Emerging Leaders Program

Our Emerging Leaders Program provides a unique year of leadership focused experiences and activities designed to develop and inspire emerging leaders in Local Government in Victoria.

The program is based on an experiential learning model and provides extensive interaction among participants to develop key leadership and collaboration skills.

2019 ELP participants

LGPro is proud to announce the successful nominees for the 25 places in the 2019 Emerging Leaders Program. Congratulations to all the successful applicants. We look forward to being able to support our emerging leaders in the sector. 

Stephen Coulthard, Banyule City Council
Christian Thomas, Baw Baw Shire Council
Keira Lee, Baw Baw Shire Council
Stuart Hansen, Borough of Queenscliffe
Wambui Thirimu, Brimbank City Council
Shannon Maynard, Cardinia Shire Council
Matthew Swards, Ballarat City Council
Emily Fothergill, Boroondara City Council
Leanne Johnson, Greater Dandenong City Council
Teneille Summers, Darebin City Council
Kristian Cook, Glen Eira City Council
Andrea Szymanski, Knox City Council
Leanne Manton, Macedon Ranges Shire Council
Rob Sampson, Maroondah City Council
Charmaine Calis, Mildura Rural City Council
Simon Carson, Moira Shire Council
Stephen Meloury, Moreland City Council
Heath Gillett, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
Tom Arnold, Rural City of Wangaratta
Wendy Ollington, South Gippsland Shire Council
Hannah Rowlands, Whitehorse City Council
Elinor Porat, Yarra City Council
Jessica Baillie, Yarra Ranges Council

About the program

Twenty four positions are available each year to current leaders, officers who aspire to positions of leadership, and to those who aspire to provide leadership in a particular area of interest in Local Government. 

Nominations open in October and the successful candidates are notified prior to Christmas. Participants in this program must be a financial LGPro Individual Member. 

Each year ELP participants are assigned a group project which they work on throughout the year and present their findings in both a report and at a session at the LGPro Annual Conference.

ELP graduates have formed a network that meets to provide a forum for peer support and to promote professional development through a range of dedicated events and activities.

More information


  2019 Brochure

  Victorian Council Classifications

For further information contact Leanne Bickley at leanneb@lgpro.com or phone (03) 9268 6401