Commissioners

The Honourable Hannah Beazley MLA, Minister for Local Government (and Minister for Disability Services, Volunteering, Youth and Gascoyne) has appointed three highly experienced Commissioners to lead the City of Nedlands.

Under the Local Government Act 1995, Commissioners can be appointed to fulfil the role of the Council and exercise its powers if more than half of the Council becomes vacant. Following the resignation of five councillors on 7 July 2025, and as required by the Act, the remaining four Councillor positions, including the Mayor, were declared vacant by the Governor with effect from Friday 25 July 2025.

The Commissioners are:

David Caddy (Chairman of Commissioners) who has worked in the private and public sectors for more than 50 years. Mr Caddy was Chair of the Western Australian Planning Commission (2018-2024) and was a City of Nedlands Deputy Mayor and councillor (1989-1995).

Bianca Sandri (Deputy Chair) who was recently director of Community Services for the City of Bayswater and has previously acted as CEO. Ms Sandri is also a Board member of the WA Planning Commission, was a City of Stirling councillor for six years (2017-2023), including a period as Deputy Mayor and operated her own town planning business (2016-2023).

Cath Hart was most recently the CEO of the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (2022-2025) and was executive director of the Housing Industry Association (2018-2022). She is a member of the ChemCentre WA Board and the Housing First Homelessness Advisory Group.

The Commissioners will replace the Council of the City of Nedlands and fulfil its responsibilities to the community until a special election is held on 28 March 2026.

For the official announcement, please refer to the Government of Western Australia's Media Statement, published 23 July 2025.

David Caddy
Chairman of Commissioners
08 9273 3500
Term: 25 July 2025 - 28 March 2026
Bianca Sandri
Deputy Chair of Commissioners
08 9273 3500
Term: 25 July 2025 - 28 March 2026
Cath Hart
Commissioner
08 9273 3500
Term: 25 July 2025 - 28 March 2026

Past Mayors of the City of Nedlands

Name Term
F.E. Argyle 2021 - 2025
J.C. Smith 1956 - 1964
R. Holmes 1964 - 1966
J.C. Smith 1966 - 1979
D.C Cruickshank 1979 - 1992
C.E. Barns 1992 - 1995
J.R. Gilfellon (Commissioner) 1995
C.E. Barns 1995 - 1999
J.M. Paterson 1999 - 2003
L.G. Taylor 2003 - 2007
S.A Froese 2007 - 2011
R.M.C Hipkins 2011 - 2019
C.M. de Lacy 2019 - 2021