Corporate structure

Mr Ken Gouldthorp

The Office of the CEO provides executive and administrative support to the Mayor and Councillors, drives strategic direction-setting to ensure the successful operation of Council, and effectively manages all organisational and legislative responsibilities.

The Office of CEO oversees:

• the operational responsibilities of the Disaster Management branch and Far North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (FNQROC), and
• leading the six directors of the Executive Leadership Team.

Director, Mr Nick Masasso

The Economic Development and Advocacy Directorate works to deliver a prosperous environment for business and industry, enabling growth and wealth creation for our residents by creating a strong, diversified and growing economy through:

• diverse and secure employment opportunities
• a foundation for new and existing businesses to grow and succeed
• advocacy for priority issues
• the attraction and retention of investment.

Director, Mr Destry Puia

The Lifestyle and Community Directorate celebrates and strengthens our quality of life and community spirit by creating opportunities for residents and visitors to be active, informed and involved in the life of our region. It ensures our community resources such facilities, events, festivals, and activities - are safe, accessible and inclusive. Services and programs are delivered by this directorate’s three branches:

Community Life

• Community Partnerships (grants)
• Community safety
• Animal management
• Regulated parking
• Community Development (including access & equity)
• Green Space Our Place program
• Natural Assets Management & Vector Control

Community Spaces

• Community planning
• Community facilities
• Leisure venues
• Parks & open spaces

Creative Life

• Creative venues and facilities: Tanks Arts Centre, Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre, Munro Martin Parklands, Cairns Performing Arts Centre, and Cairns Gallery Precinct (in development)
• Ticketlink
• Library services
• Cultural planning
• Management of RADF and Cultural Infrastructure Grants
• Cairns Festival & Cairns Children's Festival
• Management of cultural and heritage assets
• School of Arts and Cairns Museum
• ANZAC Centenary Trails

Chief Financial Officer, Ms Lisa Whitton

The Finance and Business Services Directorate works across all areas of Council to ensure the effective procurement, financial sustainability and technological capability of our operations. Its four branches provide essential internal services that support the organisation to deliver services to the community

Information & Technology Services branch

• Technology management
• Data management
• Project management

Finance branch

• Management, financial and asset accounting functions
• Delivering long and short term financial forecasts, taxation and treasury services
• Providing fiscal assistance to all internal departments
• Budget preparation and monitoring
• Statutory and monthly financial reporting

Revenue & Business Support branch

• Revenue collections
• Business administration & support
• Regulatory administration

Procurement & Payables branch

• Strategic oversight and guidance for all procurement and contracting activities for Council in accordance with all legislative requirements
• Effective management of Council’s payment to suppliers
• Efficient and effective management of Council inventory

Director, Ms Holly McBride

The People and Organisational Performance Directorate ensures the workforce is engaged to deliver Council’s vision of ‘Shaping the future’. It achieves this by recognising and building a contemporary workplace that prioritises the wellbeing, health and safety of our skilled and dedicated staff who are passionate about the community it serves. It comprises three branches:

Organisational Performance

• Organisational development
• Human resources
• Customer service
• Payroll
• Records
• Governance

Wellbeing, Health & Safety

• Lead Council’s safety culture of “Home Safe and Well Today and Everyday”
• Council’s Workplace Health and Safety System
• Provide specialist advice, guidance, and leadership in Workplace Health and Safety

Strategic Communications & Engagement

• Media and communications (media releases, public notices, e-newsletters, corporate publications, advertising, and social media)
• Council's corporate website
• Civic and community events (citizenship ceremonies, Australia Day Awards, Anzac Day, Seniors' Week, Mayor's Christmas Cheer Appeal, Carols by Candlelight)
• Community engagement

Director, Mr Mark Wuth

The Cairns Infrastructure and Assets Directorate is responsible for Council’s built environment portfolio, managing all stages of the community infrastructure program from planning and design through to construction, maintenance, and upgrades.

The portfolio covers transport, stormwater, water and wastewater, resource recovery, buildings, facilities, plant fleet and marine assets, which are managed by two sub-directorates:

• Engineering Services
• Service Delivery

Engineering Services sub-directorate

Associate Director - Mr Gagan Kang

Strategic Asset Management & Planning

• Setting the strategic asset management direction for the organisation and ensuring its implementation
• Ensure planning is in place for all Cairns Regional Council assets to meet the growth needs of the community

Major Projects 

• Delivery of Cairns Water Security Stage 1 (CWSS1)
• Delivery of Resource Recovery 2040 Roadmap (RR2040) Business Case

Project Management Office

• Project management, design, survey and construction phase services for Council's capital works.
• Delivery of new Council-built infrastructure and major upgrades.

Service Delivery sub-directorate

Associate Director, Ms Toni Veronese

Works 

• Capital works projects including roads, drains, parks and minor works
• Services external clients including Department of Transport and Main Roads.
• Maintenance of roads, drains, parks, foreshore and other infrastructure facilities.

Utility Services

• Producing, supplying and distributing potable (drinking) water
• Wastewater treatment, reticulation and recycled water services

Resource Recovery

• Management of Council waste collection, treatment, disposal and resource recovery services
• Council's four transfer stations
• Materials Recovery Facility, glass processing and Buy Back Shop

Business Performance & Compliance

• Drinking water quality and environmental management systems, regulatory reporting, policy advice, auditing, risk assessment, and incident response
• Quality and referable dam safety management systems, regulatory reporting, policy advice, auditing, and risk assessment
• Laboratory services
• Plumbing, drainage, and trade waste inspectors

Asset Services

• Building and facilities management
• Fleet workshop and logistics
• Electrical maintenance

Mechanical maintenance

Director, Dr Mark Davey

The Planning, Growth and Sustainability Directorate advances the organisation’s contribution to better outcomes for people, places, environment and the economy. It does this by overseeing the planning and development process from end to end – long term strategic growth and environmental design, planning, assessment and regulation.

The goal of the directorate is to protect and enhance our natural and built environment by planning, monitoring, applying and enforcing compliance with Local, State and Federal regulations and laws. This directorate’s three branches have a focus on liveability, sustainability and prosperity.

Growth & Sustainability 

• Strategic Planning - the planning scheme, growth and development policy, master plans, local plans.
• Sustainability initiatives, programs and strategies (biodiversity, climate change, energy management, mitigation, State of Environment reporting)
• City Architect - strategic architectural, urban design, sustainable design policy, building design guidelines.

Development & Planning (Development Assessment, Development Engineering and Infrastructure teams)

• Assessment of Development Applications for both planning and engineering
• Assessment of Siting Dispensations (Referral Agency Assessments), Liquor Licencing and Planning Certificates
• Post-approval process management and project management
• Pre-lodgement enquiries and general development enquiries
• Coordination and management of infrastructure through Infrastructure Agreements

Property Compliance

• Ensuring compliance with a broad range of regulations, including local laws, food safety, environmental protection, and public health requirements.
• Overseeing the facilitation of land tenure arrangements, including leases, land acquirement and disposal, and road licences and permits.
• Regulating and inspecting businesses in areas such as food services, personal appearance, and accommodation facilities.
• Managing compliance with planning and building approvals, including investigating unlawful development activities and environmental impacts.
• Providing guidance on local law permits, including footpath dining, advertising, and managing activities such as illegal camping and illegal dumping.
• Coordinating appeals related to penalty infringements and legislative notices issued by Council.