Appointment of Chief Executive Officer

Published on 15 October 2026

Following a comprehensive nation-wide executive recruitment process to secure a new Chief Executive Officer that attracted 51 high-level candidate applications with backgrounds in local government, state government and private sector backgrounds, Balonne Shire Council has appointed the Pauline Jacob to the position.

Mrs Jacob comes to the role with over 25 years’ experience in executive leadership roles in government, water, infrastructure, energy, natural resources and management consulting with her most recent role as Deputy Director-General of Fisheries and Forestry Queensland at the Queensland Department of Primary Industries.

Mrs Jacob will commence her role as Chief Executive Officer on 23 November 2026 and will undertake a handover period with the existing Interim Chief Executive Officer David Burges until his departure on 27 November 2026.

Mayor Samantha O’Toole welcomed the appointment of Pauline Jacob to her new role at the Balonne Shire Council.

“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Pauline Jacob to the position of Chief Executive Officer,” said Mayor O’Toole.

“Mrs Jacob comes to the position with extensive experience in government at the highest levels and we have every confidence in her capacity to lead and manage the day-to-day operations of our Council and ensure a seamless transition into the position of Chief Executive Officer.

“Our Council is highly dependent on funding from other levels of government to provide the required services to our residents need, and as the former Deputy Director-General at the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Mrs Jacob is also extremely well positioned to support our efforts to continue sourcing and securing ongoing Council funding.

“Mrs Jacob’s broad experience in engaging with community and key stakeholders will ensure our Council is working in a collaborative manner with the local community, businesses, tourism operators and community groups and sporting groups to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

“Her previous responsibilities and achievements in attaining financially sustainable outcomes in budgetary environments of a much larger scale than ours gives us every confidence in her capacity to ensure our Council continues delivering the services our residents rely on in the most cost-effective way possible.

“I feel like this is an exciting new chapter for our Council to have Mrs Jacob on board and all of us at Council are looking forward to welcoming Pauline to her new role.

“I would like to thank our Interim Chief Executive Officer, David Burges for his steady and dependable leadership during his time in Council whilst we were finalising this executive recruitment process.”

Pauline Jacob said she is excited to take on the role of Chief Executive Officer in Balonne Shire Council.

“I am really looking forward to joining and leading the team at Balonne Shire Council and playing a direct role in delivering outcomes that support Council and the local community,” said Mrs Jacob.

“I was drawn to this role, as it offers the capacity to deliver real and tangible positive outcomes that support and help to shape a positive future for the local community.

“I have been in the region on a number of occasions and was taken aback by the warm and welcoming nature of the local community and I am looking forward to getting around the Shire to meet with everyone in my capacity as CEO.

“I would also like to thank the Councillors for placing their trust in me to lead the Council team and support their vision for the future of Balonne.”

ENDS