Council announces retirement of CEO

Lockyer Valley Regional Council has announced the retirement of its longstanding CEO Ian Church.

Mr Church, who began with Lockyer Valley Regional Council is 2016, is taking some well-deserved leave and will move into retirement at the conclusion of his employment with Council in late January 2026.

Mayor Tanya Milligan said it was business as usual at Council, with Group Manager People, Customer and Corporate Services Dan McPherson appointed as Acting CEO.

“Ian has been a great CEO, leading us through an extended period of positive culture development within the organisation, while overseeing quite a number of strategic projects, financial sustainability and recovery from natural disasters,” she said.

“I, with the support of Councillors, have appointed Group Manager People, Customer and Corporate Services Dan McPherson as Acting CEO, and Council has commenced the recruitment process for an interim CEO.

“It may take some time to find a permanent CEO as we need to ensure a good fit, and they will have very big shoes to fill,” she added.

Mayor Milligan acknowledged the 68-year-old’s decision to retire was sudden.

“Ian is currently on leave for personal and private matters that are not for me to elaborate on,” she said.

“He is moving into retirement voluntarily and will be sorely missed, and we look forward to sending him off with a proper staff farewell next month.

“On behalf of everyone at Council, we wish him well in retirement and thank him for his dedication and trusted and steady stewardship.”

Council will announce its interim CEO once recruitment processes are finalised.