Senior Management Team

Stace Lewer

Chief Executive Officer

About the Chief Executive role: The Chief Executive creates the teams and structures to put into action the direction provided by elected members. Together, the leadership team implement the decisions of Council, provide advice to Councillors on managing the activities of the organisation effectively and efficiently, plan and provide accurate reports on the financial and service performance of Council, employ and lead staff.

About Stace: Stace (MBA, Deans Medal, Grad Cert Engineering, Life Coaching and Hypnosis) brings more than 20 years’ local government experience to the Chief Executive role at council, with roles here in the Eastern Bay of Plenty (Ōpōtiki and Whakatāne District councils) and 16 years working at Wingecarribee Shire Council in Australia.

Stace is married with two young children. He enjoys the outdoors including hitting the trails on the mountain bike, kayak fishing and hiking with the family.

Antoinette Campbell

Group Manager - Strategy & Development and District Civil Defence Controller

About the Group Manager role: The Strategy and Development portfolio includes all things planning, development and rules. This includes long-term and annual planning, spatial and land-use planning, assets planning, building and resources consents, environmental health and compliance, animal control, economic development, policies and bylaws, and planning for our public spaces and places.

About Antoinette: Antoinette (Masters - Resource & Environmental Planning, BSc) joined council in August 2024 from the Hawkes Bay where she held several leadership roles in community strategy and planning, arts and cultural service delivery, sport and recreation facility management, and commercial business and events venue operations.

Antoinette has four adult sons, all keen on rugby, hunting and fishing. She spends much of her free time exploring the district and the region with her beach-mad labradoodle.

Nathan Hughes

Group Manager - Service Delivery

About the Group Manager role: The Service Delivery portfolio covers operations and projects for council infrastructure, three waters (wastewater, stormwater and water supply), roads and transport, rubbish and recycling, parks and reserves, operations of the new harbour, Te Tāhuhu o Te Rangi the Ōpōtiki District library, isite and events.

About Nathan: Nathan (BE (hons)) worked as an engineering consultant prior to joining the council team in 2021. He was most recently based in Singapore working in construction contract administration and project management for water infrastructure projects.

Nathan is married and has two young children. His wife runs her own speech therapy business and is actively involved in their church community helping run a playgroup for families with young children. Together the family enjoy being outdoors, working on projects in the backyard and lots of reading.

Rachael Burgess

Group Manager - Business Support

About the Group Manager role: The Business Support portfolio is responsible for the efficient management of the Council's finance, property, governance, communications, information technology, human resources, and customer service operations.

About Rachael: Rachael ((MBA), Ngāti Awa / Tūhoe) has worked across regional and local government for many years with a keen focus on community development and environmental stewardship. Her previous role at Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council covered facilities and fleet management, corporate sustainability and customer service delivery.

Rachael is married and has two school-aged children who are keen motocross and mountain biking enthusiasts and love using wheels to explore the beautiful eastern Bay of Plenty.