Executive Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 

Dean Unsworth

Dean commenced as Chief Executive Officer in September 2019 in a joint agreement with the Shire of Murray, where he undertakes a dual CEO role as part of an innovative resource sharing agreement between the two Councils.

Dean is responsible for Governance, Strategic Planning, Funding Opportunities and Partnerships, Economic Development, and Marketing and Communications.

Dean Unsworth has been the CEO of the Shire of Murray since August 2007, previously holding the roles of CEO Gnowangerup (2002-2005), Deputy CEO Bridgetown-Greenbushes (2002-2005)and Senior Finance Officer with the City of Bunbury (2000-2002).

A Certified Practicing Accountant and member of CPA Australia, Dean also has a Double Major in Accounting and Marketing with Edith Cowan University. Dean had spent over a decade in the media industry including managerial roles, in his home state of Tasmania, New South Wales and Western Australia. With experience in tourism marketing including managerial roles with the Busselton and Dunsborough Tourism Associations, Dean has a focus on positive economic, social and environmental development.

Dean is passionate about the Peel Region and is committed to working with the Waroona community, maintaining an enviable lifestyle for its residents whilst attracting investment and visitor revenue for the local economy.

DIRECTOR CORPORATE SERVICES

Ashleigh Nuttall

Ashleigh is responsible for Finance, Annual Budgets & Rates, Long Term Financial Plans, Customer Service, Information Technology, Records Management, and Ranger Services.

Ashleigh is passionate about Local Government as a productive and rewarding career opportunity for those with a passion for working in and developing a local community.

DIRECTOR INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES

Patrick Steinbacher

Patrick heads up the Infrastructure Services Directorate which is responsible for the management of public works infrastructure such as roads, public parking and parks and gardens.  Other tasks that fall under this directorate are waste management and works fleet management.  Patrick joined the Shire in 2011 as a consultant and was appointed to his current role as Director in July 2014.  With a background in earthmoving and construction and a Diploma of Civil Engineering, Patrick now has a twenty year career working in virtually every role in the works and services field for several local governments throughout Western Australia as an employee and during a six year stint as a self-employed consultant to the LG industry.  With his team, Patrick is committed to achieving improved, innovative and sustainable outcomes both now and into the future.   

ACTING DIRECTOR PLACE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

David Arkwright

Mr Dave Arkwright has been appointed the Acting Director Place and Economic Development.  David was born into a farming family in Zimbabwe in 1952 – dairy and tobacco farm and schooled in Zimbabwe.  He went to university in South Africa in 1972 – studied Town and Regional Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg returning to Zimbabwe 1975 and did 4 years military service. Following that he left Zimbabwe in 1980 for South Africa and spent the next 27 years in various roles, including working for the European Union, the World Bank and the Development Bank of Southern Africa.

Major projects undertaken in the period 1980 to 2007 included the Maputo Corridor project, the Wild Coast Tourism initiative and the Land Restitution program. David came over to Western Australia in 2007 under a sponsorship from the State Government, and joined the Department of Planning. He joined the Peel Development Commission in 2009 and was involved in a number of major projects including the Peel Water Reuse Scheme, the Transform Peel program and the Western Australian Food Innovation Precinct.

David joined the Shire of Murray in 2018 as Manager Investment Attraction, working on a number of existing and new projects and driving the economic development agenda.

David is married to Sarah who teaches science and french at Mandurah Baptist College. They have two boys – Stephen who works for Newmont Gold and Chris who works for Cutts Engineering in Manjimup.

ACTING DIRECTOR OF PLANNING & SUSTAINABILITY 

Rod Peake

Rod is responsible for Planning Services, Building Services, Environmental Health and Environmental Services at the Shire of Murray. Appointed to the position of Director of Planning and Development Services in January 2008, Rod has extensive experience in urban planning and development assessment, Rod has previously held various positions with outer metro growth local governments, including the Cities of Joondalup and Wanneroo. During his career, Rod has been responsible for a range of significant projects including structure plans for major urban and industrial growth areas, town centre planning and revitalisation projects, a range of planning and environmental strategies and significant infrastructure schemes. Rod is qualified with a Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning from Curtin University, and a Graduate Diploma in Business (Management) from Edith Cowan University, and is a corporate member of the Planning Institute of Australia.