REGINA - The City of Regina has announced it has picked Niki Anderson to be the new City Manager.
The appointment was announced in a news release by the City on Monday, and her appointment was made official with ratification at council on Sept. 28. Anderson is set to begin her duties on Nov. 1.
Anderson will take over as head of a city administration responsible for a workforce of 2,800 employees. She comes to the city of Regina with twenty years of leadership experience, including most recently with the City of Edmonton as Deputy Fire Chief (Planning and Office of Emergency Management) and Executive Officer, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services. She was also with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in roles including strategic development and institutional engagement.
Anderson was also Managing Partner with Uniglobe Geo Travel for three years, and spent one year in Afghanistan providing logistics start-up expertise to the Department of National Defense.
She was chosen after a countrywide search by the city’s selection committee comprised of Mayor Sandra Masters and Councillors Bob Hawkins, Terina Shaw and John Findura, along with a national executive search firm.
At Wednesday's council meeting in Regina, city council unanimously voted in favor of the hire.
“I am excited to take on this new responsibility and the many challenges and opportunities that lie ahead,” said Anderson in a news release. “I look forward to working closely with the Mayor and Council and City employees as we support Council in the achievement of its priorities.”
“We are excited that Ms. Anderson is joining the City of Regina as its administrative head,” said Mayor Masters in a statement. “My Council colleagues and I are confident that we have found an extremely talented and experienced individual whose focus on service excellence in both the public and private sector will strengthen our efforts to build our community and grow the economy.”
Regina has been without a permanent City Manager since February, when council dismissed Chris Holden from the position at a special meeting. Since then, Jim Nicol had served as Interim City Manager during the recruitment for a replacement, while Amber Ackerman has served as City Clerk.
With Anderson’s appointment, Nicol resumes duties as City Clerk and Ackerman resumes her position as Deputy City Clerk. Mayor Masters has expressed council’s appreciation to both Nicol and Ackerman for taking on the added responsibilities during the recruitment effort.
