Spatial Source and the Surveying & Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI) would like to extend a warm welcome to Peter Olah, who joins the institute as chief executive officer.
Mr. Olah joins SSSI having recently spent four years as the executive director of the Council of Mayors (Southeast Queensland), Australia’s largest local government advocacy organisation. At Council of Mayors, he presided over a concerted advocacy program to federal and state governments which helped realise their commitment of over $20 billion in funding to regional priority projects.
“The members of SSSI – and those in our professions who should be members but are not yet – are admirable, logical and make a valuable difference to our communities. You deserve an outstanding representative organisation and I look forward to working with you in building an institute that delivers this for you at every level,” Mr. Olah told Spatial Source.
He brings extensive leadership experience in the not-for-profit sector, having held the position of chief executive of Scouts Australia (NSW), the state’s largest youth organisation, for three years. More recently he was executive director of the Rural Fire Service Association (RFSA), the representative body for the 70,000 plus volunteers and staff of the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Prior to these roles, Mr. Olah spent three years as the national affairs manager of the Hotel, Motel and Accommodation Association (HMAA), a national industry association within the tourism and hospitality sector, leading that association’s policy development, media relations, industry relations, and government relations functions.
Mr. Olah also served on the private staff of the NSW Premier and as Policy Advisor to Ministers for Justice and Police. In seven years at State Transit, the NSW Government’s bus and ferry business, he fulfilled a number of change management functions for the organisation’s board and CEO, including projects in government and customer relations, public affairs, industrial advocacy and human resources, internal communications, and cost efficiency.
He served for 12 years as an alderman and councillor of Hurstville City Council in Sydney’s south, including three years as mayor of Hurstville and three years as deputy mayor.
Mr. Olah spent several years at two major professional services firms — Hamilton, James & Bruce and Manpower Australia — heading up the Australasian government/public sector practice at each. He also established his own consulting firm, Moebius Consulting, with clients including businesses in several industries, professional and industry associations, charities and government agencies.
“I join SSSI with a long background in the leadership of member associations, public policy, and advocacy. I have made a positive difference at each organisation I have worked with, and I only work for organisations and for people I genuinely believe in,” he said.
