Gunnedah Shire Council has been named as a finalist in two categories of the 2025 NSW Local Government Excellence Awards.
The awards, run by Local Government Professionals Australian NSW, celebrate outstanding achievements and promote innovation and continuous improvement within NSW local government.
Gunnedah Shire Council Governance Officer Sienna Miller has been named as a finalist for the Emerging Leader Award, a highly competitive category recognising a rising star aged 35 or under who is working in local government.
Sienna, 20, joined Gunnedah Shire Council in late 2022 after completing high school at St Mary's College. She began as a Trainee and quickly became a Business Support Officer in Customer Service, then Governance, and is now a Governance Officer.
Her nomination recognises Sienna's professionalism, her capability and the valuable role she plays within Gunnedah Shire Council.
Gunnedah Shire is also a finalist in the Borderless Communities Award for the Kamilaroi Highway Group: Seven Councils, One Remarkable Journey. This award recognises councils who have established collaborative agreements with neighbouring areas to implement practical actions to improve social, economic and wellbeing outcomes for their community.
The Kamilaroi Highway Group is a collaboration of seven local government areas to promote the adventure that comes from travelling the Kamilaroi Highway from the mountains to the plains. The councils have partnered to not only make this journey a seamless one for travellers, but to ensure people know just what each Shire has to offer as they make their way along the highway.
Gunnedah Shire General Manager Eric Groth said Council was honoured to be included among the finalists for the prestigious awards.
"We have a Shire with so much to offer, and staff who are dedicated and passionate about sharing their knowledge with other people and other Councils," Mr Groth said.
"The Kamilaroi Highway Group is a great example of how a number of local government bodies can work together to produce a great experience for people who don't need to know where one boundary meets another - they just want to enjoy the journey.
"It is wonderful to see these seven Councils working so well together.
"I would also like to congratulate Sienna Miller, who is an inspiring young staff member. She is a very worthy finalist in the Emerging Leader Award and also a very valuable member of our Council team."
The winners of the 2025 NSW Local Government Excellence Awards will be announced at a dinner on Thursday, 5 June, 2025.
