Council has recently welcomed Leanne Macdonald as the new Group Manager of Business Support, which includes the finance, information systems, communications and Council property teams:

I’m really pleased to be living here in Ashburton and getting to know my new community.  Since arriving a few weeks ago, I’ve been focused on meeting my teams and learning about some of the key pieces of work that will fall under my scope over the next few years.

The Business Support group is wide-ranging, with people responsible for communications, finance, Council property, information systems and legal counsel.

And three big things that I can already see on the list of upcoming work are funding for the proposed second bridge, the move to the new library and civic building and the 2024-34 Long Term Plan, planning for which has already started.

I feel very proud to be working for the Council and pleased to have the opportunity to lead the group - there is much to learn and I am enjoying getting stuck in.

My husband has also secured a job in Ashburton, and we have bought a house and already feel quite settled. Our two fur-babies have joined a doggy day-care, so the entire family has settled in well to this very warm and welcoming community.

I am chartered accountant by trade and have a history of local government that started with the Palmerston North airport, before I moved to a regional council and then onto district councils.  For me the district councils are very special as we (the staff) are very much part of and within the community, supporting our community.

While I initially hailed from the North Island, I am very much a South Island girl at heart.  I have spent the past three years with the Central Otago District Council, looking after similar corporate services (excluding property) and really enjoyed the role, and the district, especially the lakes, the rocks and the trails.

That being said, we love the diversity of the scenery here in Ashburton from the rolling green pasture through to the beautiful snow-covered alps, and of course the beautiful Mt Hutt.

My husband and I are really looking forward to exploring the Ashburton District and the wider region on our gravel bikes, and simply enjoying the countryside with our two dogs and generally getting to know what Ashburton has to offer.

So if you see me out and about please feel free to say hello. I love meeting new people, especially in the community that I am here to support.