Livingstone Shire Council Welcomes New CEO

Published on 29 June 2026

Livingstone Shire Council has today officially welcomed new Chief Executive Officer Tom Upton as he commences in the role, marking an important new chapter for the organisation and the community.

Mr Upton joins Council following more than seven years as Chief Executive Officer at Banana Shire Council, where he built a strong reputation for stable leadership, sound governance, and a people-focused approach to service delivery.

Mayor Adam Belot said Mr Upton’s commencement marks an important step in Council’s continued focus on stability, consistency and delivering for the community.

“Today is an important day for Livingstone Shire as we welcome Tom into the organisation and begin this next chapter together,” Mayor Belot said.

“Tom brings extensive executive leadership experience, a strong track record in regional local government and a clear understanding of what it takes to build high-performing organisations.

“Council undertook a thorough and considered recruitment process because we recognised how important this appointment was, not only for our organisation, but for our community.

“Like any organisation, stability in leadership matters. It provides certainty for staff, confidence for the community and consistency in the delivery of long-term priorities.”

Mayor Belot said Council was confident Mr Upton would provide that steady leadership as Livingstone continues to grow and evolve.

“Livingstone is one of Queensland’s fastest-growing regional areas and with that growth comes both opportunity and complexity,” he said.

“We need strong, collaborative leadership to guide us through that, and I am confident Tom will be a stabilising and unifying presence for Council.”

Mr Upton said he was excited to begin his first day and get to know the organisation, Councillors and community.

“It’s a privilege to officially join Livingstone Shire Council and I’m looking forward to working alongside the Mayor, Councillors and staff to build on the strong foundations already in place,” Mr Upton said.

“From my first conversations with Council, it was clear there is a strong commitment here to delivering for the community and planning for the future.

“My focus will be on listening, learning and building relationships, both within the organisation and across the community, so we can move forward together with clarity and confidence.”

“I believe strong councils are built on trust, consistency and a positive workplace culture, and I’m committed to fostering that here at Livingstone.”

Mayor Belot also acknowledged Interim Chief Executive Officer Alastair Dawson for his leadership during the transition period.

“Alastair has provided steady and experienced leadership over the past 12 months and has helped position Council strongly for this transition,” Mayor Belot said.

“On behalf of Council, I thank him for his service and his commitment to ensuring a smooth handover.”

Council looks forward to working with Mr Upton as it continues delivering essential services, planning for growth and advancing key priorities for the Livingstone community.