Mayor & Councillors

Council meets under the Chairmanship of the Mayor and Senior Staff led by the General Manager 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 Rowena Abbey

Councillor Abbey moved to Yass Valley over 25 years ago, after an extensive corporate career in the world of banking, finance, risk management and corporate governance. Rowena believes Yass Valley benefits from “the best of both worlds”, with our unique location close to major cities, but also our country charm and rural way of life. Seeing a long-term, strong strategic plan for Yass Valley is Rowena’s number one goal, one that boost opportunities for local business, while maintaining our rural lifestyle.

Phone: 0427 830 910
Email: Rowena.Abbey@yass.nsw.gov.au

Deputy Mayor Nathan Furry

Believed to be Yass Valley’s youngest ever Councillor, Nathan Furry has lived in Yass Valley for over 12 years. As a Federal Public Servant, Councillor Furry has an indepth knowledge into the mechanics of government. Councillor Furry believes that Yass Valley is a diverse region that offers so much across every town and village. It is what has helped him believe that this is where he will be for many years to come. In his term as a Councillor, Nathan hopes to see more rural roads sealed, the duplication of the Barton Highway and to continue to advocate for small business.

Phone: 0497 829 632
Email: Nathan.Furry@yass.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Cecil Burgess OAM

Councillor Burgess was born and bred in Yass Valley, spending his time in the villages of Bowning and Gundaroo. As a grazier and farming contractor, Cecil knows, and has worked with, many people over his lifetime and he believes that Yass Valley’s location provides residents with amazing opportunities, all located on their doorstep. Entering his sixth term of Council, Cecil will continue to stand up for better rural roads and most importantly fixing our ageing timber bridges, to ensure regional residents have safe and adequate access to their properties.

Phone: 0429 930 628
Email: Cecil.Burgess@yass.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Geoff Frost

Councillor Frost has called Yass Valley home his entire life and has recently retired from leading the regional research economics team at the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics. Geoff loves the Yass Valley’s country side, its history and its potential as a great place to live, work and play. As he enters his third term of Council, Geoff will continue to work closely with local groups and will seek opportunities to engage Council and the wider community in more open, public discussions before decisions are made.

Phone: 0403 521 079
Email: Geoff.Frost@yass.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Allison Harker

Councillor Harker is in her first term of Council but is not new to Yass Valley, with her family having ties to the area for generations. Allison spent 10 years working in the UK and Asia as a Director in the investment banking industry, before returning to her home town with her husband to raise her two children. Allison currently runs a mixed farming enterprise with her family, is a Board Director and Yass Valley Councillor.

Allison loves the community spirit that encompasses Yass Valley. It's a community that is willing to reach out and lend a hand to neighbours, friends, new residents and at community events. Allison is passionate about developing a friendly process for people wanting to start or expand their business in Yass Valley.

Phone: 0402 636 735
Email: Allison.Harker@yass.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Jasmin Jones

Originally from the Hunter Valley, Councillor Jones is proud to call Yass Valley home. Before becoming a busy mother of five, Jasmin was a journalist for National Nine News and is currently undertaking audio production. Moving into her second term on Council, Jasmin is keen to do more to enhance Yass Valley’s heritage, both built form and natural. With a focus on infrastructure which supports and keeps Yass Valley youth safe, healthy and engaged,

Councillor Jones aims to provide excellent representation for the diverse and wonderful communities of Yass Valley and to continue to protect and enhance our way of life.

Phone: 0400 486 616
Email: Jasmin.Jones@yass.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Michael McManus

Born and raised in Yass Valley, Councillor McManus has followed in his father’s footsteps and has entered his sixth term of Council this term. Michael has worked for TransGrid, originally the Electricity Commission of NSW, for 36 years as a Project Coordinator. It is the people of Yass Valley that Michael believes is what makes our region such a wonderful place to live. Continuous improvement to community infrastructure and facilities is and has always been one of Michael’s main goals as a Councillor.

Phone: 0419 474 649
Email: Michael.McManus@yass.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Mike Reid

Councillor Reid has lived in Murrumbateman for 35 years and originally moved to the area to enjoy the rural aspects and tranquil environment, while having the convenience of Canberra on the doorstop. Councillor Reid has been “retired” for 15 years, after a varied career in computer operations, software sales, consultancy and teaching. This will be Councillor Reid’s first involvement in Local Government and he looks forward to improving youth employment and recreational infrastructure in Murrumbateman, for the betterment of the entire Yass Valley.

Phone: 0412 078 475
Email: Mike.Reid@yass.nsw.gov.au

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 Kim’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 second 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.

Phone: 0407 489 570
Email: Kim.Turner@yass.nsw.gov.au