Alexandrina Council has announced the resignation of its Chief Executive Officer Nigel Morris, after only two years in the job.

Mr Morris joined Alexandrina Council as Chief Executive in May 2022 after serving as CEO of the District Council of Yankalilla for more than six years.

He will take up a senior leadership position at Boroondara Council, in Melbourne, as the Director of Customer and Transformation, leaving Alexandrina at the end of July.

Mayor Keith Parkes has thanked Mr Morris for his service to the council and his commitment to the Alexandrina community.

“Nigel came to us with extensive experience in local government and the issues important to the Fleurieu region and Alexandrina Council has benefitted significantly from that knowledge

and his inclusive leadership,” says Mayor Parkes.

“Nigel has strong sense of community and over the past two years he has been an accessible and involved Chief Executive Officer who has fostered greater engagement and collaboration between Council and our community.

“He has steered us through three budgets during challenging times as we grapple with the impacts of high inflation in a post-COVID economy, and he has done so a way that has include more face-to-face public consultation than this Council has conducted in the past.

“To deliver more than $5 million in operational savings in the past 18 months is an outstanding effort. 

“He has also stepped in to oversee several ongoing major projects, including the Goolwa Wharf Precinct upgrade, and has reined in expenditure in a high-cost market to achieve the best outcomes for our community.

“Nigel has also brought about a positive change in the organisational culture of Council and I have great confidence in the professional and dedicated executive team he has built up

during his time with us.

“Council is in good hands as we move forward with the recruitment process for a new CEO. In the meantime, our CEO Performance Management Panel will start the process of

recommending an interim CEO to Council Members.”

Mr Morris says his proudest achievement in his two years at Alexandrina Council is building a strong General Management team. 

“I feel comfortable leaving Alexandrina Council as I know with the team in place the organisation will continue to grow from strength to strength.

“We are on track to deliver not only the current year’s $22 million capital program but also catch up on over $20 million from previous years’ projects, including the decade long-

discussed Goolwa Wharf Revitalisation, which is now set to be delivered in October 2024.”