Horsham Rural City Council has extended the contract of Chief Executive Officer, Sunil Bhalla, until April 2027.
Mr Bhalla’s four-year contract extension was confirmed by Councillors at a meeting last night.
Mr Bhalla (pictured) joined HRCC as CEO in April 2018 and has 30 years of local government experience including previous leadership roles at the City of Maribyrnong and Surf Coast Shire.
“I am honoured and grateful for the opportunity to continue in this position,” he said in a statement following the meeting.
“The Horsham municipality is a very special place that has its natural environment and communities at its heart.
“It’s a privilege to lead a passionate and talented group of people, and I look forward to being able to continue to grow and develop our organisation’s capacity and to collectively provide even greater outcomes for our community.”
Horsham Mayor, Robyn Guilline said Council felt it was important to retain Mr Bhalla’s “guidance and genuine passion for the community to lead the organisation in delivering the best outcomes for Horsham Rural City Council and its residents”.
“Sunil has steered the organisation and community through the COVID-19 pandemic by developing strong partnerships with all levels of government, industry, community leaders and organisations.
“We greatly appreciate the expertise and knowledge that Sunil has brought to this organisation during his time at Council and look forward to continuing to work collaboratively and supportively as we prepare for the future ahead,” Mayor Gulline said.
