Executive Leadership Team
The Executive Leadership Team is made up of the Chief Executive Officer and four Directors.
It provides advice to Council and is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day management of the region.
The team monitors and facilitates the implementation of service delivery and major projects.
Ken Diehm has served as Chief Executive Officer of Fraser Coast Regional Council since June 2017 and brings over 39 years of experience in local government leadership to the role. Throughout his extensive career, Ken has developed a strong reputation for driving organisational performance, fostering community outcomes, and leading with integrity and purpose.
Ken holds a Bachelor of Commerce, a Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Dispute Resolution. He is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a Certificate IV in Real Estate Agency Practice, and is a PRINCE2 Certified Project Management Practitioner.
In 2024 Ken’s leadership was recognised by the Local Government Managers Association who awarded him the Manager of the Year Award.
Ken’s personal and career goal to make a positive difference in the community he serves and in the lives of the people he works with.
Mark was appointed to the position of Director in January 2019 to provide leadership, strategic direction and management of Council’s water, wastewater and waste functions.
Mark commenced his professional career in fields of biotechnology and medical device manufacturing before joining Wide Bay Water in 2006 in the area of catchment and bulk water management. Mark has been a member of the Wide Bay Water and Waste Services Executive Team since 2012 where he has led the compliance and regulation function to support the water business in the area of bulk water operations, drinking water quality, dam safety, environmental compliance, work health and safety, scientific services and quality management. He has also led Waste Operations since 2016 to provide planning and management of the Fraser Coast’s resource recovery and waste management services.
Mark holds a degree in Aquatic Resource Management, Master of Environmental Management, Master of Business Administration, Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Studies and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Gerard has over 20 year's experience working in various state and local government roles covering the diverse aspects of the development and community directorate including areas such as regional and economic development, strategic planning, development assessment and engineering, libraries, open space and natural environment management, theatres, indigenous affairs and child protection.
Gerard has a Bachelor of Arts from Griffith University and an Executive Masters of Business Administration from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and is a past recipient of the Local Government Association of Queensland’s Young Manager of the Year Award. Gerard strives to lead in a collaborative and engaging manner which brings staff, community, business and elected representatives together in pursuit of a common cause and has a genuine belief that by working together on the Fraser Coast we can build one of Australia’s leading regional communities
Justine has over 25 years executive level leadership experience in both the private and public sector here in Australia and internationally. Justine’s career has spanned the financial services, tourism, aviation, State and Local Government, property and economic development sectors for major organisations including Destination NSW, Mirvac, NRMA, Commonwealth Bank and the Helloworld Group. She is passionate about delivering the best possible solutions to complex challenges through strategic vision, transformational leadership and embedding a strong culture for our people to drive positive and sustainable outcomes for our community.
Justine has qualifications in Sustainability Leadership from Cambridge University, Strategic Marketing from Cornell University and the Australian Institute of Management and is an Australian Certified Economic Developer.
Infrastructure Services Directorate is responsible for the planning, design, construction and maintenance of road, drainage, coastal assets, fleet management, disaster management and other infrastructure projects to meet the requirements of a rapidly developing region.
Davendra Naidu is a Civil Engineer with extensive experience in design and delivery of infrastructure projects. Davendra has worked in local government for the past 18 years including 6 years as Deputy Director of the former Maryborough City Council's Department of Engineering. Prior to moving to Australia in 2001, Davendra worked for SKM as a Civil/Structural Engineer in their New Zealand and Fiji offices and continued his employment at SKM in Brisbane until 2002, at which time he moved into Local Government.
Davendra holds a Degree in Civil engineering and a Masters of Engineering Management.