Organisational Structure and Senior Staff

Meredith Wallace, General Manager

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Our General Manager Meredith Wallace was appointed in 2016 to establish and lead Bayside Council.

With 35 years of experience and a strong connection with our diverse community, Meredith is a respected leader in NSW local government.

Meredith is responsible for executing the Bayside Council's decisions, while making sure the organisation is efficient and effective. Meredith is a people-focused leader who believes our officers are our most important asset, and key to achieving Bayside’s goals and aspirations.

Director City Futures - Peter Barber

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As Director City Futures, Peter is responsible for Strategic Planning, Development Services and City Infrastructure, servicing a forecast population size of 213,000 by 2036.

Peter has held management and senior leadership roles in NSW Local Government since 2000. His expertise in planning and development extends across the areas of development assessment, building certification, regulatory compliance, strategic planning, environmental science and traffic and parking management. He has a strong track record of collaboration with Government agencies, the Greater Sydney Commission and the development sector.

Peter was appointed Director City Futures in August 2020 and his role is pivotal to the delivery on the planned growth and development of Bayside.

Director City Life - Debra Dawson

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As Director City Life, Debra is responsible for Community Life, Compliance & Community Safety, Environment & Resilience, Libraries & Lifestyle, serving our population of more than 179,000 residents annually.

With over 21 years’ experience in managing community programs across metropolitan Sydney and 14 years’ experience in Government, Debra brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to lead our City Life directorate.

Debra was appointed Director City Life in January 2017.

Director City Performance - Richard Sheridan

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As Director City Performance, Richard is responsible for the Customer Experience, Finance, Governance and Risk, Information Technology, Property, and Procurement & Fleet functions, servicing our dynamic organisation of more than 850 employees.

Richard has a strong combination of experience in Local Government and ASX listed companies, where he has demonstrated expertise in business mergers and amalgamations, the implementation of large-scale IT projects, and as an expert in financial sustainability and service planning. Richard has been a valued member of the executive in the private sector and public service for the past 25 years.

Richard was appointed Director City Performance in October 2022.

Director City Presentation - Colin Clissold

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As Director City Presentation, Colin is responsible for City Works, Waste & Cleansing, Parks & Open Space, and Community Nursery - servicing a combined land area of 5,538 hectares.

With over 28 years’ experience at both Senior Management and Executive Level within Local Government, Colin has robust commercial, operational and logistic experience with a strong track record in business improvement delivering innovative service solutions.

Colin was appointed Director City Presentation in April 2017.