The Executive Leadership Program is designed exclusively to equip and support senior executives in Local Government, particularly Chief Executive Officers and Directors, to expand and develop their skills and knowledge to assist them to become confident and capable leaders in the sector.


About the Program

The Executive Leadership Program (XLP) is designed exclusively to support executives in Local Government.

While the role of senior officers in Local Government can be challenging, it also can be highly rewarding for those who have the right mix of skills, experience, training, and preparedness to lead in this uniquely diverse and dynamic environment.

Developed for and by senior executives, the XLP is unique in addressing the particular nature and challenges of leadership in Local Government. The program presents an invaluable opportunity for senior professionals to expand and develop skills and knowledge so that, as leaders of the Local Government sector, they are confident and capable. 

A First Nations scholarship is available for this program. A selection will be made from those who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander as part of a successful nomination.

Learn more

Be the best leader you can be. 

Congratulations to the 24 senior executives that have been chosen as a participant in the 2024 program:
 

Agata Chmielewski

Whittlesea City Council

Toni Toaldo

Banyule City Council

Brooke Holmes

Hepburn Shire Council

Damian Prendergast

Bass Coast Shire Council

Damian Waight

Surf Coast Shire Council

David Fice

Cardinia Shire Council

Georgie Hill

Brimbank City Council

Greg Rodwell

Merri-bek City Council

Jess Howard

Greater Bendigo City Council

Jo Bradshaw

Campaspe Shire Council

Jodie McNamara

Moyne Shire Council

John Vastianos Glen Eira Council

Krishen Soobrayen

Manningham City Council

Lauren Bialkower

Port Phillip City Council

Marion Greig

Casey City Council

Michelle Stedman

Buloke Shire Council

Nathan Upson

Frankston City Council

Patrick Jess

Maribyrnong City Council

Paul Marsden

Kingston City Council

Rachael Frampton

Strathbogie Shire Council

Ram Upadhyaya

West Wimmera Shire Council

Ros Pruden Bayside City Council

Sally Rice

Indigo Shire Council

Tony Peterson

South Gippsland Shire Council




For further information contact [email protected] or phone (03) 9268 6401
.

Want to know more about the program at your own pace? Click Program Scope for more detail and Program Outline for the schedule.

Please note your council must be a financial council subscriber to have access to this LGPro program. See Council Subscriber benefits

 

Details of upcoming Alumni Events and registration is available here


Nominations

Nominations for 2024 program have now closed.




PROUD SPONSOR


   

13 years of executive leadership

 

Within the space of two years, half of all local government CEOs had left the sector. LGPro believed Directors were leaving at a similar rate. This was 2008, when the seeds of what would grow into the Executive Leadership Program (XLP) were planted. 

This startling discovery led the organisation to undertake a comprehensive survey of 300 CEOs and Directors to:

- Quantify the demographic profile of current and potential CEOs
- Examine the career paths, options and plans of potential CEOs
- Explore CEO and potential CEO views on the skills, traits, knowledge and experience required to be a successful local government CEO
- Examine methods of ensuring potential CEOs have access to the necessary professional development to equip them to be successful local government CEOs.

This fed into the first XLP where LGPro sought to better prepare then-current and future local government leaders for their roles and reduce the professional churn.

The successful program continues to develop these leaders, but program too has not stopped developing. In 2021, program alumni and CEOs undertook an updated survey to identify the current priorities for senior leaders in the sector. Research like this alongside the Institute of Working Futures Human Capability Standards' recent work has fed into the program that will support the successful participants to lead a future ready workforce.

2023 is the 13th year of the XLP that has developed 289 successful graduates. Of these graduates: 
 
- 13 of the 21 LGPro Board members that have served since 2011 have been graduates of the XLP
- The XLP has delivered 18 new CEOs to the sector, all Directors when undertaking the program
- 22 CEOs are XLP alumni. 

The intensive 2023 program will prepare local government leaders for the challenges that will continue to confront Victorian communities in the years ahead, including health and economic crises.