About the Division

The Advocacy, Engagement and Communications division is responsible for internal and external communications, public relations, media relations, consultation and engagement and strategic advocacy across a range of traditional and digital channels. 

Brooke Colbert is the Group Manager of this division.

Brooke joined Yarra in 2012. Brooke has a wealth of experience in government relations, communications and engagement and has worked in both state and local governments.

This division’s responsibilities include:

• consultation and engagement
• media relations
• internal and external communications
• corporate publications (including Yarra News and Yarra Life)
• public relations and marketing
• strategic advocacy

The CEO's office provides advice and support to our officers, so as to ensure we operate in an open, accountable, and effective way.

Ivan Gilbert is the Group Manager of this branch.

Ivan was appointed Manager Governance in June 2005. He has held roles of City Manager, Chief Executive Officer, Town Clerk and Shire Secretary at a number of regional municipalities.

This branch's responsibilities includes: 

Governance:

• preparing agendas and minutes for Council and Committee meetings
• managing the Mayor and Councillors' Office
• provision of legal services
• responding to Freedom of Information requests, whistleblower and privacy matters

Communications and Engagement:

• community engagement
• media relations
• publications
• digital communications
• strategic advocacy
  

Property: 

• managing Council properties
• preparing Council leases, licences and management agreements in relation to Council land
• managing acquisitions, transition and disposal of Council land

The City Works and Assets division is responsible for protecting and enhancing Yarra's physical environment.

Chris Leivers is the director of this division.

Chris joined Yarra in 2015. He has experience in several local councils across a wide range of disciplines including: community programs, community and infrastructure planning and project management.

This division's responsibilities include:

• waste and recycling collection
• upgrades of local roads
• drains and footpaths
• construction management
• traffic management
• managing our annual capital works program to improve local assets
• waste minimisation
• leisure services
• open space maintenance

The Community Wellbeing division:

• provides services for people of all ages and abilities
• promotes and enhances community wellbeing through funding programs, celebrating culture and promoting inclusion
• facilitates access to facilities and spaces
• creates and maintains community partnerships

Lucas Gosling is the director of this division.

The division's responsibilities include:

• aged and disability services
• arts, culture and venues
• library services
• family, youth and children's services
• social policy and research 

The Corporate, Business and Finance division is responsible for managing our business and financial systems.

Diarmuid McAlary is the director of this division.

The division's responsibilities include:

• finance, rates, valuations and payroll
• contracts and procurement management
• information services
• corporate planning and performance
• compliance parking services
• emergency management 
• customer service and corporate records

The branch supports the employees in our organisation and the people in our community.

This branch has a dual focus:

• We are responsible for ensuring our staff and organisational culture are aligned with Yarra’s vision and values, so that all staff can be their best and work effectively.
• We foster and support our vibrant and diverse local community based on a commitment to social justice and human rights.

Gracie Karabinis is the group manager of this branch.

Gracie comes to us with a background in local government and has extensive experience in occupational health and safety, public liability and insurance, risk management, business continuity driving the organisation towards a culture of excellence in these critical areas.

This branch's responsibilities include:

• staff wellbeing, recruitment and selection
• learning and development
• occupational health and safety
• staff engagement and social inclusion
• workforce planning and performance
• industrial relations

For more information, call Yarra City Council on 9205 5555 or email info@yarracity.vic.gov.au.

The Planning and Place Making division is responsible for protecting, enhancing and developing Yarra's social and physical environment.

Bruce Phillips is the director of this division.

Bruce was appointed as Director in 2006. He has extensive experience in strategy development, particularly in strategic land use planning, strategic transport, place management and major projects.

This division's responsibilities include:

• statutory and strategic planning
• economic development
• strategic transport
• environment and urban design
• building surveying
• open space planning

For more information, call Yarra City Council on 9205 5555 or email info@yarracity.vic.gov.au.