General Manager, Rebecca Ryan advised today, 'following an extensive recruitment process, we are very pleased to announce experienced Town Planner, Ms Ruth Ormella, has been appointed to the Director Development and Environment post at Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council. Ruth is relocating from England where she is currently employed as Head of Planning, Sustainability and Infrastructure at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in Hampshire.'
Over the past 16 years Ruth has advanced her career in local government authorities in the United Kingdom. Prior to this, Ruth developed her skills over 15 years working in the private sector and NSW Councils including Baulkham Hills, Ballina and Tweed.
Ruth will bring her talent and professional perspective drawn from a career including different councils and working at a senior leadership level.
'I am really excited to be given the opportunity to return to NSW and serve the community of Queanbeyan-Palerang in this role,' Ruth said.
'It will be a privilege to lead the achievements and strategic direction set out in the Community Strategic Plan and the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Local Environmental Plan 2022, shaping a sustainable future for the area.'
Ruth holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Portsmouth, and Master of Environment and Local Government Law from Macquarie University. She also holds a Bachelor of Applied Science, and Graduate Diploma of Urban and Regional Planning from New England, Armidale. She is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Planning Institute of Australia.
'I am looking forward to engaging with the community, businesses and our customers to understand local priorities so that we can continue to build on what QPRC does well and improve where there is a need. I am focused on ensuring we have resilient services that meet the demands of our growth, affordable housing, environmental challenges and development,' Ruth said.
Rebecca Ryan concluded 'We are now concentrating on the transition required with our long standing and respected Director, Mike Thompson retiring at the end of the year. I have appointed Natasha Abbott, Manager Natural Landscapes and Health to act in the role for the month of January; and Ruth will commence on 6 February 2023'.
