Organisational structure
Surf Coast Shire is headed by the Chief Executive Officer and divided into three divisions, each the responsibility of a General Manager. Together they make up the Executive Management Team.
Contact a member of the Executive Management Team on (03) 5261 0600 or at info@surfcoast.vic.gov.au.
Download the organisational structure(PDF, 202KB)
Robyn Seymour
Chief Executive Officer
The role of the CEO is to take responsibility for leading and managing the organisation to ensure implementation of the goals and strategies endorsed by Council. In doing so, the CEO creates a climate for good democratic governance and promotion of the principles of fairness, equality, openness, accountability and transparency within the organisation to assist Councillors to govern effectively, as required under the Local Government Act (2020).
Gail Gatt
General Manager - Strategy and Effectiveness
This division aims to provide the centre of excellence that sets the framework to ensure that we are achieving our goals and providing high quality services within our budget. This division will build on our work in recent years in the areas of business improvement, people and culture, finance, project management and delivery, governance and technology. These functions will unite to ensure we’re an organisation that stays focused on delivering Council’s goals, does so efficiently and realises the benefits to our community. We see it as helping set the goals and future direction of the organisation, being a performance enabler and holding the organisation accountable for achieving the outcomes we have committed to achieving. This division is critical to our ability to be our best now and into the future.
Chris Pike
General Manager - Placemaking and Environment
Placemaking and Environment: The aim of this centre of excellence is to continue to support how our shire develops and evolves as a community and a place. It is where priorities such as planning that is truly integrated and work closely with our assets and engineering team, environment, sustainability and economic development to lead and support and realise our community aspirations. This includes how people get around as well ensuring that things function in the way they need to. In summary it is all of those things that shape and grow our community to ensure Surf Coast Shire is thriving and great place to live now and into the future.
Damian Waight
General Manager - Community Life
This portfolio supports people to have a great life - whether it’s in our parks and facilities or through the services we provide from early childhood to environmental health. It includes how we support people to make the most of their lives in Surf Coast Shire. A big part of this work is communication and community engagement, helping customers with their enquiries and supporting communities to achieve more themselves. And there is a focus on safety through emergency management, building and ranger services as well as maintaining our roads, trees, reserves and gardens. The four departments in this division are: Operations, Community Safety, Community Support and Community Strengthening.