New infrastructure delivery director appointed at council

Narrabri Shire Council has appointed local Eloise Chaplain as its new director of infrastructure delivery.

Mrs Chaplain is a Narrabri Shire local, growing up north-west of Wee Waa and commenced with council two years ago as the manager of projects and assets.

For the past six months, Mrs Chaplain has been the acting director of infrastructure delivery overseeing council’s water, parks and open spaces, roads, projects and assets, and design portfolios.

During this time Mrs Chaplain has played a crucial role in emergency response situations as council’s local emergency management officer, chairing the local emergency management committee assisting in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the shire as well as numerous other emergency events during this time.

Mrs Chaplain is a mining engineer with 10 years experience.

She also holds a Masters in Business Finance.

Council’s general manager Stewart Todd praised Mrs Chaplain’s leadership and qualifications as well as her extensive contribution to delivering and maintaining crucial infrastructure across the shire in her role as manager of projects and assets and more recently as the acting director of infrastructure delivery.

“Eloise, since starting with council, has brought a set of very relevant skills, experience and qualifications,” Mr Todd said.

“Her mix of engineering and finance has been very beneficial, especially in the space of project management.

“Eloise has led the introduction of several significant changes in the space of our project management framework as well as a number of major advancements in our use of TechnologyOne.”

Some of the projects Mrs Chaplain has been involved with include: Narrabri CBD Pavement Replacement project, Spring and Horsearm Creek timber bridge replacements, and the Wee Waa and Boggabri Sewage Treatment upgrades.

She was also the superintendent of the Narrabri Airport Apron Extension project.

“Eloise has been enthusiastic and made significant contributions as a member of council’s executive management team over the last six months, I congratulate her on her permanent appointment as council’s new director,” Mr Todd said.

“Her dual qualifications in engineering and finance are a rare combination.

“Eloise will commence maternity leave shorty.

“I am excited to continue to work with Eloise, in a permanent capacity, as are the other members of the executive management team.”

Mrs Chaplain is pleased to be able to contribute positively to the shire she grew up in.

“I am thankful to have the opportunity to come back home and use my skills for the benefit of my local community,” she said.

“I am fortunate to work with a great team and a progressive council.

“This is an exciting time for Narrabri Shire with so many wonderful opportunities we as a shire can capitalise on.

“I am looking forward to continuing to build on the momentum council has developed over the past few years in this role and use my local knowledge to contribute to the infrastructure delivery across each and every shire community.”