• Incoming Bayswater CEO Jeremy Edwards and mayor Filomena Piffaretti.

BAYSWATER has a new CEO, nabbing City of Swan chief Jeremy Edwards who finishes up there in July.

Bayswater’s last CEO Andrew Brien left in February to take up the top job at Kalgoorlie-Boulder council.

Bayswater mayor Filomena Piffaretti said in an announcement she was glad they’d been able to attract a high calibre CEO in Mr Edwards.

“Jeremy has a proven record of managing major infrastructure projects and working with developers to better understand the barriers and opportunities to investing in growth council areas,” Cr Piffaretti said.

“His skills are an excellent fit for the organisation as the City is experiencing unprecedented investment in major road and rail projects by the state government.

“Jeremy is experienced at advocating for funding both at the state and federal level. He is also a firm believer in engaging the community in the decisions that affect them.”

Funding advocacy will be a welcome skill at cash-strapped Bayswater: In the last few years the council hasn’t had a lot of success getting grants from other levels of government, with Maylands Waterland and Bayswater Waves in desperate need of external cash for upgrades. 

Mr Edwards started out in WA Police and went on to be a patrol officer at Wanneroo council. He worked his way up through local government ranks and from 2010 to 2020 he was director of community services at Bayswater, before going on to be CEO at Gingin, East Pilbara, and Swan councils. 

As CEO of Bayswater, Mr Edwards total reward package costs $359,420 a year. The CEO pay band for a big urban council like Baysy is between $250,000 and $381,000. 

by DAVID BELL