The Institute of Public Administration Australia Victoria has announced Rachel Cooper will take over as its CEO from Geraldine Kennett.
Cooper has worked across all three levels of government, with a focus on stakeholder engagement. She currently holds the role of general manager, city services at City of Holdfast Bay in Adelaide, leading a diverse portfolio with a project delivery and customer service focus.
Previously she was CEO of IPAA SA, “where she led the financial turnaround of the organisation, strengthened engagement with all sectors of government and collaborated with the Public Sector Performance Commission to implement the High Performance Framework for the South Australian Executive Service,” according to a statement by IPAA Victoria.
She was board director and treasurer at YWCA in SA between 2009 and 2011 and was project manager, investment and attraction at the Department of Trade and Economic Development before that.
Geraldine Kennett led IPAA Victoria from September 2010 until April this year, having taken up the role of professor of practice — management at La Trobe University. Kennett is widely seen as having been a highly successful leader, who helped build an excellent engagement program featuring a regular speaking program, the Victorian budget breakfast and events in regional Victoria. Prior to that she spent nearly four years managing IPAA Victoria’s suite of training and development courses, seminars and events.
“On behalf of the Board I would like to thank Matthew Monaghan for acting in the CEO role since Dr Geraldine Kennett’s departure. Matthew is a crucial senior staff member of IPAA Victoria and his leadership on key events and stewardship of the systematic expansion of IPAA services throughout the broader Victorian region have been excellent,” said IPAA Victoria president Gill Callister.
Monaghan will continue in the acting CEO position until Cooper begins.
Cooper will commence with IPAA Victoria on Thursday 18 June, in time for Public Sector Week:
Public Sector Week will provide thought challenging professional development and will promote the role and achievements of the Public Sector among the broader community.
Whether you work in or with the public sector, the Public Sector Week program will offer:
– big ideas about building a great Nation and State
– frank assessments about the challenges ahead
– thoughtful discussion about what it means to be a part of the public sector
– and reflections on what we can learn from the long term achievements of the sector
