
Registrations are now closed

WORKSHOP STREAMS

Workshop 1. Tuesday 23 February

PROUD WORKSHOP SPONSOR

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT REFORMS – A REFLECTION
This facilitated discussion will look closely at implementation of the Local Government Act 2020. What issues have fallen out of the new Act’s implementation? What have been the political interface issues around the induction of new councillors, code of conduct and conflict of interest? This session provides a deeper dive into the processes for CEOs, Directors, Governance Managers and staff.
Contributors
Stephen Cooper, Chief of Staff, Victorian Local Governance Association
Troy Edwards, Director, Policy & Advocacy, MAV
June Ernst, Co-ordinator Council Business, South Gippsland Shire Council

Workshop 2. Wednesday 24 February

PROUD WORKSHOP SPONSOR

LESSONS LEARNT – WHEN A COMMUNITY, BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT COME TOGETHER TO ACT
The town of Colac had remarkable success getting on top of COVID-19. In July, Colac was making headlines as the site of regional Victoria’s biggest coronavirus outbreak, home to just 13,000 people with almost 100 cases by early August. The first cluster peaked at 104 confirmed cases and was controlled within 4 weeks, the second cluster was 39 confirmed cases and controlled within 2 weeks.
Despite this, the town was successful in beating the virus because they had been preparing for months. The “Keep Colac Safe” campaign brought together the Council, State Government, local businesses and the community. How did a show of community leadership led by a local timber company CEO and rural health service CEO lead and bring together a small community in a show of unity, collaboration and discipline?
This workshop explores this case study and will hear from those who led the charge and continue to lead and unify their community.
Presenters
Fiona Brew – Chief Executive Officer, Colac Area Health
Shane Vicary – Chief Executive Officer AKD and leader of the “Keep Colac Safe” campaign
Mark Gunning – Emergency Management Victoria (invited)
Stewart Anderson – Manager Environment and Community Safety – Colac Otway Shire Council

Workshop 3. Thursday 25 February

PROUD WORKSHOP SPONSOR

HOW DOES LG DEVELOP LONG TERM PLANS FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT IS NOT DICTATED BY THE CURRENT PANDEMIC?
The current focus on future strategic planning is enshrined in the provisions of the Local Government Act 2020. All of these plans will require, and be strengthened and supported by, deliberative community engagement. So the sector has new engagement requirements; and new requirements to engage - that are long term in their focus!
In working in another sector with their long term planning, the approach was to develop a “business as usual” approach and then adjust the short term for the impact of COVID -19. Collaborative assumptions around the impacts of COVID 19 on demand for services and indexation levels and incorporated the expenditure and income impacts into the scenario. There is the ability to compare the impact of COVID 19 on the short and long term and importantly recognise it as one factor that affected the financial sustainability of this sector.
CT Management believe other factors will have greater impact than COVID -19 on the Local Government sector. Join them in discussing these issues in an interactive environment hearing and learning from the others as it faces these future challenges!
Facilitator
Michael Courtney, CT Management

Workshop 1. Tuesday 23 February

PROUD WORKSHOP SPONSOR

THE FUTURE OF WORKPLACES – CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed enormous pressure on workplaces – with many staff having to work remotely, often at short notice, and other worksites heavily restricted due to COVID-safe measures.
As Victoria progresses through the crisis, we look to the future of workplace arrangements and consider the challenges we experienced, what lessons we learned, and what opportunities can we harness?
This workshop, facilitated by Georgie Chapman, Partner at HR Legal, will consider the challenges, legal risks and opportunities arising from the COVID crisis including flexible working arrangements, performance management and managing mental health.
Presenter
Georgie Chapman, Partner, HR Legal

Workshop 2. Wednesday 24 February
MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION AND PREVENTION IN THE WORKPLACE
Workplaces can play an important role in promoting mental health and wellbeing, not only to address mental health conditions caused by work, but also to address non work-related mental health conditions that become apparent or are made worse in the workplace. Most workplace wellbeing programs focus on promoting early help seeking or training in coping skills within a stress management framework. Relatively little effort has been put into workplace strategies to prevent mental health conditions.
This workshop will present the results of research projects that aimed to establish consensus on practical, actionable strategies that organisations can implement to prevent common mental health problems and promote positive mental health in the workplace.
Presenter
Dr Nicola Reavley, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Melbourne University

