The new General Manager of Lismore City Council is Jon Gibbons.

Mr Gibbons was announced by Mayor Steve Krieg on a five-year term effective Thursday, February 9 the day after current Interim General Manager John Walker's contract finishes.

Mr Gibbons holds an MBA and qualifications in Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Health, Local Government Management and Project Management.

Mr Gibbons's last position was Executive - Business Performance and Governance in the City of Gold Coast according to his LinkedIn page since October this year. He was in the same position prior to becoming the Chief Executive Officer of the Scenic Rim Regional Council from 2016 to 2018 then held the CEO role from 2018 to June August 2022.

The Scenic Rim region is set in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. Home to a population of more than 40,000 the region covers 4254sq km and is located an hour south of Brisbane and an hour inland from the Gold Coast. Its main towns and villages are: Beaudesert, Boonah, Tamborine Mountain, Kooralbyn, Beechmont, Kalbar, Aratula, Canungra, Rathdowney, Harrisville and Peak Crossing.

Mr Gibbons contract was due to expire in June this year, however, councillors voted in February to keep Mr Gibbons in the role until August to provide the CEO with an adequate notice period.

Councillors recorded a split vote not to renew Mr Gibbons contract, 4/3, in February this year.

An article in the Beaudesert Times said Mayor Greg Christensen was fighting to keep Mr Gibbons in the CEO role saying he has provided diligent, transformational leadership to modernise our operations.

In the same article, Councillor Derek Swanborough was said to have a personality conflict with Mr Gibbons wouldn't be drawn into explaining his decision to vote against his renewal saying, "Now is not the time to wax lyrical about a whole lot of things today..."

Mr Gibbons other roles within local councils include the Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Director Corporate Services at the Whitsunday Regional Council for 5 years followed by a stint as CEO Administration of Norfolk Island for 3 years.

Mayor Steve Krieg welcomed someone of the quality of Mr Gibbons to the position of General Manager with his depth of experience and was looking forward to working with him.

"It was a unananimous vote of councillors at last weeks council meeting so I am looking forward to Mr Gibbons bringing some stability to the role of Lismore City Council General Manager. As Mayor I am looking forward to building on the work that has begun to rebuild Lismore with Mr Gibbons as General Manager."

"This has been a very tough year for our community and Council,” he said.

“I would like to thank and acknowledge our outgoing General Manager who in 12 short months dealt with the aftermath of the most devasting natural disaster to hit our community, stabilised Council and set us on the course for financial sustainability.

Mr Gibbons said he was looking forward to taking up his new role.

“I look forward to the opportunity to build a strong partnership with the Mayor and Councillors, the employees and members of the Lismore community in the delivery of our services,” he said. 

With a unanimous council vote (Councillor Jeri Hall was absent on the night), will we see Councillors working together and supporting the General Manager for the best outcomes for the Lismore community? Six General Managers in six years is an unenviable record that hopefully can be laid to rest for the next five years.