Indigo Shire Council has appointed Gael Evans-Barr as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Ms Evans-Barr, currently Deputy Chief Executive Officer at AlburyCity, is an experienced regional executive whose career has spanned local and state government, public health, higher education, community development, and the not-for-profit sector.
“We received applications from a field of very high-quality candidates, and Council ran a robust and thorough recruitment process,” Mayor Cr Sophie Price said.
“Gael stood head and shoulders above the rest. She was by far the best candidate, bringing a wealth of senior leadership experience along with a genuine passion for engaging with and working alongside her community.”
At AlburyCity, Ms Evans-Barr leads the Business, Growth and Community portfolio, and has undertaken periods as Acting Chief Executive Officer. Before joining local government, she held senior executive roles with the Victorian Government, with responsibility for governance, strategy, regional engagement, organisational resilience, emergency response and major program delivery.
Her earlier career included leadership roles with Charles Sturt University, Bowls Australia and Cancer Council Queensland. Gael’s connection to Indigo Shire extends well beyond her professional career.
She is Vice Chair and a Board Member of Beechworth Health Service and served for ten years on the Beechworth Secondary College School Council, including eight years as President. She holds qualifications in business and law and a Master of Business Administration specialising in health and human services management and policy. She is also preparing to submit her PhD through Charles Sturt University, with research bringing together volunteerism, ageing and health through a public health and business lens.
“I love Indigo Shire, its people, its strong sense of place and the way its communities care deeply about their future. The opportunity to lead the Council in the community I call home is both exciting and humbling, and it was an opportunity I simply could not pass up,” Ms Evans-Barr said.
“I want to acknowledge outgoing CEO Trevor Ierino and the leadership he has provided to Indigo Shire. I am looking forward to building on his legacy and the strong foundation he has helped establish, while working with Councillors, staff and our communities to shape the next chapter for the Shire.
“There are so many opportunities ahead for Indigo, and there is something genuinely exciting about what we can achieve together. For me, it is about pursuing those opportunities with ambition while keeping a clear eye on long-term financial sustainability, strengthening the resilience and connections within our communities, and having the confidence to innovate and do things differently where it makes sense.”
Mayor Price also paid tribute to Trevor. “We thank him for his dedication, his integrity and the enormous contribution he has made to Indigo Shire, and wish him well for the future.”