Workshop 3. Thursday 25 February
LGPRO ADVOCATES FOR GENDER EQUITY LAUNCH
The Advocates for Gender Equity in Local Government initiative support male and female executives as key leaders across the sector to take the personal action needed to progress gender equality, who wish to do more than bare-minimum, compliant action and who are prepared to take personal responsibility for driving systemic change. It complements the operational processes required to be implemented under the new Gender Equality Act but keeps the focus on individual leadership, rather than the organisation. Join consultant Ruth McGowan as we launch the toolkit and provide some insights into this initiative and showcase the toolkit.
Presenter
Ruth McGowan, consultant

Workshop 1. Tuesday 23 February
KI TE KAHORE HE WHAKAKITENGA KA NGARO TE IWI - WITHOUT FORESIGHT OR VISION THE PEOPLE WILL BE LOST
Local government in New Zealand, as around the world, has been impacted by the pandemic and the time has never been riper for councils to maximise the well-being of their communities. The sector has the opportunity to “reimagine the future” and make era-scale changes that will fundamentally change the way we organise ourselves, our communities and our societies.
SOLGM’s Critical 21st Century Transitions have been identified as having a direct bearing on our communities’ well-being, both now and in the future. Join SOLGM and invited panellists from the sector, for a panel discussion to explore the significant and far-reaching changes that can be made to enable a better future for our communities.
Presenters
Karen Thomas, Chief Executive, SOLGM

Workshop 2. Wednesday 24 February
PEER OVER THE MUNICIPALITY FENCE - WHAT OTHER LGA’S ARE DOING AROUND THE GLOBE
It’s not every day that you can bring together three different State Government Departments, a private sector timber harvesting company, a large community environment organisation and a local government to achieve a new regional scale National Park (in an area with high property values) that will protect more than 23 endangered species including the iconic Koala. This is the single most important environmental project achieved in Noosa in the last 20 years which, given Noosa Shire Council’s environmental record, is quite an achievement. The CEO that lead this award winning project will provide his reflections on this important environmental project and share the lessons learnt. This project was the winner of the Partnership and Collaboration Award at the 2019 Local Government Professionals Australia Federation Awards.
Presenters
Brett de Chastel, CEO Noosa Shire Council and Wayne Wescott, CEO, Greenfleet

Workshop 3. Thursday 25 February
THE EVOLUTION OF CITY SPORTS, TOURISM AND RECREATION EVENTS AND INITIATIVES
It is estimated that the hospitality/tourism industry will suffer the most as a result of COVID-19, and yet there are ways to position a community and prepare for a recovery for the key industries that may have suffered the most: sports, tourism and recreation.
The City of Surprise is located in Maricopa County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is the second-fastest expanding municipality in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area and, between 1990 and 2000, was the sixth-fastest expanding place among all cities and towns in Arizona.
Presenters
• Jeanine Jerkovic, Economic Development Director, City of Surprise
• Kendra Pettis, Director of Sports and Tourism, City of Surprise
• Joe Bertoletti, Assistant Director of Sports and Tourism, City of Surprise

PROUD SPONSOR OF ILLUMINATING CAREER & LEADERSHIP STREAM

Workshop 1. Tuesday 23 February
AGILE LEADERSHIP… WHY IT IS A CRITICAL LEADERSHIP SKILL AND HOW TO DO IT?
This interactive session explores what agile leadership is and how to best execute the skill. It is becoming an essential capability in the 21st century and the most competent leaders are developing the process as well as educating their teams in how to be adaptable and agile in an increasingly fast-paced world.
You will leave with a clear understanding of the concept and some powerful skills to begin your practice.
Facilitator
Richard Day, Life & Business Leadership Institute

Workshop 2. Wednesday 24 February
EVOLVING YOUR CAREER AS A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL AND DEALING WITH PRESSURE ALONG THE WAY
Undoubtedly, young professionals are ambitious, so naturally, they feel pressure to “succeed” and thrive as soon as they enter the workforce. In this workshop, we dive into ways of dealing with pressure, advancing your career and finding alignment with your knowledge, skills and professional experience.
Presenters
Young Professionals Special Interest Group with facilitator Tyson Day

Workshop 3. Thursday 25 February
HOW THE PURPOSEFUL USE OF STORIES IS A POWERFUL AND PRACTICAL TOOL TO HELP LEADERS INFLUENCE, ENGAGE AND INSPIRE
Are your engagement scores lagging, with communication coming up as an area of concern? Do your leaders seem to waffle and have trouble getting their message to stick? Are there stories floating around your business that harm what you are trying to do but seem impossible to shift? Do your people wonder why a particular decision has been made and then seem reluctant to get on board?
Presenter
Mark Schenk, Managing Director, Anecdote