Kiara nominated for top award

Emergency management officer Kiara Noonan.

A Macedon Ranges Shire Council employee has been nominated for a statewide young achiever award.

Emergency management officer Kiara Noonan has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Young Achiever category for the 2025 LGPro Awards for Excellence.

The award promotes and celebrates the outstanding work done by those working in local government in Victoria, and Ms Noonan has been recognised for her leadership.

Ms Noonan has been with council since 2016, starting as a swimming instructor and lifeguard. The 29-year-old has gone on to contribute through various emergency and non-emergency related roles, including currently serving as council’s deputy municipal recovery manager.

She has played a pivotal role in strengthening council’s emergency management capabilities, including leading a targeted recruitment and training strategy for those staff with emergency on-call responsibilities, ensuring a sustainable emergency response workforce.

Outside of work, Ms Noonan’s 27-year commitment to calisthenics has ensured she is a well-known leader and mentor in the sport. Her 10 years of service to the Redesdale CFA Brigade, including in administrative and leadership roles, reflects her unwavering dedication to the community.

Chief executive officer Bernie O’Sullivan congratulated Ms Noonan on her nomination and her leadership and dedication to her communities.

“You need look no further than the recent Bullengarook fires to exemplify Kiara’s strategic thinking and ability to make decisions under pressure, working in collaboration with her other hard-working colleagues,” he said.

“Regardless of the result at the awards night, we’re really proud to have such a conscientious, friendly and willing young leader such as Kiara among our staff – she’s already a winner in our books.”

Winners will be announced at the LGPro Awards for Excellence Dinner on Thursday, June 5.