Oxford County Hires a New Permanent CAO

Monday, 22 June 2020 11:52

Michael Duben will start his new role as the CAO for Oxford County on September 8th.

OXFORD COUNTY - Oxford County has hired a new permanent CAO.

Michael Duben will start the role on September 8th. He will take over for retired CAO Peter Crockett in May 2020, and will assume his duties in the fall from Interim CAO Larry McCabe.

Warden Larry Martin says council is very confident in this hire.

"I am very pleased with the applicant that the committee has selected, he joins at a critical time in our career as we respond to the challenges of COVID-19, the pandemic that we are dealing with. The economic and social impacts that come along with that and along with this, we are still working on our strategic plan believe it or not, it has been placed on hold this term with everything going on. This decision will be one of the most important decisions this council will make this term. Michael is a well round and well grounded person , he is familiar with everything happening in Oxford County, he is familiar with working with upper and lower tier Governments. He is a real team player from what we can gather with our interviews with him, every member of our committee was very impressed with is presentations through the interview process."

Martin says Duben is excited for some of the challenges he will face in Oxford County with their goals for zero waste, zero poverty and the 2050 renewable energy goal.

"He thinks the goals are challenging but he is up for the challenge, he says we can all work together and hopefully achieve that, he is a real go getter and we are proud to have him on board."

Duben joins Oxford County from his current role as CAO of the District Municipality of Muskoka. Duben joins Oxford County from his current role as CAO of the District Municipality of Muskoka, a position he has held for more than six years. Previously, Duben served as vice president of EnWin Utilities, the City of Windsor’s public utilities commission; general manager for the City of Windsor; and as a senior corporate law partner at Miller Canfield LLP. In his time at the District of Muskoka, Duben oversaw several service and operational reviews, worked with area municipalities to improve the delivery of local services, and oversaw the transition of paramedic services from the private sector to the municipality.

In a press release Duben says he is very excited to come to Oxford county.

"County Council, its area municipalities, and Oxford residents have put forward an inspiring vision for their future. I'm excited to be joining Oxford County and look forward to working with employees and the community to help move this vision forward."

Duben has been extensively involved in serving his community, profession and others. His many board appointments span business, healthcare, housing, conservation and cultural sectors. He is a board member and immediate past president of the Ontario Municipal Administrators’ Association and a former district governor for Rotary International. Duben and his wife, Shelly Duben, founded Rotarians Enhancing Learning of African Youth (R.E.L.A.Y.), an educational project that has enhanced the lives of thousands of children in Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Zambia. The Dubens have two adult children, Justine and Marcus, and are expecting a first grandchild in the fall. Read Michael Duben’s full bio.

We will doing an interview with Michael Duben later this week on Heart FM and will be posting another story tomorrow.