Lord Mayor Sally Capp and City of Melbourne Councillors are pleased to announce the appointment of Alison Leighton as Chief Executive Officer.
Ms Leighton has served as the Acting City of Melbourne CEO since October 2022, during which time she has driven the implementation of the Council Plan and lifted the organisation’s focus on customer service and operational excellence.
She has improved transparency and accountability across the organisation, introducing a renewed focus on empowerment, culture and leadership, as well as working to create a contemporary, diverse and inclusive workplace.
Alison has more than 18 years of leadership experience in infrastructure, planning, operations and public sector business transformation.
Joining the City of Melbourne in April 2020 in a General Manager role, Ms Leighton was promoted to the position of Deputy CEO six months later. As Deputy CEO, she led the portfolios of Strategy and Planning, Property, Infrastructure and Design, People, Culture and Leadership, and Aboriginal Melbourne.
Prior to joining the City of Melbourne, Ms Leighton was the CEO at Baw Baw Shire Council and the Chief Operating Officer at Mornington Peninsula Shire.
She is a qualified engineer, an alumnus of Harvard Business School, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds a Masters in Business Administration.
The recruitment process was led by an independently chaired committee. Ms Leighton is contracted as CEO until July 2027.
Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Sally Capp
“On behalf of Councillors, I congratulate Alison Leighton on her appointment as CEO of City of Melbourne.”
“Since she stepped into the role of Acting CEO in October, Alison has been a diligent, fair and passionate leader for the organisation and wider community.”
“We undertook a thorough search for this role, which attracted a number of high-calibre candidates.”
“As well as a deep understanding of local government, Alison brings to the role stability, confidence and a proven record of delivery.”
“She is a champion for Melbourne, and I look forward to working with her as we deliver our Council Plan and continue to set the pace for our city traders, workers, residents, students and visitors.”
Quotes attributable to City of Melbourne CEO Alison Leighton
“I feel incredibly privileged to have been given this opportunity to lead the City of Melbourne and build on our culture and performance – supporting every team member to make Melbourne an outstanding place to live, work and visit.”
“As Australia’s largest city, I look forward to supporting Council to deliver on what matters most to our growing community, embracing the future with confidence – and positioning Melbourne as a prosperous, liveable and attractive global city.”