In 2007 Stephen Blackadder established his management consulting company, Blackadder Associates, with the aim of helping local governments through consulting services. We have worked across Australia and New Zealand providing consulting services in executive recruitment, leadership development, strategic planning, organisation reviews, service reviews, internal audits, Councillor induction and development, General Manager/CEO performance reviews, and Interim Manager placement.

In November 2022 Blackadder Associates transitioned to Mason Blackadder welcoming Scott Mason as the Managing Director to continue working with Stephen to grow this exciting and contemporary new business together. Scott has spent the past 32 years working in local government in Monto, Gayndah and Diamantina Shire Councils and Central Highlands Regional Council (the last 3 Councils as CEO). He then joined Townsville City Council. He has been Secretary of the Central Highlands Development Corporation and is Chair of the Queensland Great Artesian Basin Advisory Council, a member of the Queensland Water Directorate Technical Reference Group.

Mason Blackadder provides Leadership, Recruitment and Performance services to a very broad range of clients – rural regional and metropolitan Councils, as well as working in the private and public sector.

Our goal is to help organisations perform to their highest potential.

To be Australia’s foremost consultancy & recruitment service for excellence in council leadership.

To assist local councils in Australia to unpeel their true potential. We do this by assisting councillors and employees to shape the organisation and create a better lifestyle for their communities.

Stephen Blackadder has an interesting and relevant family history when local government in Australia is concerned.

Stephen’s Father Ron, was Shire Clerk of Darling Shire at Bourke, far western NSW, from 1955 to 1965, and moved to Sydney as Town Clerk of Drummoyne in 1965 where he retired 20 years later in 1985 after guiding the growth of this beautiful municipality.   Ron had a very distinguished career in local government, being NSW State President of the then Town Clerks Society, and National President of the Institute of Municipal Management. So Stephen certainly has local government well enshrined into his DNA!

Stephen followed his Father into local government in 1972, working at 6 NSW Councils over his local government career – Canterbury, North Sydney, Wyong, Woollahra, Rockdale and Warringah. Stephen was a local government General Manager (CEO) for 20 years and also in 2010 served as General Manager at Burwood for 5 months to successfully help that Council recover from an ICAC investigation. 

In 2007 Stephen established his management consulting company, Blackadder Associates, with the aim of helping local governments through consulting services. Subsequently, he has worked across all States of Australia, excepting South Australia, providing consulting services in executive recruitment, leadership development, strategic planning, organisation reviews, service reviews, internal audits, Councillor induction and development, General Manager/CEO performance reviews, and Interim Manager placement. 

Blackadder Associates was based in NSW and had a Queensland branch. Blackadder Associates provided highly valued services to a very broad range of clients – rural, regional and metropolitan Councils, as well as working in the private and public sector.

Blackadder Associates proudly transitioned to Mason Blackadder on 1 November 2022 along with all BA staff and Associates. The Team looks forward to continuing to support the amazing industry that is local government through Mason Blackadder.