020–21. This year saw us reset the direction for the Bentleigh and Carnegie Activity Centres with the decision to prepare a municipal-wide Housing Strategy that will consider neighbourhood character and provide the supporting rationale for revised Structure Plans (see Key Challenges for more information). We commenced community engagement for our draft Built Form Frameworks for three neighbourhood activity centres — Caulfield South, Caulfield Park and Bentleigh East. The draft Frameworks are the first step towards new planning controls to help us manage development in these major activity centres. We have completed three Planning Scheme Amendments to introduce the heritage overlay in parts of the commercial areas in Murrumbeena, Bentleigh and Carnegie as well as residential heritage in Bentleigh. Independent planning panels supported Council’s proposals and the amendments were adopted by Council in late 2020 and early 2021. The East Village Planning Scheme Amendment (C155) was approved by the Minister of Planning in 2020–2021. The Amendment will deliver a significant benefit to the Victorian economy and provide local jobs, housing, open space, community facilities and a second campus for McKinnon Secondary College.

Governance

Glen Eira’s 2020–2024 Council was officially sworn in at a Special Council Meeting on Monday 9 November, following the October Council elections. Five new Councillors were elected, and four former Councillors re-elected to represent the Glen Eira community for the next four years. The Glen Eira 2040 Community Vision — a 20-year vision created by the community to help guide Council in planning for the future — was endorsed by Council on Wednesday 19 May 2021. This Vision informs the new Glen Eira Council Plan 2021–2025 that will be adopted by Council in October 2021, following extensive community consultation. Our engagement process was diverse and co-ordinated through a range on interactions, including face-to-face, online, hard copy, email and telephone.

Advocacy

An important part of our role is advocating in the interests of our community. The Glen Eira Council and Community Plan 2017–2021 identifies advocacy as an important strategy in achieving a City that is liveable, accessible, safe, sustainable and engaged. Across the last financial year, we successfully secured $16.53 million in government funding. This included $1 million from the State Government towards the upgrade of the new Lord Reserve Pavilion, which will feature environmentally sustainable design initiatives, six multi-purpose change areas with unisex bathrooms, a social space and kitchen/kiosk area, storage areas, amenities for officials and public toilets. In addition to this, the State Government committed a further $1 million to retrofit and enhance the pavilion at neighbouring Koornang Park. These enhancement works are now well underway, which will provide a redeveloped social space with viewing window, consolidated kitchen/kiosk area, improved storage and change areas, and upgrades to the grandstand area. We received Federal Government funding of $4 million and State Government funding of $2 million towards the new state-of-the-art Murrumbeena Community Hub. The new Hub will meet the growing needs of the tenant sporting clubs and provide opportunities for other community groups and organisations.

For more information see our Advocacy priorities.

Our Councillors

OUR CITY IS MADE UP OF THREE WARDS, WITH THREE COUNCILLORS ELECTED FOR EACH WARD. THE COUNCILLORS ELECT A MAYOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR IN NOVEMBER EACH YEAR.

THE FOLLOWING COUNCILLORS WERE ELECTED FOR FOUR-YEAR TERMS ON SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER 2020. THEY TOOK THEIR OATH OF OFFICE AT A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING ON MONDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2020.

CR MARY DELAHUNTY RESIGNED FROM COUNCIL EFFECTIVE 8 SEPTEMBER 2020. OF THE REMAINING EIGHT COUNCILLORS, CR CLAIRE DAVEY, CR JAMIE HYAMS, CR JOEL SILVER AND CR DAN SZTRAJT (DEPUTY MAYOR 2020) DID NOT STAND AS CANDIDATES FOR THE ELECTION HELD IN OCTOBER 2020. CR TONY ATHANASOPOULOS, CR ANNE-MARIE CADE, CR MARGARET ESAKOFF AND CR JIM MAGEE WERE SUCCESSFULLY RE-ELECTED FOR A FURTHER FOUR-YEAR TERM. THE OTHER FIVE SUCCESSFUL ELECTORAL CANDIDATES TO JOIN COUNCIL WERE CR SAM PARASOL, CR NEIL PILLING, CR LI ZHANG, CR SIMONE ZMOOD AND CR DAVID ZYNGIER.

Camden Ward

Councillor Sam Parasol


CR SAM PARASOL OAM JP

Cr Parasol was elected to Council in 2021.

