Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council chief executive officer Kate Gallaway (second from right), pictured at this month’s community cabinet in Cairns with Mayor Robert Poi Poi, Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls, Councillor Kitty Gebadi and Deputy Mayor Mary Yoelu, has been removed from the organisation’s top job following a council vote on 7 March. Photo: Facebook (Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council).
Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC) is on the hunt for a new operational leader after elected members voted to terminate the employment of its chief executive officer on 7 March.
Mayor Robert Poi Poi announced on 10 March the council had made the decision to remove Kate Gallaway from the CEO’s role and immediately begin recruiting for her replacement.
While minutes of the meeting are not yet publicly available, a senior council source told Cape York Weekly the decision was made in a 3-2 vote, with Mayor Poi Poi recusing himself due to a conflict of interest regarding a family member’s personal relationship with Ms Gallaway.
The termination of Ms Gallaway comes on the back of a community-driven Charge.org petition in November 2024 which asked the council to sack the CEO, who was appointed permanently to the role in May 2023, on the basis she and her executive leadership team had eroded community trust over a “severe lack of transparency” and failing to adequately engage local stakeholders.
In mid-2024, the then-Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works appointed a financial controller and governance adviser in the wake of criticism and about NPARC’s strategic, operational and financial management, and a “real worry” about nepotism and the performance of senior staff.
In an email sent to all council staff and seen by Cape York Weekly, Mayor Poi Poi said Ms Gallaway’s “last official day will be … 21 March and she is on personal leave until that time”.
Lew Rojahn has been appointed as interim CEO while the council undertakes a search for Ms Gallaway’s replacement.
In the 10 March media release, Mayor Poi Poi, who is credited with leading the push for substantial change within the organisation following last year’s Queensland local government elections, acknowledged the contribution of Ms Gallaway.
“Kate has supported both the previous council and also the new council, which was elected in 2024,” he said.
“We certainly wish her well in her future endeavours.
“We would like to have a new CEO selected and in place as soon as possible; we are fortunate to have Lew Rojahn agree to step into the interim CEO role to keep us on track in this transition period.”
