To ensure you get great service, Glen Eira Council delegates certain responsibilities to a Chief Executive Officer and six executive leaders. The executive leadership team plans, co-ordinates and monitors the progress of our goals and strategic direction and manages day-to-day business activities.
Organisational structure
Each executive leader has a specific area of responsibility and gets support from business unit managers and their staff.
Here's some information about our key people.
Chief Executive Officer
Rebecca McKenzie
Started role in February 2016
Bachelor of Arts (Griffith University), Graduate Certificate in Business Administration (Griffith University), Master of Science (Sheffield Hallam University UK), Graduate (Australian Institute of Company Directors)
Rebecca is an accomplished leader with a successful executive career across three countries and three sectors.
CEO of Glen Eira City Council since February 2016, Rebecca is passionate about local government’s role in creating liveable and resilient communities with a pride of place.
Responsible for a $170 million business which delivers more than 120 services to the Glen Eira community, Rebecca has an extensive background and qualifications in public sector leadership, including CEO at Mitchell Shire Council and executive roles in the UK, Ireland, and Queensland.
A values-based leader who invests in people, Rebecca builds strong relationships at all levels, and mentors and coaches emerging leaders in the sector. She is the Chair of Zoos Victoria and sits on the South East Water Customer and Community Council and the Ministerial Gender Equity Advisory Committee. In 2018 Rebecca was delighted to be named one of the Top 50 public sector women in Victoria.
Director Community Wellbeing
Mark Saunders
Started role in 2020
Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Health), Graduate Certificate Local Government Management.
Mark has 20 years’ experience in senior community service roles within local government across of range services including public health, community development, libraries, aged care as well as family, youth and children’s services. Mark has extensive experience in public health policy, social policy and emergency relief and recovery services.
Director Customer and Corporate Affairs
Kellie Vise
Started role in 2022
Master Business Administration
Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma (Education) and Graduate Diploma (Business) La Trobe University
Graduate (Australian Institute of Company Directors)
Kellie joined Council in 2020. An experienced senior executive, specialising in business transformation, organisational change, customer experience and stakeholder engagement, Kellie has over 20 years of leadership experience across a range of sectors including retail, utilities, local government and tertiary education.
Kellie has led a range of impactful strategic and transformational initiatives in both regional and urban communities and has a strong commitment to social inclusion and self-determination.
Director Planning and Place
Rosa Zouzoulas
Started role February 2024
Bachelor of Engineering and Computing, Bachelor of Planning, Graduate Diploma of Heritage Planning
Graduate (Australian Institute of Company Directors)
With more than 20 years of expertise spanning strategic and statutory planning, building, heritage, environment, transport, policy, and legal services, Rosa brings expertise in formulating and executing strategies and policies, spearheading initiatives, and crafting impactful reports that foster community engagement to drive positive results. Experience in service reviews and leading transformative changes, has enabled her to build high-performing teams united by a shared vision. She brings a wealth of experience from diverse local councils, ranging from urban to peri-urban settings, demonstrating unwavering commitment to achieving positive benefits for the community.
Director Sustainability, Assets and Leisure
Niall McDonagh
Started role in 2020
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil), Master of Business Administration and Graduate Diploma in Psychology
Niall has 30 years experience working across and holding leadership positions at all levels of Government. Niall started his career with the Australian Army, where he established his passion for combining civil engineering with helping the community. He also held a senior leadership role with the Office of Commonwealth Games Coordination, however most notable is his 20 years experience within the Local Government sector, where he has gained outstanding skills across a variety of engineering disciplines, including road safety, civil and structural design, coastal engineering, project management, waste services, infrastructure maintenance, construction and policy and strategy development.
Since completing his MBA, Niall has gained experience beyond infrastructure and held Director positions within the Statutory and Strategic Planning area and also the Local Laws and Corporate Planning areas.
Niall is passionate about Local Governments' role in building thriving communities. He has strong leadership values and focuses on the well being of staff as his foundational principle of leadership.
Chief Financial Officer
John Vastianos
Started in 2016
Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in accounting), Fellow Certified Practicing Accountant, Graduate Certificate in Management, Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and completion of the LGPRO (XLP) Executive Leadership Program.
John was appointed to the role of Chief Financial Officer in 2016 and has more than 20 years’ experience in financial management, budgeting, long-term strategic financial planning, risk management, cash flow forecasting, treasury, tendering, payroll, system implementations and internal/external financial reporting requirements.
John’s portfolio includes the following functions of Council: financial management, long-term financial planning, asset management, payroll, procurement and contracts and rates and valuations.
John has held previous roles at Glen Eira Council including Finance Manager and Financial Accountant and has worked previously at the City of Yarra and James Cook University.
Chief People Officer
Kirsty James
Started in November 2016
Bachelor of Business (Organisational Development and Marketing), Swinburne University
Certificate IV Training and Assessment, Box Hill Tafe
Kirsty joined Council in November 2016. Kirsty is an experienced people and culture practitioner having more than 20 years’ experience working across all aspects of people and culture. She is an enthusiastic advocate for the engagement, empowerment and development of employees and leaders to create a positive and productive workplace culture. Kirsty has experience across private industry, State Government and local government where she has spent the last 13 years. With Glen Eira’s most recent employee engagement results falling in the top decile, she is well qualified continue making a difference to employees, teams, the organisation and the sector.
Her key skills include people leadership, human resources management, industrial and employee relations, organisational development, strategic thinking, change management, culture and engagement, and safety and risk.
