In a confidential meeting on Wednesday, council appointed Mr Bezuidenhout and thanked interim chief executive Paul Brumby for his service while council conducted its executive search.

The appointment comes after four years at the helm, David Leahy resigned in October, 2020.

Mr Bezuidenhout will commence his role on May 10.

Mr Bezuidenhout was born in South Africa and did his National Service directly after school, where he was commissioned as Officer and involved in active warfare in Angola.

He remained in the Defence Force Reserves and eventually had a career of nearly 20 years.

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After his two years of National Service, Mr Bezuidenhout qualified as a lawyer and worked in private practice for 16 years in South Africa and later in Queensland after migrating to Australia in 2006.

Over the next 12 years, Mr Bezuidenhout worked in both the legal space and senior project and general management roles. Mr Bezuidenhout made the transition into the public sector in 2015 as head of Capital Projects for the Gladstone Area Water Board and, in 2018, joined Cloncurry Shire Council in North West Queensland as their chief executive.

Mr Bezuidenhout and his wife Carine both grew up in rural areas. Their families were involved in agriculture.

Mr Bezuidenhout understands the challenges that rural communities face but also appreciates and sees it as a privilege to live in and be part of a rural community.

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