Deirdre Albrighton becomes Acting CEO of Peterborough Council
Peterborough is heading into 2026 hoping this latest changing of the guard is the one that can steady the ship.
After burning through four CEO’s in two years, the Mid-North town has had more leadership reshuffles than a footy club in finals week. This year alone saw a cancelled Christmas pageant, the closure of The Rural Transaction Centre (one of the few places locals could access basic government services without driving long distances), and the shutdown of Steamtown and Visitor Information Centre. Watching their town slide down the proverbial gurgler has hit hard, and with another CEO gone, frustration is at an all-time high.
Another Leadership Shake-Up
The latest move sees Acting CEO Kristen Clark and long-time consultant Deirdre Albrighton switch seats in an effort to bring some order back to council operations. Kristen has been holding the fort since May, trying to juggle day-to-day issues while keeping the financial side from slipping off the rails. He did the heavy lifting on the draft budget and flagged the major challenges ahead, but the constant operational firefighting meant important long-term planning work stalled.
Deirdre knows the council well. She’s been called in during every rough patch for the past six years, helping staff and the chamber through earlier CEO exits and the constant management turnover. Now she’ll step in as Acting CEO from December 28 through to November 2026, giving the council a full-time hand on the wheel heading into an election year. Kristen will keep working with council from the outside, focusing on the financial and infrastructure jobs that need immediate attention.
The idea behind the reshuffle is that Deirdre will take on the corporate, governance, community and culture side to rebuild internal stability, while Kristen concentrates on the financial groundwork and major infrastructure projects that have been slipping through the cracks. Council says this split is meant to speed up overdue strategic planning, tighten governance and rebuild trust after another messy year.
A Full Plate for the New Line-Up
There’s a stack of work ahead, and the duo will have their work cut out for them. This includes setting up the new volunteer program, streamlining services, negotiating the next staff agreement and getting major infrastructure plans back on track. They’ll also oversee the shift of staff to the new council office at Steamtown. The site closed in August with the long-term aim to bring it back for the 2026 tourist season. Steamtown was once the heart of Peterborough’s tourism scene, drawing visitors to its old roundhouse and railway workshops, shaping much of the town’s identity. Turning it into council’s base while work continues behind the scenes feels symbolic. If they get it right, the place that once told the town’s story might finally help it write a steadier chapter.
Deirdre and the Mayor will also oversee the search for a long-term CEO to start in early 2027, which no doubt the community hopes ends this cycle once and for all.
For now, Peterborough has two familiar faces taking on new roles, and a town watching closely to see if this reshuffle is the one that finally brings some stability and regrowth back to their town.
For more information head to District Council of Peterborough
Want more South Australian stories like this? Subscribe here for free
