What defines a city’s growth and improvement? Find out in this episode
In this HRDTV interview, we sat down with Tim Baker, the CEO of the City of Gold Coast in Queensland. Baker has been in his role for over 12 months now and has a clear mandate to bring about transformation within the city administration.
To assess the organisation's culture and baseline behaviour, a comprehensive culture survey was conducted, the first of its kind in over 10 years. He believes it is crucial for a new CEO to understand the existing culture and set a foundation for change.
Following the survey, Baker initiated monthly CEO updates to all 4,000 staff members, discussing matters related to culture and high performance. The survey results served as a wake-up call for the CEO, the council, and the staff, highlighting the need for improvement. Rather than solely presenting the problems, they also proposed solutions to the staff, emphasizing that everyone within the organisation is part of the solution.
Baker’s council implemented an initiative called the “One City Program” that focuses on culture, organisational planning, accommodation, and customer experience. They implemented 16 signature actions based on staff feedback, including an independent whistleblower line, an innovation fund, and transitioning contractors to permanent employees. The program’s success is attributed to its alignment with staff input, leading to significant improvements in organisational culture.
With a growing city and major events such as the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic games on the horizon, the city of Gold Coast is faced with a large increase in both population and infrastructure. As a city highly dependent on cars, the strategy to deal with this growth includes introducing more public transport such as rail systems and ferries to connect the city’s most important locations in a linear fashion.
The council’s “One City Program” aims to establish a foundation for the city’s continuous improvement, encapsulating elements like transport and social services. The program is designed to develop alongside a growing city and prepare for disruptions that may arise in the future.
Overall, the City of Gold Coast under Baker's leadership has taken concrete steps to address culture, behaviour, and purpose within the organisation, aiming to become a purpose-led entity. While acknowledging the progress made so far, he says more work is needed to reach their desired summit.
To learn more about Tim Baker and the city of Gold Coast, watch the full interview here.
