MITCHELL Shire Council’s Abby Eager has been recognised by Local Government Professionals, taking out the Young Achiever award at the 2026 Awards for Excellence conference.
Ms Eager beat out a strong field of contenders, with the judging criteria judged on major achievements, demonstrated leadership qualities, level of commitment to driving change, specific individual contribution made to Council and a commitment to self-development.
The award was judged by Whittlesea City Council’s Ella Edwards, Gannawarra Shire Council’s Scott Bourne, Strathbogie Shire Council’s Brian Doyle and Central Goldfields Shire Council’s Emma Little.
In winning the award, Local Government Professionals said Ms Eager’s commitment to strengthen family violence prevention made her a standout choice for the award.
“Abby Eager has quickly become a powerful force for gender equality and violence prevention in Mitchell Shire, demonstrating leadership, initiative and influence far beyond the scope of a single officer role,” they wrote.
“Since joining Council in 2022, Abby has worked across the organisation and region to strengthen prevention of family violence, elevate lived experience and embed gender-responsive practice into both internal systems and community-facing work.
“Her achievements include co-designing community resources, leading campaigns and training, expanding regional partnerships and helping position Mitchell Shire as a leader in this space across Victoria.
“What stands out most is Abby’s capacity to drive change despite limited resources. Working in a single full-time role with modest financial support, she has led internal reforms, delivered tailored gender equality initiatives for outdoor and depot staff, and co-designed youth consent resources with Youth Councillors, schools and Victoria Police.
“Abby’s ability to build partnerships, influence systems and elevate lived experience has delivered meaningful outcomes for Mitchell Shire while also informing work well beyond the region. She represents the next generation of local government leadership at its most thoughtful, courageous and impactful.”
Also in the Digital and Technology section of the awards, Mitchell Shire Council was recognised as a finalist through the My Mitchell App.
“The app has delivered strong results since launch. Downloads exceeded projections by more than 57 per cent, engagement has remained consistently high and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with residents praising its clarity and convenience,” Local Government Professionals wrote.
“This shows how digital transformation can be practical, affordable and genuinely useful when it starts with what residents actually need.”