Councillor Keith Rhoades - President

Cr Keith Rhoades AFSM was elected to the LGA Executive in 2008 and President of the Local Government Association in 2010.

A Councillor with Coffs Harbour City Council since 1991. Keith served as Deputy Mayor in 1999 and 2000 before being community elected as Mayor in 2004. He was re-elected as Mayor in 2008. Keith is currently the Chairman of the Country Mayors Association of NSW.

Cr Rhoades was the driving force behind creating Sports Tourism as an industry in Coffs Harbour in 1993. It now generates in excess of $40 million dollars into the local economy each year.

Cr Rhoades has been a fire-fighter with the NSW Fire Brigades for the past 35 years. Cr Rhoades was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal in 2005 for services to the community and fire service.

Cr Genia McCaffery - Immediate Past President

Cr McCaffery has been a member of the Local Government Association Executive since 1998, and was elected as President in October 2004. Cr McCaffery stepped down as President of the Local Government Association in 2010 and elected as President of the Australian Local Government Association in November 2010.

She is on the Board of the Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority, the NSW Environment Protection Authority, the NSW Environmental Trust.

Cr McCaffery was elected as full-time Mayor of North Sydney by popular vote in 1995 and was re-elected in 1999, 2004 and 2008.

She holds a Bachelor of Economics degree with Honours in government from the University of Sydney and began work as a researcher with the National Trust. Her experience spans work in youth issues, unemployment, and public advocacy.

Councillor Allan Ezzy - Vice President (Metro)

Councillor Allan Ezzy joined the LGA Executive in 1994 and previously served in 1990 for two years and was elected to Vice President (Metro) in October 2008.

A Councillor with Holroyd Council Councillor since 1977, Allan has served nine terms as mayor and three terms as deputy mayor.

With a particular interest in flooding and water issues, he is currently the State Chair of the Flood Mitigation Authority, Director of the Sydney Catchment Management Authority and Trustee of the Upper Parramatta River Catchment Trust.

A retired senior state prosecutor, Cr Ezzy holds qualifications in plumbing and drainage and   completed post graduate studies in management.

Councillor Allan Smith - Vice President (Country)

Councillor Allan Smith was elected to the LGA Executive in December 2000 and Vice President Country in 2010.

A councillor with Dubbo City Council since 1991, Allan served as deputy mayor between 1995 and 1999 and mayor between 2000 and 2002, he was re-elected Mayor in 2004 to 2007 and has been re-elected as Mayor again in 2009. 

Cr Smith is a member of several committees including the Zoological Parks Board of NSW, Statecover Mutual, Regional Development Australia, Chairman of the Roads and Transport Advisory Council of NSW, Member of the IPWEA's Roads Directorate

He also member on the Department of Local Government & Shires Association's Economic Committee, is a member of the Museums and Galleries Board of New South Wales, as well as the New South Wales Rural Fire Service Advisory Council, The NSW Bushfire Coordination Committee and NSW Fire Brigades Advisory Council.

Councillor John McInerney (Treasurer)

Cr John McInerney is an Architect and Town Planner with special interests in transport and heritage. He is a past National President of the Planning Institute of Australia and former Manager of Planning for the City of Sydney and City of Melbourne. Cr McInerney is committed to overhauling city planning instruments, developing his concept of "Sydney a City of Villages" and implementing an integrated transport strategy with emphasis on light rail and pedestrian/bike paths.

Councillor Graham Smith

Councillor Graham Smith is in his second term as a councillor on Cessnock City Council. He is also the chairman of Public Libraries NSW, a peak association, and ex-officio from that role sits on the Public Libraries Consultative Committee of the Library Council of NSW, and also on the Founder Partners' Committee of the National Year of Reading 2012 and the Public Libraries Advisory Committee of the Australian Library and Information Association.

Councillor Smith was born and raised in Sydney, but has resided in Kurri Kurri, one of the Hunter Valley's former coalmining settlements and now the nation's largest 'mural town', since 1976.

Councillor Smith is a recently-retired teacher and during his career was very involved in professional associations, and spent twenty years on the Hunter Region Stewart House Committee, nineteen of them as chairman.

He is also deeply involved in community life, as a member of service organizations. He was chairman of an early intervention centre for some years, which led him into a role as consumer representative in the health system and the chair of the Lower Hunter Health Council. He sat on ministerial advisory bodies and regional taskforces, and currently acts as deputy chair of the Cessnock-Kurri Kurri Local Health Advisory Committee.

He remains active in many local organizations, and since he retired has begun volunteering at the Kurri Kurri Visitor Information Centre, and as a guide for tours of the town's fifty murals.

