Following a national recruitment campaign, City of Palmerston is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Andrew Walsh as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 10 March 2025. Andrew, an experienced and transformational leader in local government, brings over 13 years of public sector leadership and an impressive track record of delivering community-focused outcomes, driving growth, and strong governance. Andrew is an authentic leader, with a strong history of fostering a workplace culture where staff feel valued and engaged, prioritising delivery of services, and ensuring the community continues to thrive.
Andrew is currently the CEO of West Arnhem Regional Council, where he leads a team of over 200 staff and manages an annual budget of $41 million. His expertise in strategic planning, financial management, and community development aligns with Palmerston’s goals of strengthening services and fostering partnerships across the region.

In his role as CEO of City of Palmerston, Andrew will oversee the delivery of a broad range of essential services and programs, guide the implementation of strategic priorities, and ensure Palmerston continues to grow and thrive, while meeting the diverse needs of its vibrant community.

“We are thrilled to welcome Andrew Walsh to City of Palmerston,” said Mark Fraser, Acting Mayor of Palmerston. “Andrew’s proven ability to lead local government organisations, along with his deep commitment to community engagement and delivering outstanding governance, makes him the ideal fit for Palmerston’s future. His leadership will help build on the successes of City of Palmerston and position us for even greater achievements in the years to come.”
“I am honoured to be appointed as the CEO of City of Palmerston,” said Andrew. “I look forward to working closely with Council and the community to deliver the City’s vision, ensuring that Palmerston continues to be a thriving, inclusive, and sustainable place to live, work, and visit, and most importantly, a Place for People.”

Andrew holds Masters-Level tertiary qualifications and professional certifications in change management and leadership, blending academic principles with practical experience to serve Council and the constituency. Andrew is committed to fostering a collaborative and innovative culture within local government and beyond.

At its meeting of 10 December 2024, Council appointed highly experienced General Manager Infrastructure, Nadine Nilon, as Interim CEO from 13 January 2025 until Andrew’s commencement, following the departure of current CEO, Amelia Vellar. City of Palmerston thanks both Amelia and Nadine for their strong interim leadership and contributions to the Palmerston community, and eagerly anticipates the commencement of Andrew, confident that his expertise will ensure continued delivery of services, projects and programs to the Palmerston community.