Ex-City of Canning chief executive Arthur Kyron swaps out for Shire of Augusta-Margaret River’s Addison-Brown

Shire of Augusta-Margaret River now has an acting chief executive in place after recently resigned boss Stephanie Addison-Brown claimed her remaining leave entitlements earlier this month and departed for good.

Although Ms Addison-Brown’s tenure officially ends on February 9, moves to appoint an interim chief executive quickly plugged that gap with former City of Canning local government veteran Arthur Kyron.

Mr Kyron was appointed in an acting capacity while Shire president Julia Meldrum co-ordinates a search for a permanent CEO with deputy Paula Cristoffanini and Cr Ian Earl.

The Times understands Mr Kyron was already living in Busselton and working as a consultant after stepping back from local government after the City of Canning council moved not to endorse a two-year contract extension and instead advertised for a new CEO.

Cr Meldrum said Mr Kyron had “extensive CEO experience in local government” which included stints at Canning, Victoria Park and the Town of Claremont.

“He has a broad range of qualifications including social sciences, social work, business management and finance,” she said.

“He is also an accredited mediator and keen advocate for the arts.

“Arthur genuinely reflects the values of our Shire — respect, integrity, community and excellence,” the Shire president said.

Mr Kyron would be paid pro rata the same as Ms Addison-Brown, who had a total salary package of about $340,000 per year.

It was unclear whether the permanent chief role would include a pay bump within the band allocated by WA’s Salaries and Allowances Tribunal when advertised.

Mr Kyron told the Times since finishing up after five years at Canning in 2021, he’d travelled overseas and also set up his own business.

“(The Canning) council decided to refresh the leadership, so my contract was not renewed,” he said.

“I had asked for an additional two years to see the completion of some significant projects I was involved with.”

Mr Kyron said he was proud of his achievements at Canning which included advocacy for a new football arena and the railway precinct.

The Shire statement said Mr Kyron was expected to fill the role for six months, but had advised he was “flexible” if the contracted needed to be extended.

The Shire previously engaged former local government bureaucrat Graeme Davies as an acting chief before an organisation restructure reinstating the Shire’s three-director model just before Ms Addison-Brown tendered her resignation.