Council has appointed highly accomplished project manager and strategic planning leader, Emma Struys, as Director City Development.
Ms Struys is currently the Executive Manager Growth and Economic Development for the City of Darwin and comes to the job with more than 17 years' experience in planning roles across government and industry.
CEO Andrew Constance said that Ms Struys' proven ability to deliver on planning and economic development strategies aligned to community and organisational goals made her the preferred candidate following a highly competitive recruitment process.
"Emma has a track record for being a results driven, strategic thinker with diverse experience in consulting businesses, local and state governments. Her property, planning, project management, stakeholder engagement and team leadership skills will be instrumental in helping to shape the future of the Shoalhaven," Mr Constance said.
"As one of the most senior leaders in the business, the Director City Development role oversees city planning, development assessments, building compliance and environmental services to ensure sustainable growth for the region," he said.
"I'm excited to welcome Emma to the team and know that with her extensive professional experience she will be an excellent leader with a focus on delivering the best outcomes for our community."
Mayor Patricia White said it was fantastic to see all director positions now filled by highly skilled professionals, following many months of interim appointments in these key leadership roles.
"Emma's appointment completes our team of four directors, each bringing exceptional knowledge and experience to their positions. This strong leadership group reports directly to the CEO and will play a pivotal role in service delivery and working for the community," Cr White said.
Emma Struys said she recognised her privileged position working in local government.
"We are making direct impact in our communities and planning for our shared futures together," Ms Struys said.
"I'm very much looking forward to returning to places where it all began in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Region, getting to know the teams and getting stuck into delivering on our goals and shaping resilient futures for our communities."
Ms Struys has worked in strategic planning senior leadership roles in the Northern Territory for the past four years and has lived experience on the south coast when she worked for both Kiama and Wollongong councils between 2014 and 2021. In the Illawarra Ms Struys was the Urban Release Manager (acting), delivering on the West Dapto Vision. She was seconded to the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation (ISJO) where she led regional policy development on the Water Sensitive Cities program, identifying strengths and weaknesses of water management for the region.
At the City of Darwin, Ms Struys helped to deliver award-winning strategies such as the City of Darwin 2030 suite, and pioneered liveability initiatives that align infrastructure, policy and community needs. Other awards include the Planning Institute Australia's National Award for Planning Excellence and the Award for Excellence at the 2023 Chief Minister's NT Export Awards.
Ms Struys is a graduate of Wollongong University where she earned her Batchelor of Science (Hons) in Land and Heritage Management. She is passionate about driving innovation to shape sustainable, resilient and inclusive communities and has a proven ability to lead teams and deliver on organisational goals. Ms Struys starts her new role on 12 January 2026.
