New CEO for Ararat

Key points

• Ararat Rural City Council has appointed Phuong Au as its new Chief Executive Officer for a four-year term starting 1 October 2026. Councillors endorsed the appointment at their August meeting, following a public recruitment process run by an external consultancy.
• Current chief executive Dr Tim Harrison will retire on 30 September 2026, bringing his retirement forward. Ms Au first joined the council in 2023 and became Deputy Chief Executive Officer in 2025.
• Mayor Bob Sanders said she was a standout candidate.