His wife Sharon was a special education teacher for 27 years before moving back to mainstream classes in the last years prior to retirement. They have three adult children, two of whom are members of the Australian Defence Force, while the other works in the finance industry.

Councillor Julie Hegarty

Councillor Julie Hegarty was elected to the LGA Executive in 2002.

Julie has spent most of her life in the Pittwater Area and so while running a small Tourism business and playing an active role in the local Chamber of Commerce, Julie was encouraged to stand as a councillor for Pittwater Council in 1995 and has been successfully re-elected since then.

She now runs another small business as a Driving Instructor and therefore appreciates the challenges business owners face. Her other areas of interest are young people, the aged and the community.

Councillor Julie Hegarty of Pittwater Council was elected as Vice President General at the LGA Conference 2011, and will assume this position in October 2012, when Councillor McCaffery's two year term of Immediate Past President ends.

Cr Kevin Schreiber

Cr Kevin Schreiber, MAICD, Emeritus Mayor, was elected to Sutherland Shire Council in 1995 and is currently representing A Ward. He served as Mayor from 1996 to 1999 and then again 2003 to 2005. He was elected to the LGA Executive 1997, and then elected as Treasurer of the LGA at Broken Hill in 2008 and Albury in 2010.

Cr Schreiber has been a small business person for over 35 years, in this time he has been a Past Grand master of Manchester Unity IOOF, a Directer of Manchester Unity Australia for 18 years and served as Chairman for five years.

He is a Past President of Port Hacking Rotary and is still a active member of Cronulla Rotary. He is also a member and Vice Patron of Wanda SLSC, and is Patron of Mercy Indonesia.

Cr Schreiber has been appointed to the NSW Police Community Awareness Policing Program.

Councillor Roy Ah-See

Roy Ah-See is a proud Wiradjuri man.  His mum is a Wiradjuri woman and his dad is a Wiradjuri man.  There are family ties to the Townies, Bells, Williams and Ah-Sees.

Vision / Passion

To create opportunities for Aboriginal people/families to be able to attend holistic healing centres / programs that address all addictions.

• Plays a leadership role within his family:
• Positive role model to his kids;
• Positive mentor to his family
• Inspiration to his community.
• Fighter for Human Rights, Social Justice and Self-determination

Challenge

To re-engage with our people.

"PEOPLE DON'T CARE WHAT YOU KNOW UNLESS PEOPLE KNOW YOU CARE".

Councillor Rochelle Porteous

Cr Rochelle Porteous is Mayor of Leichhardt. She was elected to the Metropolitan Executive Committee of the LGA in October 2011. Rochelle has been a Councillor on Leichhardt Council since 2004. She is Chair of the Traffic Committee, the Climate Change Taskforce, the Community Services, Safety and Facilities Committee and former Chair of the Environment Committee and the Bicycle Advisory Committee. She has also served a term as Deputy Mayor.

Rochelle has driven through many initiatives on council to protect open space and ensure council is more accountable to the community. She is a committed environmentalist and has taken the lead in getting council to adopt many key environmental and social justice policies and to act locally on climate change. She has also been a leading figure on a many of local advocacy campaigns.
 
Rochelle grew up in Newcastle and has lived in the Leichhardt municipality for over a decade. She holds a BA in Geography / Psychology (University of Newcastle) and a Masters in Communication Management (UTS). She also holds diplomas in media production, teaching, training and management. Rochelle has lived and worked in the UK, Italy and Spain. Her work resume includes work as an Economic Development Manager and extensive experience in running small businesses as well as a number of years working as a teacher and interpreter. Rochelle also worked as an advocacy campaigner for a large aid and social justice charity and, for the last two years, has worked as a Public Outreach Project campaigner for a leading environmental charity.

Councillor Alice Glachan 

Cr Alice Glachan has tertiary qualifications in arts and education, and owns the Beacon Lighting-Albury franchise with her husband.

Cr Glachan's background has been in small business, education and defence. Following a short service commission as a Naval Officer, she moved to England with her husband, Nicholas Little. During her eight years in England, Cr. Glachan worked as Faculty Registrar at the city based Southampton Institute.

Their two sons were born in Southampton. Having decided to move back to Australia in 2001, Cr. Glachan and her family chose Albury - where she had grown up and she is delighted that her children are able to attend her old local school!

Cr Glachan is a long time and active member of the NSW Liberal Party and is also a member of the Country Women's Association, the Albury Chamber of Commerce and a Rotarian.

Cr Glachan was first elected to council in 2004 and to the Local Government Association Executive in 2006.

Councillor Paul Hawker

Cr Paul Hawker was elected to the LGA Executive in October 2006.

