Leanne Barnes PSM OAM, was the General Manager of Bega Valley Shire Council until July 2021 a position she held for the past eight years, leading the Council’s work with community and the region in interagency prevention, planning, response and recovery.

Leanne has worked in local government and state government agencies since 1978, including with the Canberra Regional Joint Organisation where she is currently supporting work on the development of a South East Resilience Blueprint. Leanne also supports LGNSW in rolling out their induction and governance programs for Councils and is working on the Regional Circularity Co-operative’s National Circularity Centre to be constructed in Bega NSW.

She has held positions on a number of Boards, where her focus has been on corporate governance, forward planning and culture. A previous National team player and Board member with Water Polo Australia (WPA), Leanne also has a key role working with their elite programs having lead the successful inclusion of the women’s program into the Olympic Games culminating in the 2000 Olympic Gold.