Outstanding local for top Noosa job

The search was nationwide, but Noosa Council has found its new CEO close to home.

Brett De Chastel was the highly-respected Corporate Services Director of the former Noosa Council until amalgamation in 2008, and now he's been appointed to the top job of Chief Executive Officer.

The appointment was ratified by council this morning, after a recruitment campaign that attracted a strong field of candidates from across Australia and New Zealand. 

The final selection panel consisted of Mayor Noel Playford, his deputy Bob Abbott and Councillor Frank Wilkie.

For the past five years, Mr De Chastel has run a well-known local government consultancy firm that's given specialist advice to more than 25 Queensland councils.

His long record of senior management includes the role of Deputy CEO at Ipswich, as well as his eight years here in Noosa Council with broad responsibility for finance, IT, legal services , human resources and corporate planning.

Mr De Chastel  has been a resident of the Noosa Shire since 2001 and is known as a strong contributor to the community. 

He has been chairperson of United Synergies, a local not-for-profit group that helps young people in difficulty, and on the weekends you can find him coaching junior soccer and as a patrolling lifesaver at the Noosa Heads Surf Club.

In his senior role here in Noosa, Mr De Chastel forged a reputation for strong leadership, communication and long-term vision.

Mayor Noel Playford said he was confident the council had made the right choice, but he also reserved praise for Transfer Manager and acting CEO Peter Franks.

He said Mr Franks had played an important role in steering Noosa through a complex transition last year, while doing everything he could to protect Noosa's interests in the process.

13 January 2014