This month we caught up with Adrian Ralph, General Manager - Asset Management Services at City of Charles Sturt about his role, career background, and his experience with the Executive Leaders Program.

What is your role and what does it involve?

General Manager – Asset Management Services

My team and I manage the civil infrastructure, property infrastructure, open space & club/sporting facilities, field services, asset management planning, fleet services and waste & sustainability. 

What does a typical day look like for you?

Every day is generally quite varied and different, with the only real constants being Council meetings, Committee meetings and our monthly reviews of our performance with my staff. In Asset Management Services there is always a new challenge to work on, whether that be an issue or improvement that residents want addressed, working with staff to evolve and improve our strategy and service delivery, or working with Elected Members to ensure our service meets the needs of the community.

What is your career background?

I am a Metallurgical Engineer, having studied this at the Levels (now Mawson Lakes) campus at Uni SA and I am also a certified Project Manager.

I spent the last 5 years in the mining services sector, most recently working as the Global Director of Assets & Fleet at Boart Longyear. Prior to that I have worked in Asset Management consulting with Babcock and Engineering & Asset Management in heavy industry with Boral and Sims Metal.

You are part of our 2021 Executive Leaders Program (XLP) cohort – how are you finding the program? Any highlights you’d like to share?

The program is great. It is very challenging and thought provoking, and Andrew from Uncharted Leadership is a great facilitator. We have a great cohort that are now very comfortable and open in discussing the XLP topics and challenges we face in our workplace, which makes the experience even better. I highly recommend it to anyone considering it.

As someone who is relatively new to the local government sector, how do you meet new people and network with others in the sector?

The XLP has been a good starting point. Additionally, the collaboration work that the Cities of Charles Sturt, Marion & Port Adelaide Enfield has provided great opportunities to meet and work with others. LG Professionals SA & LGA events are great for networking and sharing ideas too.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I road cycle regularly to keep fit and I love to travel with friends & family, but this has been a bit restricted lately. Usually we try to escape the Adelaide winter to Asia or Northern Australia, but Asia has clearly been crossed off the list for this year. I also have a family farm on Kangaroo Island, so I try to get over there as often as I can too.