BARKLY Regional Council has announced the appointment of its new CEO on a social media post late yesterday afternoon.

Official Manager Peter Holt announced that Chris Kelly (pictured) will commence the helm role of the organisation on 1 July, with Jeff MacLeod continuing as Acting CEO until then.

Mr Kelly has previous experience in regional councils, namely the West Arnhem Regional Council (WARC) in Western Australia where he served as its Chief Operations Officer managing a porfolio spanning community services and remote operations.

Mr Holt says Mr Kelly’s strategic leadership in that role resulted in a significant cultural shift, elevating WARC’s engagement and alignment rating to the top 10 per cent nationally. Mr Kelly’s efforts also led to a 25 per cent decrease in staff turnover, saving around $1.5 million for WARC and fostered community rejuvenation through various infrastructure and community development projects.

Mr Kelly’s most recent role was CEO at Tropical Vets where he oversaw four businesses covering a vast 146,000 square kilometres and managing over 100 employees.

“With a proven track record of effective management and leadership in diverse settings, Chris Kelly is poised to lead Barkly Regional Council through the implementation of its 2024-25 Regional Plan with a refreshed focus on strategic development and community engagement,” said Official Manager Mr Holt.

“His expertise in driving organisational growth, fostering positive workplace cultures and implementing strategic initiatives align seamlessly with the Council’s vision, promising a transformative journey ahead.”