Davidson young but experienced leader

Horowhenua District Council's customer and community services group manager Monique Davidson (pictured) has been appointed chief executive of Central Hawke's Bay District Council.

Mrs Davidson, 29, will be one of the youngest council chief executives when she takes up her new role in June.

Born, and bred in Horowhenua Mrs Davidson went to St Joseph's School and Waiopehu College in Horowhenua, before graduating from Victoria University with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts.

Mrs Davidson's current role in council includes responsibility for a large portfolio covering community services such as parks, property, aquatics and libraries, and also governance, communications and customer and regulatory services. She also covers the responsibilities of deputy chief executive. Mrs Davidson is a member of the Local Government New Zealand Governance and Strategy Advisory Group.

Mrs Davidson said it is an “amazing opportunity”, made possible working under the current chief executive, David Clapperton's leadership and mentoring.

“I have been able to develop and now move onto an amazing opportunity.

“I am committed to serving local communities and building long term customer confidence through delivering effective and innovative services. The local government sector is rapidly evolving and it's an exciting time to be given the challenge to lead an organisation through that.”

Mr Clapperton said he had reluctantly accepted Mrs Davidson's resignation and with mixed emotions.

“However, I am absolutely delighted for Monique. This is an extremely exciting opportunity for her, both personally and professionally,” he said.

“I recruited Monique six years ago as a new graduate from university. She arrived bright-eyed, extremely eager and ready to take on any challenge thrown her way; and this she has done to an exceptional standard.”

He said Mrs Davidson had epitomised the organisation's vision of ‘working together to take Horowhenua from good to great'.

“For some time now, Monique has aspired to being a chief executive. I thought she would achieve that by the time she was 35-years-old, but she has done so before she is 30, and will likely be the youngest-ever chief executive of a council in New Zealand. However, it's not about age, it's about her ability to do the job.”

Mrs Davidson's last day at Horowhenua District Council will be Friday, May 16. She will begin her new role at Central Hawke's Bay on Tuesday, June 6.