Left: Outgoing acting City of Greater Dandenong CEO Bryan Payne will resume his consulting business, but will also chair the Visy Cares Centre board.Right: Former Manningham City Council CEO John Bennie will start Monday at Greater Dandenong as the city’s new CEO.By Shaun Inguanzo
OUTGOING council chief executive Bryan Payne has been appointed chairman of the floundering Visy Cares board to resuscitate the not-for-profit’s finances.
In July, Greater Dandenong Council voted to take interim responsibility for the Visy Cares Centre after it sank into the red under management from Youth Assist Inc.
Councillors voted to underwrite the costs until end of October to keep the youth support centre operational.
But this week, as he spoke with Star about his four-month term as acting CEO term, which ends this week, Mr Payne revealed he would now take on the voluntary role as chairman of the Visy Cares board to help bring its funds back into the black.
“One of my tasks is to knock on a few doors of businesses and tell them about what the centre is doing and get some corporate sponsorship,” he said.
“We do have some already.
“Supergas is a very good sponsor and Grenda, too, but the centre needs more businesses to become involved.”
Mr Payne said he visited the centre during his term as acting CEO and felt he could use his financial nous to help it become self-sustainable.
“If you have a look at what the centre does, it is fantastic,” he said. “They help out about 500 youths a month, and that’s an enormous contribution to the community.”
Mr Payne finishes his post at the council as newly appointed CEO John Bennie takes up the seat on Monday.
Mr Payne said he had spoken with Mr Bennie several times since his appointment by the council in late August.
“I think council’s made a wise decision in its appointment,” he said. “Not only is John very experienced and a professional leader in local government but he also has the passion and drive to ensure council reaches its potential.
“He came from a very good position as CEO at Manningham Council and he could have sat back there and taken an easier ride.
“But he has realised the great challenges and opportunities the city has, and is welcoming them with his open arms.”
Mr Payne was appointed by councillors in June after former CEO Carl Wulff left for Ipswich, Queensland.
Mr Payne made significant changes to Dandenong’s 2006-07 draft budget and this week told Star he had helped the council implement a 10-year financial model that it previously did not have.
