Innovation Case Study: Mary Agostino, Mitchell Shire Council

Mary Agostino, Chief Executive Officer

Creating enduring community impact through advocacy, partnerships and leadership

Mary Agostino is a highly respected local government leader whose partnership-led approach has delivered lasting outcomes for communities across Melbourne's north. Through strategic advocacy, regional collaboration and courageous leadership during times of crisis and growth, she has secured transformational investment, strengthened community resilience and created enduring value. She exemplifies how purpose-driven leadership can shape stronger communities and regions.

2026 MAVlab Innovation Awards Finalist:
Innovatio Pro Bono Publico Award: Established Leader (CEO), supported by Davidson.

Bold leadership and strategic vision:

Mary Agostino is a courageous and future-focused leader who has consistently challenged traditional approaches to local government by placing advocacy, partnerships and community outcomes at the centre of decision-making. As CEO of Mitchell Shire Council, she has demonstrated a clear vision: local government should not simply deliver services, but actively shape the conditions that allow communities to thrive.

Her leadership has been instrumental in securing momentum and investment for critical infrastructure across Melbourne's northern growth corridor, including O'Herns Road, Camerons Lane, Mernda Rail and Watson Street. Through these efforts, Mary has helped redefine advocacy practice by combining evidence, partnerships and strategic influence to secure outcomes that no single organisation could achieve alone.

Mary consistently uses data and research to inform decision-making and future planning. Her sponsorship of Mitchell Shire's first Health and Human Services Gap Analysis established a robust evidence base to understand emerging needs, shape investment priorities and strengthen advocacy efforts.

Her strategic leadership has also been evident during periods of significant uncertainty. Through COVID-19, floods and bushfires, Mary maintained a clear focus on both immediate community needs and long-term recovery. During the Longwood Fires, she coordinated regional responses and brought together councils, agencies and stakeholders to develop a shared advocacy agenda for affected communities.

By combining foresight, evidence and collaboration, Mary has built trust in a compelling vision for the future—one where strong partnerships and bold advocacy deliver lasting benefits for communities.

Influence and enablement:

Mary Agostino's leadership is defined by her ability to bring people together and enable them to achieve outcomes that would not be possible independently. Throughout her career, she has fostered a culture where collaboration, trust and shared purpose are valued as essential drivers of community impact.

As CEO, Mary has embedded partnership as a core organisational value within Mitchell Shire Council. She actively creates opportunities for councils, government agencies, community organisations and industry partners to work together on complex regional challenges. Her leadership recognises that sustainable solutions emerge when diverse perspectives are brought together around a common goal.

A defining example is her leadership in building partnerships to advocate for and support the delivery of the Beveridge Intermodal Precinct. By convening stakeholders, building consensus and maintaining a shared focus on community outcomes, Mary helped create the conditions for a nationally significant project expected to support up to 20,000 jobs and generate lasting economic benefits.

Her influence extends beyond Mitchell. Mary has been a strong advocate for regional collaboration through organisations including the Northern Councils Alliance and NorthLink, helping strengthen the collective voice of local government and improve the sector's ability to influence policy and investment decisions.

During the Longwood Fires, these relationships became critical enablers of action. Mary coordinated support across municipalities, agencies and leaders, ensuring communities received assistance when they needed it most.

Mary's leadership empowers others to contribute, lead and innovate. Through trust, collaboration and shared ownership, she has built enduring capability within both her organisation and the broader local government sector.

By combining foresight, evidence and collaboration, Mary has built trust in a compelling vision for the future—one where strong partnerships and bold advocacy deliver lasting benefits for communities.

Agility, adaptability and growth:

Mary Agostino exemplifies the agility, adaptability and resilience required of contemporary local government leaders. Throughout her career, she has successfully led organisations and communities through periods of rapid change, uncertainty and complexity, consistently adapting her approach while maintaining a clear focus on community outcomes.

Her leadership has been tested through some of the most significant challenges facing local government, including COVID-19, major flood events and the Longwood Fires. In each instance, Mary demonstrated an ability to quickly assess emerging circumstances, adjust priorities and mobilise people, partnerships and resources to meet changing community needs. Importantly, she balances immediate response requirements with a longer-term focus on recovery, resilience and future opportunity.

Mary's agility is also evident in her leadership of Victoria's fastest-growing municipality. Managing growth at this scale requires continuous adaptation as community expectations, infrastructure demands and government priorities evolve. Mary has successfully navigated this complexity by remaining responsive, embracing new approaches and continually reassessing how council can best deliver value for current and future residents.

A defining feature of her leadership is the ability to recognise when traditional approaches are no longer sufficient. She has consistently evolved council's advocacy and partnership models, bringing together stakeholders in new ways to address increasingly complex challenges. Her willingness to adjust course, embrace innovation and respond to changing conditions has strengthened both organisational capability and community outcomes.

Mary role-models a leadership style grounded in curiosity, resilience and continuous improvement. She demonstrates that agility is not simply responding to change—it is anticipating it, adapting to it and helping others navigate it with confidence. These qualities have been central to her success as a leader and to the enduring impact she continues to create across communities and the local government sector.

Impact and enduring value:

Mary Agostino's leadership has created lasting impact across communities, organisations and regional systems. Her influence extends well beyond individual projects, delivering outcomes that continue to benefit communities long after decisions are made or initiatives conclude.

Throughout her career, Mary has helped secure more than $2 billion in State and Federal Government investment for critical infrastructure, economic development, community facilities and essential services. Her advocacy has supported transformative projects including O'Herns Road, Camerons Lane, Mernda Rail and Watson Street, creating enduring benefits for current and future generations.

As CEO of Mitchell Shire Council, Mary is helping lead Victoria's fastest-growing municipality, expected to grow from approximately 69,000 residents today to more than 200,000 over the next two decades. Her leadership has ensured council is not simply responding to growth, but actively shaping it through evidence-based planning, strategic partnerships and long-term advocacy.

A defining feature of Mary's impact is her ability to build systems and partnerships that endure. Her leadership has embedded collaboration as a core organisational practice, strengthening relationships between councils, government agencies, industry and community organisations. This approach has been critical in advancing initiatives such as the Beveridge Intermodal Precinct, a nationally significant project expected to support up to 20,000 jobs and deliver substantial economic benefits across Melbourne's north.

Following emergencies including floods and the Longwood Fires, Mary helped establish stronger regional partnerships, advocacy frameworks and organisational processes that continue to enhance preparedness, recovery and resilience. Her broader contribution to communities and public leadership was recognised through her induction onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, acknowledging her significant contribution to local government, regional development and community outcomes.

Mary's legacy is measured not only by projects delivered or funding secured, but by the enduring capability, partnerships and opportunities she has created for communities and future generations.