Your Facilitators
Julie Reid
Julie has 33 years’ experience working in Local Government, including large Councils in the UK, rural Councils in New South Wales and Victorian Councils, and has recent experience in State Government. This diverse experience has seen her contribute to governance, planning, urban design, sustainability, economic development, building, waste, capital works delivery, community engagement and more. Julie’s recent career highlights include working as Executive Director of Local Government Victoria in the Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions and as the first female CEO at the City of Kingston. Julie also spent 10 years at an executive/director level leading city development and engineering/infrastructure portfolios at Whitehorse and Greater Dandenong City Councils.
She is a qualified Master of Planning and has a Graduate Diploma in Management and Bachelor of Arts (Urban Studies). Julie launched her own consultancy business in June 2022 to continue assisting Local Government into the future
Allison Watt
Allison is a senior Local Government professional with a strong background and experience in strategic communications, governance, council business, corporate planning, risk management, advocacy and other functions over a 25-year career. She is a former journalist, editor, sub-editor and proofreader and after 15 years in suburban newspapers entered local government to work in corporate communications in the late 1990s. Allison has worked for 25 years in the sector, in various senior communications and governance roles at Brimbank, Nillumbik, Moonee Valley and Macedon Ranges Councils.
Allison has a Graduate Diploma in Communication from Victoria University; an International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) Certificate and a Certificate in Governance and Risk Management from the Governance Institute of Australia