New planning director
A new director is set to lead Baw Baw Shire’s planning and development unit from next month.
James Reid will join council’s executive leadership team on December 14, taking up the planning and development director position.
The position has been vacant since Yasmin Woods resigned in July, after less than two years in the job.
Chief executive officer Mark Dupe said Ms Woods returned to Mornington “to explore other opportunities in the local area.”
Mr Reid will bring more than 30 years’ experience in strategic and statutory planning to council.
For the past decade Mr Reid has been a planning director at Ethos Urban (formerly Planisphere), a leading national consultancy firm that prioritises people-centred, sustainable planning and urban design.
Mr Reid has extensive experience in the local government sector, most recently as planning, building and health director at Yarra Ranges Shire Council.
He also has worked for municipalities in Victoria and Tasmania, managing large teams in planning, building, arts and culture, environment and health.
Mr Reid is the former Victorian Planning Institute Australia president, serving in the role from 2014-16, and before that was co-editor of industry magazine Planning News.
He has a bachelor degrees
in planning and design and town and regional planning.
At Baw Baw, he will lead teams in strategic and statutory planning, social and community planning, priority development, building and regulatory services, emergency management, public health, and community safety.
Mr Dupe said after a very thorough recruitment process, Mr Reid was a stand-out.
He said Mr Reid was eminently qualified and would bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the shire.
“His experience at Yarra
Ranges Shire means he is well-versed on the challenges and opportunities before rapidly growing peri-urban councils, while his time as a director at Ethos Urban saw him engage with both the public and private sector to deliver high-quality projects across Australia’s eastern states.
"I know James is looking forward to joining the team and engaging with our community, councillors and staff to deliver our community’s aspirations for future planning in Baw Baw Shire,” he said.