Mayor and Councillors
Mayor & Councillors
Council meets under the chairmanship of the Mayor and senior staff, led by the CEO and his Directors. Regular meetings of Council and committee meetings involving Councillors, staff and often members of the community provide guidance to Councillors in the carrying out of their responsibilities, so that Council reflects the will of the people of Yass Valley.
Event Invitations
Please email all event invitations to Council@yass.nsw.gov.au to ensure they are not missed.
Mayor Allan McGrath
Councillor McGrath has lived in Yass Valley since 1998 and has been actively involved in the community through a variety of local organisations. He was the public face behind the green door at the popular Kidz Blitz toy and gift shop in Comur Street for eleven years. Cr McGrath also has a long association with local government, having previously served as a Councillor and the Deputy Mayor of Queanbeyan City Council and two previous terms with Yass Valley Council. Proudly returning in 2022, Cr McGrath’s vision is to create a cleaner, greener and more prosperous Yass Valley with well-maintained roads, better services, more employment opportunities and a greater diversity of dwelling types and sizes to meet the growing needs of the community.
Email: AMcGrath@yass.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 0427 830 910
Councillor Jasmin Jones
As a mother of five and a local small business owner, Councillor Jones understands the needs of families and small businesses in Yass Valley. With a professional background in journalism, tourism and communication, Cr Jones also holds Council to a high standard of transparency, consultation and sustainable economic development. Her proudest achievements as a Councillor, so far, include championing Council's first shop local campaign, solar conversion project and dog park; supporting the community's fight for the Yass Water Treatment Plant upgrade, Murrumbateman Primary School and expansion of Yass High School; and successfully advocating for a full-time midwife at Yass Hospital. Now in her third term of Council, Cr Jones aims to drive improvements to local water, roads, main streets and recreational areas. She would also like to see Council employ a Grants Officer and the Resolve Shed restored.
Email: JJones@yass.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 0400 486 616
Councillor Adrian Cameron
Councillor Cameron moved to Yass eight years ago, attracted by its significant heritage, great community and beautiful, natural environment. He quickly became part of the community by joining the Yass and District Historical Society and Garden Club. Cr Cameron was a secondary school teacher for many years and was proud to help develop student leadership through the SRC, school council, junior UN and junior state parliament. Cr Cameron joined Yass Valley Council to continue his commitment to caring for our built heritage, the natural environment and increase transparency in Council’s decision making. As a Greens party member, Cr Cameron has a particular focus on sustainability in Council operations, including areas such as waste management, water supply and procurement.
Email: ACameron@yass.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 0493 376 738
Deputy Mayor Cayla Pothan
Councillor Pothan has lived in Yass Valley for 18 years, with the first seven of those spent on a rural farm in Murrumbateman and the remainder in Yass. She and her husband quickly immersed themselves in the community when they purchased and renovated the original Hume Service Station in Yass in 2013. Cr Pothan has been running the iconic Tootsie Gallery Cafe inside the building since 2015. As a proud local business owner and the mother of three teenagers,
Cr Pothan understands the importance of community and supporting local, and often gives back through sponsorship, support and volunteering her time. Cr Pothan’s aim for her first term of Council is to be an open, accessible and transparent communicator to provide a link between the Council and community. She is here to listen to how Council and the community can drive the region forward sustainably.
Email: CPothan@yass.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 0447 225 524
Councillor Cecil Burgess OAM
Councillor Burgess was born and bred in Yass Valley, spending his time in the villages of Bowning and Gundaroo, where he lives on the family farm. Cr Burgess has more than 50 years' experience running farms across the shire and more than 30 years' experience owning and operating a rural contracting business. During his 26-year tenure as a Councillor, Cr Burgess' primary concern has been to listen to, and help, people in their dealings with Council. Cr Burgess stands for equitable distribution of rates income; modern management to deal with present and future challenges; appropriate planning to ensure small population centres across the shire are adequately serviced, ideally with sealed roads; and continued scrutiny of financial management to ensure the best use of ratepayers' funds.
Email: CBurgess@yass.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 0429 930 628
Councillor Jim Abbey
Councillor Abbey has spent most of his life living and working in the Yass/Canberra region. He was born in Yass and grew up on the land while attending Mt Carmel School. After obtaining a Graduate Diploma of Library and Information Studies at university, Cr Abbey worked as a librarian (public, university and special) and policy officer in various Commonwealth Government departments. He later became the owner/director of a 68-place early childhood centre in Canberra and a fine wool grower in the Yass district. Councillor Abbey believes Yass is in an enviable position given its proximity to Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne and brings a unique town and country perspective to matters before Council.
Email: JAbbey@yass.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 0409 040 835
Councillor Kim Turner
Councillor Turner has called Yass Valley home for 51 years and believes that the spectacular countryside, friendly community and convenient location is what makes our area so special. Through Cr Turner’s position as the Manager for the Yass Rural Lands Protection Board for 24 years and his involvement with Rotary, he has had the opportunity to meet and work with a large variety of Yass Valley residents. Now in his third term of Council, Kim aims to have Yass Valley properly recognised as a caring, welcoming community and a destination of international significance at the crossroads of NSW.
Email: KTurner@yass.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 0407 489 570
Councillor Kristin Butler
Councillor Butler has lived in Yass Valley for 12 years and is a proud Murrumbateman resident. She loves the village's rural nature and proximity to Australia's capital. One of her proudest achievements for the community is starting one of Murrumbateman's largest junior sporting groups, MBTN Little Athletics, which grows in membership every year. Cr Butler is also the co-creator of MBTN Ladies Events, a not-for-profit social group for local ladies to meet and have fun. Her goal during her first term of Council is to find ways for the community and Council to work together and to provide more transparency. Alongside her Council duties, Cr Butler works as a dental hygienist. She has worked in the dental industry for 19 years and in her current role for 12 years.
Email: KButler@yass.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 0433 246 045
Councillor Mike Reid
Councillor Reid has lived in Yass Valley for more than 40 years and has had a varied career, beginning as a labourer in England and Australia when he arrived aged 21. He has two degrees (Bachelor of Applied Science (IT)) and (BA (TAFE)), which he completed part-time over many years. He taught IT at TAFE’s Reid Campus and served 12 years in the public service in various positions, up to senior management. Cr Reid also worked for several software companies. Cr Reid owns five acres and loves the semi-rural lifestyle. His aim as a Councillor is to build on the progress of the former Council and ensure there is good communication of these successes with ratepayers. Cr Reid also aims to be a conduit for ratepayer matters with Council.
Email: MReid@yass.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 0412 078 475