After almost 20 years as Chief Executive Officer of the WA Local Government Association, Ms Ricky Burges has tendered her resignation.
Earlier this week, WALGA President Cr Lynne Craigie accepted the resignation from Ms Burges and congratulated her for her contribution to the Association.
Cr Craigie said Ms Burges was appointed in 2000, at a critical time when the three previous organisations representing Local Government in WA were to be merged into the single association.
“Ricky has been at WALGA since the beginning and has been critical to growing the organisation to becoming the lead advocate for the Local Government sector in WA,” she said.
“During the time Ricky has been CEO, there have been four State Government administrations and numerous changes across senior staff to key government agencies.
“Under Ricky’s leadership, WALGA has adapted and formed new relationships to ensure the best possible outcomes for Councils in this State.”
With previous leadership roles at the Department of the Arts and Perth Zoo, Ms Burges said she had most enjoyed the role at WALGA and working with the Local Government sector.
“The role at WALGA has been both challenging and exhilarating and I have loved every day and will always see the merging of the three associations in to a single association as one of the key highlights,” she said.
“Throughout my time in WALGA I have been fortunate to work with outstanding leaders and in particular thank past Presidents and current President, Cr Lynne Craigie, the State Councillors of WALGA, past and present and a highly professional team who have helped me provide strong leadership to the sector.”
Ms Burges was contracted to September 2019 but with the resignation, she will now depart the organisation in February 2019.
A request for quote process has been initiated to contract a suitable recruitment agency to undertake the search for a replacement Chief Executive Officer.