New CE for Grey DC
Grey District Mayor Tania Gibson announced this morning that a new CE has been appointed to Council, the district’s first female and youngest CE.
Joanne Soderlund is currently Council CEO in Tammin, Western Australia. She was the youngest female CE ever appointed in Western Australia local government at the age of 33 when she started wtih them in 2021.
Mayor Tania Gibson says Joanne will start early October and brings passion for rural communities and local government and a solid background in financial and business management.
“Joanne has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Southern Queensland. She worked for KPMG in Darwin followed by seven years in the private sector covering tax accounting, mining and construction. She is dedicated to continuous professional development and received her MBA in early 2021,” says Mayor Gibson.
“She’s also passionate about small and rural communities. She’s been in Tammin for three years, following seven years at Cocos Islands and five years in Kununurra. Tammin has a population of just 400 so the move to a bigger district will be a change and a challenge for our new CE. I’m confident our team will be supportive and inviting and Joanne will find her feet very quickly.”
Mayor Gibson says Mrs Soderlund is excited to be joining a strong, proud community and has expressed interest in the many great lifestyle opportunities the district has to offer.
“Joanne’s children are at primary school and the family is passionate about sport and recreation. Husband Rik has been involved in local marketing and economic development – which he’ll continue to contribute to remotely, but his skills will also be welcome in Grey.”
Grey District Council Acting CE Paul Pretorius, who is looking forward to getting back to retirement after a short stint back in the big chair, says Soderlund will bring fresh energy and solid business nouse to the position.
“One of the key things with this role is making sure you’re across all the moving parts – and there are many. We have a wonderful team who will support our new CE, and she in turn will bring her unique experience and drive for improvement and quality. We’re very lucky to have secured a young, driven and passionate CE grounded in local community.”
