Malouf to lead VicRoads
LEADING businessman and Kardinia Park Stadium Trust chairman Michael Malouf will take the reins as the head of VicRoads next week.
To his new role as chief executive, Mr Malouf will bring more than a decade of experience in local government as the CEO of Wyndham City Council and City of Greater Geelong.
Mr Malouf, who will continue in his trust role, has served as the CEO of the Carlton Football Club, managing director of Barwon Water, director of Southern West Water and been involved in the Geelong waterfront development.
The civil engineer was appointed for one year and will lead VicRoads on “the biggest maintenance and road management campaign in the organisation’s history” after the State Government allocated more than $941 million to regional roads in the 2018/19 Budget.
As of July 1, an “agency head of a substantial public authority” can be paid between $306,151 and $448,119, according to the Victorian Public Sector Commission.
Mr Malouf said he was aiming to create a safer and more reliable road network.
“No one likes getting stuck in traffic, and I’m excited to be here as VicRoads moves forward to create a smarter, safer and more reliable road network,” Mr Malouf said.
“I’ve spent many years working alongside VicRoads as a civil engineer. I understand where VicRoads has come from and the challenges the organisation has faced.”
Mr Malouf advocated for upgrades of the Western Ring Road and the Princes Freeway during his time leading the relevant councils.
But yesterday he was not in a position to detail which projects or upgrades in the Geelong region would be his focus.
“I haven’t started in the job and it would be unfair to pick any particular project,” he said.
Regional Roads Victoria, set up using $17.4 million from the state 2018/19 Budget, is expected to overhaul the way regional roads are managed and maintained.
“With the recent investment in maintenance, we can improve many vital roads, making them safer for the people who drive them every day,” Mr Malouf said.
Mr Malouf, a Wandana Heights resident, will commute to Melbourne for the role, which he begins on July 30. He replaces acting CEO Kerry Thompson.