A councillor with Campbelltown City Council since 2004, Paul is on several committees including the City Works Committee, the Corporate Governance Committee and the Campbelltown International Relations Sub Committee.

In addition he serves on the Campbelltown Arts Centre Sub Committee, the Macarthur Zone Bush Fire Management Committee and the Rural Fire Service District Liaison Committee; the Innovation and Performance Sub Committee; and the Marsden Estate Sub Committee.

He is also involved with the Equality and Access Policy Statement (EAPS) and is a member of the Sports Liaison Sub Committee.
Cr Hawker is currently the Liberal Party Branch President for Campbelltown.

Councillor Leo Kelly OAM 

Councillor Leo Kelly OAM was elected to the LGA Executive in 1986 and was Vice President from 1992 to 2008.

First elected as a councillor to Blacktown City Council in 1980, Leo has served continually since that time. He has been mayor three times: 1985-1987; 1990-1991; and 2004 to 2008.

A resident of the Blacktown area for more than 50 years, Cr Kelly is president and patron of numerous local sporting, social, cultural clubs and associations.

He is a life member of the NSW Sales Representative and Commercial Traveller's Union and a former Vice President of the National Union of Workers.

In 2003, Councillor Kelly was awarded an OAM for over 20 year's service to local government and the community of Blacktown City.

Councillor Greg Mathews

Councillor Greg Matthews first served on the LGA Executive from October 2004 to October 2006 and was re-elected in October 2008. He is also an executive member of Saleyard Operators Australia.

A councillor with Dubbo City Council since 1999, Greg served 2 terms as mayor 2002 to 2004 and 2007 to 2009

Cr Matthews is a Importer/wholesaler with 34 years small business experience, and has a particular interest in the financial viability of both local government in general and the LGSA in particular.

Cr Matthews is the chairman of Dubbo's local community Housing provider and is commited to the provision of both social and affordable housing.

Councillor Karen McKeown

Was elected to Penrith City Council in March 2004 and elected Deputy Mayor 2006 - 2007. Karen was elected to the LGA Executive in Albury 2010.

Karen is currently in her second term as Local Government Women's Association NSW President having served on the Executive since 2004. She is a strong advocate for women and passionate about increasing the level of representation by women in local government - as Councillors and also in Council's senior management and leadership positions. Karen is a member of the NSW Joint Ministerial Advisory Council for Women in Local Government.

Studied Commerce at UWS as a mature aged student. She completed her degree with a major in management and sub-majors in Law and Employee Relations. Karen's professional background is in industrial law.She is currently working in research and policy development.

Since being elected to Penrith Council she has taken on the roles of Director on the board of the Penrith  Performing and Visual Arts Centre, previously a Director of Penrith Whitewater Stadium and appointed as a Director of State Records.

Karen is passionate about the Penrith community and local environment as a Sustainability Champion for Penrith. She is a community activist with a strong commitment to social justice, cultural diversity and gender equity.

Councillor Ben Shields

Councillor Ben Shields was elected to the LGA Executive in October 2006.

A councillor with Dubbo City Council since 1999, Ben was elected when he was just 18 which made him the youngest councillor in NSW.

Re-elected to Dubbo City Council in 2004 and again in 2008, Ben is the operator of an advertising and marketing agency in Western NSW. 

He is also the local federal branch president of the Liberal Party in the Dubbo area.

Councillor Rod Towney 

Cr Rod Towney was elected to the LGA Executive in October 2006 and was elected to Vice President (Country) in October 2008.

A councillor with Dubbo City Council since 2004, Cr Towney is an Aboriginal Australian (a Descendant of the Wiradjuri People of NSW).

Currently employed by TAFE NSW as an Aboriginal Development Manager, Rod has been involved with a number of commonwealth and state government agencies throughout his working career.

He has also represented NSW Aboriginal Land Councils at various locations around the world to the United Nations.

Councillor Leigh Vaughan

Cr Vaughan was first elected to the State Executive in 2008. She is a member of the Social Policy committee, the Conference Planning Committee and is chair of the Women's Committee.

Cr Vaughan is now in her second term on Great Lakes Council and is committed to the right of all people to live in a safe, clean, creative environment.

A background in education and performing arts has fuelled a passion for lifelong learning accessible for all. She is involved in a number of GL council committees and chairs several. She also chairs the Hunter Councils Community and Cultural Development advisory committee.

Cr Vaughan is founding chair of Conservatorium Mid North Coast, has been vice chair of the Board of Arts MNC for some years and is founding director of Company of Voices. As founding chair of community orchestra Sinfonia Mid North Coast, she was the recipient of 2006 National Award from Orchestras Australia, recognising her contribution to community cultural development. She has also been an owner-builder, and been involved in small business.