Interim Chief Executive Officer

The organisation

The Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority (MLRA) is an independent body established on 30 June 2020 under amendments to the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 (Vic) to replace the role and functions of the Latrobe Valley Mine Rehabilitation (LVMR) Commissioner, who has been monitoring mine rehabilitation in the Latrobe Valley since June 2017. In essence, the Commissioner’s role was established in Victorian Law to provide independent assurance to the community that public sector bodies and the Latrobe Valley mine operators are planning effectively for the rehabilitation of the three Latrobe Valley brown coal mines, and to promote community and stakeholder participation in the planning processes. 

The Authority, steered by experts and locals, continues to deliver the role and functions of the Commissioner in overseeing the implementation of the Latrobe Valley Regional Rehabilitation Strategy by public sector bodies and mine licensees, but will adopt additional functions in relation to registering, monitoring, and owning declared mine land post-closure.

Key focus areas of the Authority are: 

Coordinating rehabilitation planning activities and monitoring and evaluating risks posed by geotechnical, hydrogeological, water quality or hydrological factors for declared mine land.

Providing assurances to the Victorian community that the Latrobe Valley Regional Rehabilitation Strategy (LVRRS) is being implemented effectively by public sector bodies and mine licensees.

Informing, educating and engaging with Victorian communities, to ensure that locals have a say in relation to the planning for rehabilitation of declared mine land.

Providing advice and recommendations to the Minister for Resources in relation to the regulatory framework, outcomes of stakeholder engagement, and planning for rehabilitation, monitoring, maintaining and management of declared mine land.

Investigating, auditing and reporting on public sector bodies and mine licensees in relation to the implementation and effectiveness of rehabilitation planning activities, and on matters referred by the Minister for Resources.

Monitoring, maintaining and managing declared mine land in accordance with the relevant post-closure plan, establishing and maintaining a register of declared mine land, and purchasing, acquiring and disposing of declared mine land or land in close proximity, if required.

The brief

Brooker Consulting was requested by the Board Deputy Chair to submit a proposal for the provision of executive search and selection services to assist the Board to recruit an outstanding Interim Chief Executive Officer or Interim Director of Corporate Services to support and complement the incumbent Acting CEO, who has exemplary technical capabilities.

The incoming executive would echo the organisation’s values of Respect, Compassion, Integrity, Optimism and Collaboration in implementing the key objectives documented in the 2021-2024 Strategic Plan.

It was estimated that the Interim Executive would be required for a 3–6-month period, and be present in Morwell for at least 3 days of the working week. Depending on the credentials and capability of the candidate, the Board was open to a 0.8FTE or 9 day per fortnight engagement. Accommodation support was provided, and a vehicle was made available due to the travel requirement of the position.

The ideal candidate was to bring financial leadership, corporate governance, and human skills to manage multiple and often competing stakeholder groups. The Interim CEO/DCC was to stabilise and bring cohesion to a team that due to the Covid working environment and age of the organisation, had predominantly worked from home and in siloes.

The process

After a rapid and extensive search campaign, 5 candidates were presented for discussion during the shortlisting meeting with the Selection Panel.

The outcome

All were selected for an interview.  After a rigorous interview process, Dr Jenny Brereton was appointed to the position.

Dr Brereton is a senior consulting professional and Board director who has worked on a variety of large projects across many industries working with government, consultancies and the private sector. With a background in environmental science, Jenny articulates her role to be the person who communicates the science behind the projects to stakeholders who often have competing agendas. Working primarily in the environmental, sustainability, quality, safety, communication advisory space, Jenny was previously Chair of the Technical Review Board within the Earth Resource Regulation (DJPR). Jenny has post graduate qualifications in Organisational Change Management (DBA), Environmental Science, Public and International Law, and accreditations in Auditing (quality, safety and environmental) and Project Management.  

Dr Brereton was offered the substantive role and is still in situ as the Chief Executive Officer of the Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority some 24 months later.