David Hughes appointed Lake Macquarie City Council CEO

newy.com.au – David Hughes has been appointed Lake Macquarie City Council’s new chief executive officer and will take up the role on 10 August after previously planned leave.

Mr Hughes, who has been a director at the council for the past eight years, was chosen from a field of candidates from across Australia. Councillors resolved at a meeting on Monday night that he was the outstanding candidate to lead the organisation over the next four years.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz said Mr Hughes was well placed to take on the city’s top administrative role.

“David has a proven track record of success as Council’s Director Built and Natural Assets and in an acting role as Deputy CEO. Prior to that, he was a similarly successful executive in the private sector,” Mayor Adam said.

“Time and again, he has shown himself to be highly capable, confident and compassionate. He shares our vision for Lake Macquarie City and has a leadership style that aligns with our values.”

Mr Hughes grew up in Belmont, attended Belmont High School and is a father of three adult children. He trained as an electrical fitter mechanic before completing a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) and a Masters of Business Administration (Operations Management) at the University of Wollongong.

After working extensively in senior private sector roles, he joined the council in 2018 as Director Built and Natural Assets, overseeing a $4.1 billion built asset portfolio. His achievements at the council include improvements in workplace health and safety, optimisation of the council’s asset management strategy and direction of a $110 million capital works program.

“I’m excited and honoured to be given the opportunity to lead Lake Macquarie City Council,” Mr Hughes said.

“We are here for the community, so our focus will be on providing effective and efficient services while we work to attract housing growth and business investment.”

Mr Hughes described his leadership style as “open, transparent and supportive, but disciplined”.

“My stewardship will be guided by simple principles,” he said.

“The community always comes first, we must build capability by growing leaders from within and we must relentlessly pursue a safer, better, faster and more affordable way of working.”

Mayor Shultz also thanked current CEO Tony Farrell, who stepped into the role temporarily after Morven Cameron stood down in September 2025. Mr Farrell will remain CEO until Mr Hughes begins in August.

“Tony has been a stalwart at Council for many years,” he said.

“He shifted seamlessly from being Deputy CEO into the main job, keeping the organisation and our city moving ahead through a very challenging period. I want to thank Tony for his time and his tireless commitment to our city.”