Narrabri Shire Council community relations manager Zoe Saunders has won a prestigious leadership award from local government’s industry association.

Ms Saunders won the 2021 Col Mills Memorial Award, otherwise known as the NSW Emerging Leader of the Year award.

Her award was acknowledged at the last meeting of council amid congratulations from councillors and staff.

“At the recent Local Government Professionals NSW Annual Conference and Awards Evening, the council was proud to receive notice that the 2021 Col Mills Memorial Award recipient was Narrabri Shire Council’s own Zoe Saunders,” Director of Corporate and Community Services Lindsay Mason said in a report at the last meeting.

Local Government Professionals Australia, NSW, formerly known as Local Government Managers Australia NSW, is the leading association representing professionals in NSW local government.

Narrabri Shire Council general manager Stewart Todd is the current president.

The award was judged by retired member Les McMahon and this year the applications were of such a high standard two nominees were awarded, Ms Saunders and City of Canterbury-Bankstown Council Environmental Health Officer, Erin Hogan.

As a recipient of the Col Mills Memorial Award, Ms Saunders has now been entered into the National Award for The Emerging Leader of The Year, which is judged as part of the national awards which will be announced at the Local Government Professionals Australia National Congress and Business Expo to be judged in August.

“With Ms Saunders receiving the Col Mills Memorial Award the council has now had two female employees in recent years being recognised as emerging leaders in NSW Local Government,” said Mr Mason.

“This is an achievement that council’s executive management is extremely proud of and one that Council should be equally proud.

“The Col Mills Memorial Award is made available specifically to Local Government Professionals NSW Next Gen members, under 35 years of age, to support them as they develop in their career in local government,” Mr Mason’s report to the council meeting said.

The Col Mills Award and Scholarship was founded in 1999, in memory of Local Government Professionals NSW member Col Mills, who was a strong advocate of the creation of opportunities for members to advance their professional careers.

“The award looks for professional development, what nominees have done in the past three years to develop themselves professionally and, where appropriate, others.

“Leadership, how nominees have led a team, function, or project, what barriers they faced and how did they overcome these?

“Relationships, how nominees have managed or navigated relationships which have contributed to an outcome.

“In deciding the award, the judge looked for a range of criteria including the significance of the nominee’s achievements or contributions to the community, the nominee’s achievements or contributions to their team or council, and how the nominee’s leadership skills or contributions exceeded expectations.”

The Col Mills Memorial Award was judged by retired member Les McMahon, former general manager at Wollondilly Shire Council, who is also the chair of the judging panel for the AR Bluett Award for local government (won by Narrabri Shire Council in 2018.)

Mr McMahon has only the first name of the nominee with all other identifying information removed, so no council names or other identifying information is available – ensuring there is no bias or favouritism.

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