Former Nedlands CEO Keri Shannon parts ways with City before election nominations open

Keri Shannon’s time as City of Nedlands chief executive is over, four months after she went on indefinite leave and just weeks before local ratepayers vote to install a new council.

A Nedlands spokesperson said on Tuesday the city and its former CEO had agreed to part ways, with last pay cheque cut on January 30.

“The City thanks Ms Shannon for her contributions to the City since her commencement in May 2024 and wishes her well in her future endeavours”, the brief statement read.

The former CEO and Cambridge mayor had been on immediate and indefinite leave since October following a confidential performance review meeting held by the City’s commissioners, who themselves were installed after the former council was removed.

Her departure clears the slate for a new leadership era in Nedlands as voters prepare to vote in a new mayor and council on March 28.

Recruiting a CEO to lead their council workforce will be one of the first roles expected of the new mayor and councillors.

Local government stalwart Arthur Kyron, who was parachuted in as the city’s acting CEO within hours of Ms Shannon going on leave last year, will continue in the interim.

Ms Shannon, who previously served as mayor for the Town of Cambridge was narrowly appointed as CEO in May 2024 in a narrow five to four council vote.

Much of her tenure at Nedlands was spent grappling with financial, governance and managerial issues that saw the council repeatedly divided and embroiled in controversy.

She was also present during the single-day resignation of four councillors which ultimately led Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley to sack the remainder of the council and appoint three commissioners to take over duties.

Ms Shannon had also recently lost her appeal in the State Administrative Tribunal to overturn findings made against her by the local Governments Standards Panel.

The complaints were brought against her by fellow council members at the Town of Cambridge — including now-mayor Gary Mack — between September 2021 and May 2022, during Ms Shannon’s time as mayor.

She was forced to make a public apology, but escaped further censure and training.