shellharbour city council site visit

The LIP were hosted by Shellharbour City Council this week at Shellharbour Airport where we enjoyed a tour of The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) Aviation Museum and had a leadership discussion with Mayor Chris Homer and Chief Executive Officer Mike Archer. The group were joined by Wayde Peterson, Executive Director Business Enterprises, Paul Ferguson, Shellharbour Airport Manager and Kristi Barrett, Learning and Development Team Leader who supported our visit.
 
Mike Archer shared an overview of Shellharbour City Council’s strategy including goals for tourism, facilities and asset management. There are exciting plans for the future, with major regional and city-wide projects in development for the growing area, like improved airport and transport links,  performing arts, sport and community facilities.
 
The leadership discussion centred on the Mayor and CEO’s unique leadership journeys including their previous roles and challenges they have faced. The LIP appreciated the opportunity to learn about how Shellharbour City Council works, the Councillor roles and business units and how they are integrated with the organisation’s strategic vision. A fruitful Q and A session followed and it was highlighted for the LIP that sometimes they will land in opportunities - be ready to embrace them, have self-belief and take one day at a time.
 
Huge thank you to the HARS team including Events Manager Sherryl Sherson and Bob De La Hunty OAM, President and Chief Pilot for arranging and hosting our visit. Thank you to HARS volunteers Doug, Warwick and Richard for enthusiastically guiding us around the impressive museum and event facility that many of us had not been to before. We will certainly be back with family and friends to explore further and learn more about the Illawarra’s diverse aviation history.
 
Thank you to Natasha Debsieh, for delivering a vote of thanks on behalf of the LIP and summarising all that we had learned in a fast-paced afternoon.

Images by Alison Turner and RDA Illawarra