Chief Executive Officer

The Chief Executive Officer heads the Executive Management Team.  Through the authority of the CEO, this team is devolved the responsibility to implement adopted Council policy and the Operational Plan.

Cairns Regional Council's Chief Executive Officer is Ms Lyn Russell, PSM, FAIM, FLGMA, M.Bus (Public Management).

Lyn is a human resources professional and executive with over thirty years professional experience involving work in the private sector, all tiers of government and management consulting. Her particular skills lie in the areas of workplace reform, human resources strategy, leadership development and the management of change. Lyn was awarded the titles of Telstra Queensland and Australian Business Women on the Year in 1996, and Local Government Managers Association of Queensland Manager of the Year in 2001. In 2006 she was awarded the Public Service Medal for her services as Chief Executive Officer to the City of Thuringowa, North Queensland, where she was Chief Executive Officer from 1998 to 2008. In March 2008 Lyn was appointed as General Manager, Wagga Wagga City Council in NSW. She was awarded the title of LGMA NSW Professional Manager of the Year in 2009.

In 2007 Lyn was Deputy President of Local Government Managers Australia (Queensland) and its North Queensland Director. She is a past Chair of the NQ Region of the Australian Institute of Management; and founder and former President of Women in Management in Queensland. Lyn is also past Chair of the Council of Lifeline North Queensland, and a former Board member of the Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE and the Australian Technical College NQ. Lyn has also been a Board member of Local Government Managers Australia (National); and the Australian Local Government Training Board. In 2006/07 Lyn chaired the National Local Government Skills Shortage Task Force, the State Local Government Skills Formation Task Force, and the national Local Government Women’s Committee, and was also a member of the Queensland Women in Local Government Strategy Group.
Lyn has recently been appointed as a member of the new Regional Development Australia Riverina Committee.

Lyn completed postgraduate studies in the Masters of Business in Public Management at the Queensland University of Technology in 2002. In recent years she has undertaken study tours of local governments in the UK, New Zealand and Canada.

Lyn’s partner, Colin, is a human resources and corporate services manager, and they have three daughters. Her interests include literature, filmgoing and travel. She is a great fan of Stephen Covey and his philosophy of “living, loving, learning and leaving a legacy”.