Meet our Team

At the Shire we value Honesty, Empathy, Accountability, Respect and Teamwork. We are an organisation that cares about our people and community.

We are continuing to grow from a small rural Shire to a medium sized local government with a diverse population. The demands placed on the organisation to service the community’s needs continue to grow in scale and complexity.

The Shire is focused on improving the customer experience and is committed to excellence, technology and innovation, as major elements of our ongoing transformation to provide increasing levels of service quality and consistency.

Executive Management Team

Samantha Chamberlain

Chief Executive Officer

Ms. Samantha Chamberlain was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Shire of Capel in March 2026, becoming the first female CEO in the Shire’s history.

With more than 25 years’ experience across State and Local Government, Samantha brings extensive leadership, financial and strategic planning and community engagement expertise to the role. Prior to her appointment as CEO, she served as the Shire’s Director of Community and Corporate Services for five years, playing a key role in driving organisational progress, strengthening community connections and supporting positive workplace culture.

Having worked at Executive level within the organisation, Samantha has a strong understanding of the Shire, its communities, and the opportunities and challenges shaping the region’s future.

Samantha is passionate about fostering a collaborative, community-focused and forward-thinking organisation, with a strong emphasis on strategic leadership, innovation and meaningful engagement.

Her appointment coincides with an exciting new chapter for the Shire, including the transition to a three-directorate structure under the adopted Workforce Plan 2025–2029, helping position the organisation for continued growth and success.

Jeremy O'Neill

Acting Director Corporate & Customer Relations

Jeremy joined the Shire in May 2017 in the role of Manager Community Development Libraries and has since moved to the Acting Director Corporate and Customer Relations role following the directorate restructure.

Jeremy previously held the position of Manager Community Development and Safety at the Shire of Capel for over 4 years (2021 to 2026) and was responsible for Ranger Services, Community Development, Events, Youth, Seniors, Disability Access and Inclusion and Recreation.

Prior to this role Jeremy was the Community Development Coordinator at the City of Busselton (2011 to 2017), which incorporated many of the above portfolios, which Recreation and Sports Development as being his key area of specialty.

Prior to a local government career commencing in January 2007 (nearly 20 years ago), Jeremy had managed Community Recreation Centres in both Serpentine Jarrahdale and Warnbro, as well as a five-year career as Physical Education and Health Education Teacher in remote areas of the State of Western Australia.

During this time, Jeremy has established effective working relationships, partnerships and alliances with state government and the not-for-profit community sector.

In his private life Jeremy is a keen volunteer having been a coach, umpire, administrator, ambulance driver and a fire fighter.

Isabel Fry

Acting Director Community Planning & Development

Isabel joined the Shire in June of 2025 in her substantive role as the Manager Development Services. She has 8 years of experience in various local governments working in town planning and management roles across the southwest and was born and bred in the region.

Isabel has a Bachelor's Degree in Urban and Regional Planning and a Master of Business Administration, specialising in project management. Her priorities are to provide a high level of customer service to the community and prioritise facilitating great built form outcomes and growth that reflect the needs and character of the Shire and its various townsites.

Isabel is currently acting in the position of Director Community, Planning and Development and is responsible for the oversight of the following areas within the organisation:

Planning
Building
Environmental Health
Economic Development
Community Development
Libraries

Isabel is enjoying the experience of acting in this role through the recruitment process for the director position.

Mick McCarthy

Acting Director Infrastructure Management

Mick joined the Shire in March 2026 in the role of Acting Director Infrastructure and Development and has since moved to the Acting Director Infrastructure Management role following the directorate restructure.

Mick previously held the position of Director Environment and Infrastructure at the City of Melville for over 7 years (2017 to 2025) and was responsible for Engineering, Parks and Natural Areas, Resource Recovery and Waste Management, City Buildings and Facilities Management, Project and Contract Management and Sustainability and Climate Action.

Prior to this role Mick was the Director with the South West Group for a period of six years (2011 to 2017), a voluntary regional organization of Councils (VROC) in the South West Metropolitan Region of Perth, now known as Perth South West Metropolitan Alliance (PSWMA).

With over 35 years experience spanning Local Government and the private sector, Mick has developed expertise covering urban planning and engineering, best practice environmental management, regional and economic development, lobbying and advocacy and sustainability disciplines.

During this time, Mick has established effective working relationships, partnerships and alliances with industry, government and the community and operates through developed networks in government agencies and the private sector in areas such as engineering, project and infrastructure management, environmental management, transport and land use planning, infrastructure development and provision, tourism and the urban and regional development sectors.