On leave, on track? Question asked about a temporary CEO appointment

 

Deputy shire president, Shelley Dival congratulates newly appointed CEO Aaron Bowman in August 2024.
Pic supplied Facebook.

By Rashelle Predovnik
June 2026

Ratepayers have sought clarity about the status of Toodyay chief executive officer Aaron Bowman who has been absent from the shire for months while a temporary CEO continues to fill the role.

Counting the cost

Allan Henshaw, who served as shire president from 2001 to 2005, asked questions at the June council meeting, including the combined cost to ratepayers of paying for both the CEO and the temporary CEO.

In response, staff advised that employee salaries were confidential.

But August 2024 council minutes, that are publicly available online, confirm Mr Bowman’s total remuneration package was $245,496.

Last month, council appointed Alan Hart to be a temporary CEO from May 12, 2026 to May 12, 2027, during a special council meeting held on May 12.

In that meeting, council agreed to pay Mr Hart the cash component of Mr Bowmans salary package.

Shire President Mick McKeown said the appointment of a temporary CEO was required under council policy when a CEO was absent for an extended period.

Driving the Debate

Mr Henshaw also asked if the CEO still had the use of a company car paid for by the Shire of Toodyay.

Cr McKeown confirmed a shire-provided vehicle was part of Mr Bowman’s CEO remuneration package and that he would not discuss the personal affairs of an employee.

 Mr Henshaw told The Herald he asked questions because he wanted to find out what the situation was regarding the absence of the CEO and its effect on the shire.

“Ratepayers need to know what it’s costing us,” he said.

“I asked about the cost to ratepayers of effectively employing two CEO’s because no end date for Mr Bowman’s leave has been publicly announced.”

Mr Henshaw said he was not interested in the reasons for Mr Bowman’s leave, but rather the procedures and plans the shire had in place.

He said he wanted to know whether the arrangement was likely to be long-term, whether the shire could afford to continue paying both the CEO and a temporary CEO, and what succession plans existed if the situation was not resolved soon.

“All questions which can be answered without impinging on the CEO’s privacy,” he said.

A test of leadership

The former shire president said he was not impressed by the way the current shire president responded to his request for a public statement to be issued explaining why a temporary CEO had been appointed.

He said the shire’s failure to issue a public explanation was fuelling speculation and damaging public confidence in the council’s governance.

“I had to sit down in amazement after I asked the question about why the council was not keeping the public informed about the situation and the shire president’s response was to ask me how he should respond.

“Frankly, if the shire president doesn’t know how he should respond then perhaps he should be asking himself whether he ought to be in that chair.”