Recruiting Divisional Managers for Brisbane City Council

The Challenge

Brisbane City Council is Australia’s largest local government, with responsibility for delivering essential services, infrastructure, and long-term planning for one of the country’s fastest-growing cities. Transport and infrastructure are among the Council’s most critical portfolios, shaping how the city grows, functions, and connects its communities.

In 2025, the CEO, Lord Mayor, and Civic Cabinet identified the need to appoint two Divisional Managers — Transport and Infrastructure. These roles required candidates of exceptional calibre, capable of operating at CEO level in their own right, with the strategic, political, and technical expertise to deliver major projects and lead complex divisions within Council.

 

Our Approach

Luminary partnered with the CEO, Lord Mayor, and Civic Cabinet to design and deliver a targeted executive search process. Our approach included:

  • National and international candidate search, targeting leaders with CEO or equivalent experience across government, infrastructure, and transport organisations.

  • Rigorous assessment of leadership capability, political acumen, and ability to deliver large-scale, complex programs.

  • Stakeholder engagement, working closely with Civic Cabinet and senior Council leadership to ensure candidates aligned with both technical requirements and the city’s long-term strategy.

  • Confidential and high-integrity process, balancing transparency with the sensitivities of executive recruitment in a high-profile public sector context.

 

The Outcome

Following a competitive and carefully managed process, Luminary successfully appointed:

  • Divisional Manager, Transport — a seasoned CEO-level leader with a track record of delivering integrated transport strategies and major infrastructure projects.

  • Divisional Manager, Infrastructure — a senior executive of comparable calibre, bringing deep experience in urban development, project delivery, and stakeholder engagement.

Both appointments represented CEO-level talent, ensuring Brisbane City Council secured leaders of the highest standing for these critical portfolios.

 

Impact

The impact of these appointments is being felt across the Council and the city:

  • Government confidence: The Lord Mayor and Civic Cabinet now have senior executives capable of delivering on major infrastructure and transport priorities.

  • Operational leadership: Council divisions benefit from highly experienced leaders with the discipline, scale, and experience of running complex organisations.

  • Community outcomes: Brisbane residents stand to gain from more connected, sustainable, and future-ready transport and infrastructure solutions.

  • Strategic alignment: The new Divisional Managers are working closely with the CEO and executive team to align projects with the city’s long-term growth agenda.

This project demonstrates Luminary’s ability to deliver CEO-level executive appointments into critical government portfolios. By recruiting two Divisional Managers of exceptional calibre, Brisbane City Council is well-positioned to deliver transformative transport and infrastructure outcomes for the city’s future.

 

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