The Chief Executive Officer reports directly to Council. The CEO is responsible for establishing and maintaining an organisational structure that ensures the decisions of Council are implemented, and its vision and Council Plan is delivered. The CEO also provides timely advice to Council.
The Executive Leadership Team is appointed by the CEO and assists in the overall leadership and governance of the organisation. Each executive is supported by a directorate leadership team.
Executive Leadership Team members include:
- Chief Executive Officer – Bruce Dobson
- Director Customer and Performance – Matt Kelleher
- Interim Director City Liveability – Jonathan McNally
- Director Connected Communities – Nicole Columbine (acting)
- Director Infrastructure – Grant Thorne
- Chief Financial Officer – Navec Lorkin
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Bruce Dobson
Bruce Dobson joined Knox City Council as Chief Executive Officer on 8 September 2021.
Bruce is an experienced senior leader. He has a track record of driving organisational performance and delivering superior outcomes and service to the community.
He has a deep understanding of local government and community. Bruce is passionate about the opportunity local government has to improve the lives and experience of local communities.
Before Knox, Bruce served in senior executive roles at the City of Boroondara. He worked across portfolios including:
- Corporate services
- Environment and infrastructure
- Customer experience
- Business transformation
Before that, Bruce held senior executive and management roles at the City of Darebin in Melbourne’s north and Yarra Ranges Shire Council.
He is a chartered accountant with a commercial background working at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Melbourne and London before entering local government.
Reporting structure
- Director Customer and Performance – Matt Kelleher
- Interim Director City Liveability – Jonathan McNally
- Director Connected Communities – Nicole Columbine (acting)
- Director Infrastructure – Grant Thorne
- Chief Financial Officer – Navec Lorkin
Director Customer and Performance – Matt Kelleher
Matt Kelleher is Director Customer and Performance, appointed in April 2026.
Matt joined Knox in May 2019 and has performed a number of director roles, including Director City Liveability. Before joining Knox, Matt was Director Community and Planning at Nillumbik Shire Council.
Matt brings close to 25 years’ experience in local government, including more than a decade at executive level, with experience in leading a diverse portfolio of services across planning, community, customer experience, regulatory services, governance, people and culture, and strategy. He brings a strong track record in delivering complex strategic initiatives and improvements through effective community and stakeholder engagement, with a clear focus on achieving positive and lasting outcomes for communities.
Matt is a values‑driven leader with a genuine and collaborative approach, strategically focused on delivering strong community outcomes through influence and effective relationships. His experience leading service reviews and major change initiatives has enabled Matt to build high‑performing teams with a clear, shared vision for improving services and outcomes for customers and stakeholders. He is recognised for stabilising teams, rebuilding trust and leading transformation initiatives that deliver measurable improvements in culture, systems, service performance and governance maturity.
Matt’s formal qualifications include a Master of Business Administration (MBA), postgraduate qualifications in Property and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Planning. He is a certified change management practitioner (Prosci) and graduate of the Local Government Professionals (LGPro) Executive Leadership Program (XLP).
Reporting structure
- Manager Customer and Communications – Kylie Sprague
- Manager Strategy and Transformation – Lucy Morse (acting)
- Interim Chief Information Officer – Craig Tucker
- Manager Governance and Risk – Andrew Dowling
- Chief People Officer – Debbie Shaw
Interim Director City Liveability – Jonathan McNally
Jonathan McNally joined Knox City Council in November 2021 as Manager City Safety and Health, bringing extensive experience across planning, community safety and regulatory services.
Jonathan is an accomplished local government leader with 24 years’ experience working in local government in several Victorian councils in addition to time spent working professionally in England (UK). Prior to joining Knox, he held senior leadership roles at Nillumbik Shire Council, including Manager Community Safety and Amenity and Manager Planning.
Jonathan’s professional background is grounded in statutory planning, providing a strong foundation in regulatory decision-making and community-focused service delivery.
Jonathan has led a wide range of complex portfolios, including planning, building, environmental health, community laws, and emergency management. He is recognised for his strong track record in delivering organisational change, fostering a culture of high performance and accountability, and achieving positive, sustainable outcomes for communities.
Passionate about the vital role local government plays in supporting thriving communities, Jonathan is also a strong advocate for the opportunities and career pathways available within the local government sector, particularly for emerging leaders.
Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Planning) and has completed the LGPro Emerging Leaders Program (2013). He is currently a participant in the LGPro Executive Leadership Program (2026) and has undertaken additional professional development in stakeholder management and emergency management.
Reporting structure
- Manager City Futures – Shiranthi Widan
- Manager City Planning and Building – Paul Dickie
- Manager City Safety and Health – Tania Triantafilopoulos (acting)
- Manager City Projects – Nicola Ward
Director Connected Communities – Judy Chalkley
Judy Chalkley commenced as Director Connected Communities on 28 March 2023.
Judy has worked in Local Government for 15 years starting at Maroondah City Council. Judy moved to Knox in 2016 as the Coordinator Service Access and Home Support Assessment before being appointed as Manager Community Access and Support.
Judy has extensive experience working at a senior level in a wide range of community service programs in Local Government and State Government. She is a highly regarded industry leader, renowned for her collaborative in the regional and sector leadership and has extensive experience leading teams and organisations through significant change.
Reporting structure
- Manager Community Strengthening – Kerryn Jansons
- Manager Active and Creative Communities – Tom Scanlan (acting)
- Interim Manager Early Years – Robyn Renkema
- Manager Community Access and Support – Gail Power
Director Infrastructure – Grant Thorne
Grant Thorne joined Knox City Council as its Director Infrastructure in September 2020.
Prior to joining Knox, Grant was Director City Infrastructure at Moreland City Council for over 6 years.
Grant has 27 years of experience across rural, growth and metropolitan councils and extensive experience in senior leadership and executive roles within local government. Grant’s experience includes leading large and complex teams including open space design and development, open space maintenance, street cleansing, roads, fleet, waste, engineering, asset management, building maintenance, building projects, local laws, parking, animal management, transport and project management.
He brings strong leadership skills and a passion for working with and improving the local community.
Grant’s formal qualifications include Bachelor of Engineering (Civil), Graduate Diploma of Management and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Reporting structure
- Manager Engineering Services and Operations – Charlie Taveira
- Manager Green Spaces and Environment – Andrew Dodd
- Manager Major Projects and Facilities – Monica Micheli
- Manager Strategic Infrastructure – Matt Hanrahan
Chief Financial Officer – Navec Lorkin
Navec Lorkin joined Knox City Council as Chief Financial Officer in March 2021.
Prior to joining Knox, Navec was Manager Business and Governance with the Bureau of Meteorology. Navec has held a number of senior roles within large and complex organisations.
She is strategically minded, people focused and a performance driven leader with 20 years' experience across all levels of government (local, state and commonwealth) while also having experience across industries including water, land and asset management and retail.
Navec’s formal qualifications include Bachelor of Commerce and Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA). She is also a certified change management practitioner (Prosci) and a Prince2 program manager practitioner.
Reporting structure
- Manager Strategic Procurement and Property – Tim Lawson
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