Cr Sam Parasol has been a Camden Ward resident for more than 40 years. Family is very important to Cr Parasol who is married and has three married sons and seven grandchildren. Cr Parasol is passionate about people and our whole community and wants to continue to see it flourish.

Councillor Simone Zmood


CR SIMONE ZMOOD

Cr Zmood was elected to Council in 2021.

Cr Zmood is serving her first term on Council. Cr Zmood grew up in Glen Eira and is a long-term resident of Camden Ward and has found the area to be a wonderful place to live and raise her family.

Cr Zmood is a management consultant and has years of governance, strategy and financial experience with large companies, start-ups, not-for-profits and community groups in more than 20 industries.

Councillor David Zyngier


CR DAVID ZYNGIER

Camden Ward Councillor Dr David Zyngier spent his youth in Glen Eira and returned five years ago to Caulfield North. Cr Zyngier has worked in education for over 35 years, in schools and in teacher education. He has a Doctorate of Philosophy in Education. Cr Zyngier has been married for more than 40 years and has three children and five grandchildren.

Cr Zyngier volunteers for the Ardoch Foundation as a school facilitator for the anti-bullying foundation, Courage to Care, and delivers meals to residents in Glen Eira for the Father Bob Foundation.

Rosstown Ward

MAYOR 2020 AND 2021
CR MARGARET ESAKOFF

Cr Esakoff was elected Mayor in November 2020 for the 2020–21 Council year, now serving her fifth term as Mayor.

Cr Esakoff is a long-time Glen Eira resident. She went to school in Rosstown Ward and has lived there almost all her adult life. She is married with two children and three grandchildren.

Cr Esakoff has experience in business administration — having run a small business with her husband — and has worked in the publishing, advertising and radio/television industries.

Councillor Tony Athanasopoulos


CR TONY ATHANASOPOULOS

Cr Athanasopoulos joined Council in 2016 and was Mayor in 2018. He was born of two migrant parents from Greece and Italy. They worked hard to give their three boys the life they envied and taught them the importance of service.

Cr Athanasopoulos lives and works in Carnegie, running a family business with his wife Katherine. Recently they both welcomed young Dimitri into their world. Cr Athanasopoulos shares a position on the Chrisalis Foundation board, a not-for-profit foundation supporting young people with disabilities.

Councillor Neil Pilling


CR NEIL PILLING

Cr Pilling was re-elected to Council in 2021 and was Mayor in 2016.

Cr Pilling has lived in the Murrumbeena area for more than 20 years. With his children having attended the local primary school and an active involvement with local sporting groups at Duncan Mackinnon Reserve, he values and enjoys the sense of community the area offers.

Cr Pilling’s previous careers include IT consulting and working as a professional mountain guide in Nepal and Tasmania.

Tucker Ward


CR ANNE-MARIE CADE

Cr Cade is a lawyer who has lived in Glen Eira for more than 14 years. She has three children between the ages of 18 and 27.

Cr Cade ran her own law firm for more than 12 years and now works as a family law mediator and mentor. She is a Nationally Accredited Mediator and a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.

Councillor Jim Magee

DEPUTY MAYOR 2021
CR JIM MAGEE

Cr Magee emigrated from Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1970.

He has lived in Tucker Ward for more than 30 years. He is married to Claire and has two sons, Daniel and Joe.

Cr Magee is serving his 13th year on Council and was Mayor in 2015 and Deputy Mayor in 2017.

Councillor Li Zhang


CR LI ZHANG

Cr Zhang was elected to Council in 2020.

Cr Zhang is passionate about Glen Eira and is committed to helping make it Victoria’s best place to live, work and visit.

Cr Zhang has strong community connections from volunteering at schools, supporting multicultural artists, mentoring young people and looking after local senior citizens groups.

The Executive

THE CEO LEADS AN EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM WHICH INCLUDES FOUR DIRECTORS AND TWO EXECUTIVE MANAGERS. THE TEAM PLANS, CO-ORDINATES AND MONITORS THE PROGRESS OF COUNCIL’S GOALS AND STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND MANAGES DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS ACTIVITIES.

THE TEAM ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE CEO FOR EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF THEIR PORTFOLIOS AND THE COLLECTIVE DELIVERY OF COUNCIL’S INTERNAL TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM AND THE GLEN EIRA COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY PLAN.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
REBECCA MCKENZIE

Commenced position in February 2016

Rebecca is an accomplished leader with a successful executive career across three countries and three sectors. Before joining Council, her roles included CEO at Mitchell Shire Council and Director of Corporate Services at Yarra Ranges Council.

