Your new local paper, in print and online
Covering the suburbs of Darebin and surrounds
Covering the suburbs of Darebin and surrounds
)
New Darebin CEO announced almost a year after predecessor quit
⊸ News ⋅ By Emily Kulich
Published at 7:07pm on Friday 2 May 2025
Darebin City has appointed Anne Howard as its new full time CEO, almost a year after the council’s last full time chief gave notice.
ADVERTISEMENT
Above: Anne Howard’s Colac Otway Shire Council photo.
Howard, who is currently CEO of Colac Otway Shire Council, will take over the role from interim CEO Michael Tudball in July. Her appointment was announced on 24 April.
Their predecessor, Peter Smith, gave the council notice in mid-July 2024, 21 months into his five-year appointment. Smith cited family and career interests as his reasons for leaving the role, with then-mayor Susanne Newton praising his achievements.
Tudball took the interim CEO position in September, and will keep his desk until Howard’s arrival.
In announcing the new appointment, Mayor Kristine Olaris highlighted Howard’s experience in local government.
“We are delighted to announce Anne as the new CEO of Darebin, who brings a wealth of experience in senior executive roles, most recently as CEO of Colac Otway Shire,” Olaris said.
“Anne’s experience spans infrastructure management, governance, finance, corporate planning and community planning across a number of councils, which we know are vitally important issues for the Darebin community.”
Howard’s announcement came the same day she advised Colac Otway Shire she would be leaving.
In a short statement on the COSC website, mayor Jason Schram thanked Anne for bringing “stability to [the council’s] leadership and [helping] strengthen our financial and project management over the last four years.”
Howard’s COSC biography states she has over 20 years’ experience in local government. Prior to starting at the COSC, she held executive roles ate Surf Coast Shire Council and Campaspe Shire Council.
Her bio notes she worked in the private sector before entering local government, with roles involving “land development and the delivery of environmental health infrastructure in remote aboriginal communities across Australia.”