Baw Baw Shire Councillors have elected East Ward Councillor Kate Wilson as Mayor and Central Ward Councillor Suzanne Allen as Deputy Mayor to lead the next 12 months of the Council term.
The decision was made by unanimous vote at today's Statutory Council Meeting.
Cr Wilson was first elected to Council in 2024 and brings a wealth of corporate, business and agriculture experience to the position.
In accepting the role as Mayor, Cr Wilson thanked Councillors and community for their encouragement and support.
"It's a great honour to be elected Mayor of Baw Baw Shire, a place where I am proud to live, work and represent. I look forward to working closely with my fellow Councillors, staff and our community to deliver the priorities in our Council Plan and work towards our shared vision for a stronger, thriving and connected community", said Cr Wilson.
"Looking ahead, I want to make sure every voice is heard, to cast my votes with fairness and integrity, and always with the whole community in mind. I'm committed to continuing the great work already started for the betterment of our region and am excited to see what can be achieved."
Cr Allen was grateful for the opportunity to serve as Deputy Mayor.
"I'm thankful for the trust my fellow Councillors have placed in me. I look forward to supporting Mayor Wilson in representing our community and doing the best we can for this beautiful place we call home", said Cr Allen.
Outgoing Mayor Cr Goss congratulated both Cr Wilson and Cr Allen on their appointments and thanked the community and fellow Councillors for their support throughout his tenure as Mayor.
Both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor will serve a one-year term in their roles.
During the meeting, several Councillor committee appointments were made and Council adopted a schedule for Council meetings for 2026, with meetings to be held on the fourth Wednesdays of the month and alternately commence at 1.00pm and 5:30pm.
The first Council meeting for the term will be held at 1.00pm on Wednesday 26 November in the Fountain Room of the West Gippsland Arts Centre. Members of the public are welcome to attend.