During an eight-year stint overseas, Rebecca held director-level roles in human resource management at Swindon Borough Council in the United Kingdom and the National University of Ireland in Dublin. In her early career, she worked in various roles with the Queensland Government.

Rebecca has a Bachelor of Arts (Griffith University), Graduate Certificate in Business Administration (Griffith University), Master of Science (Sheffield Hallam University UK) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is also Chair of the Board of Zoos Victoria.

DIRECTOR COMMUNITY WELLBEING
MARK SAUNDERS

Commenced position in December 2020

Mark joined Council in 2002. He has 20 years’ experience in senior community service roles within Local Government across of range services, including public health, community development, libraries, aged care as well as family, youth and children’s services. Mark has extensive experience in public health policy, social policy and emergency relief and recovery services.

Mark has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Health) (Swinburne University of Technology), Graduate Certificate Local Government Management (Deakin University) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

DIRECTOR CORPORATE SERVICES
PETER SWABEY

Commenced position in July 2016

Peter has more than 30 years’ experience in senior executive leadership roles, including general management, financial and company secretarial responsibilities in Local Government, banking and finance, and legal services industries. He has vast experience in financial and general management, including treasury, payroll and internal and external financial reporting requirements. Peter was our Chief Financial Officer from 2004 to 2016.

Peter has a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) (Monash University) and is a Certified Practising Accountant.

DIRECTOR INFRASTRUCTURE
AND OPEN SPACE
NIALL MCDONAGH

Commenced position in October 2020

Niall has 30 years’ experience working across and holding leadership positions at all levels of government. Niall started his career with the Australian Army, where he established his passion for combining civil engineering with helping the community. He also held a senior leadership role with the Office of Commonwealth Games Co-ordination, however most notable is his 20 years’ experience within the Local Government sector where he has gained outstanding skills across a variety of engineering disciplines, including: road safety; civil and structural design; coastal engineering; project management; waste services; infrastructure maintenance; construction; and policy and strategy development.

Since completing his MBA, Niall has gained experience beyond infrastructure and held director positions within the statutory and strategic planning area and also the local laws and corporate planning areas.

Niall has a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and a Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Monash University), and a Master of Business Administration (La Trobe University).

EXECUTIVE MANAGER
PEOPLE AND CULTURE
MARY-ANNE PALATSIDES

Commenced position in August 2016

Mary-Anne has more than 20 years’ experience in human resource management roles within Local Government. In her roles at the City of Melbourne, Knox City Council and now Glen Eira City Council, Mary-Anne has provided leadership in strategic and operational human resource management and organisational development at both a theoretical and practical level. Her level of expertise encompasses a range of HR specialisations, including industrial relations, leadership development, staff capability frameworks and development, employee engagement, workforce planning, attraction, retention and organisational and cultural development activities.

Mary-Anne has a strong drive and passion for making a difference in organisations by applying dedicated focus on people leadership practices and evolving organisational culture to enhance individual and team potential and performance.

Mary-Anne has a Master of Business Administration specialising in Human Resource Management (Deakin University), Bachelor of Applied Science (Victoria University), Diploma of Secondary Education (Victoria University) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

DIRECTOR PLANNING, PLACE
AND SUSTAINABILITY
RON TORRES

Commenced position in December 2014

Ron joined Council in 1996. He has more than 20 years’ experience in urban planning for inner-city and middle-ring municipalities. His career includes a range of management roles.

Ron has experience in statutory and strategic urban planning, Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) and planning panels. He has successfully delivered programs in strategic transport, climate strategy, animal management, activity centres and structure plans. Each of these is aimed to safeguard and develop community services and wellbeing.

Ron has a Bachelor of Planning and Design (The University of Melbourne).

CHIEF TRANSFORMATION OFFICER
KELLIE VISE

Commenced position in September 2020

Kellie is an experienced senior executive, specialising in business transformation, organisational change, customer experience and stakeholder engagement with more than 20 years of leadership experience across a range of sectors, including retail, utilities, Local Government and tertiary education.

Kellie has led a range of impactful strategic and transformational initiatives in regional and urban communities and has a strong commitment to social inclusion and self-determination.

Kellie has a Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma in Education and a Graduate Diploma in Business (La Trobe University) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Organisational structure*

*Organisational structure as at 30 June 2021.