O C T O B E R 2 0 2 4
THE
S U PPO RTING T H E P R O F E SS I ON ALS S H AP I N G Q U E E NS L AN D CO MMUN I T I E S
LGMA: THE HOME OF QUEENSLAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICERS
Level 7 Quay Central, 95 North Quay, Meanjin (Brisbane) Qld 4000 Australia
T 07 3174 5006 | E admin@lgmaqld.org.au
W www.lgmaqld.org.au | ABN 97 968 931 841
LGMA’s mission is to lead, advocate
for and support Queensland local
government ofcers: providing
relevant and quality professional
development opportunities; and actively
contributing to the advancement of
local government in Queensland.
For more information about LGMA
and the journal, please contact
admin@lgmaqld.org.au.
The views expressed in the journal do
not necessarily represent the views
of LGMA or the editorial team, unless
otherwise stated. Furthermore, the
views expressed by contributors are
exclusively those of the contributor and
do not necessarily represent the views
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otherwise stated. Permission is required
to reproduce any material from
the journal.
the journal welcomes contributions
from its readers. If you would like to
contribute to an upcoming edition of
the journal, contact the Editor.
CREDITS
EDITOR
Elaine Brown
LGMA Queensland
T 07 3174 5004
E projects@lgmaqld.org.au
DESIGN
Ben Mathieson
BrandGrowth
T 0431 771 059
www.brandgrowth.com.au
Local Government Managers Australia – LGMA Qld LGMA Queensland
2 | the journal
LGMA | 3
4.
From the President’s Desk
5.
Meet the Board
6.
A Word from the CEO
8.
Annual Conference 2024
14.
2024 Manager of the Year
16.
Propeller Programme 2024
22. Build a Culture of Belonging
25. The Downlow on the 2024
Ignite Programme
26. Inspire Conference 2024
30. Australasian Management
Challenge 2024 -
City of Moreton YAY!
32. Australasian Management
Challenge 2025
33. Awards for Excellence 2025
34. Meet the Member - Carly Quinn
36. Movers and Shakers
37.
Calendar of Events
14
22
Contents
LGMA 2024
Manager of the Year
Build a Culture
of Belonging
Annual Conference 2024
4 | the journal
PRESIDENT’S
DESK
Welcome to this edition of the journal.
I was thrilled to have recently
attended our local government
conference in Cairns titled,
‘Leading from the Front:
Leading from the Back.
Over 250 delegates and sponsors
attended this high-quality event and
heard many perspectives on what it is
to lead.
Holly Ransom, Author and CEO of
Emergent Global, gave an energetic
and passionate keynote address
which spoke to agility in decision
making whilst Mark ‘Squiz’ Squirrell,
OAM, a former Green Beret with
the Australian Commando’s, took
us on a visual journey from the
Middle East through to a climb
of Mount Everest. Squiz used his
skills to bring worldwide attention
to global hunger and the World
Food Program whilst illustrating
his journey with anecdotes of how
leading from the back can sometimes
be your best solution. They were
certainly inspiring addresses which
wrapped around some panel
and other expert presenters.
We were also thrilled to confer on
Fraser Coast CEO, Ken Diehm, our
most prestigious award, Manager of
the Year. The Award acknowledges
and encourages leadership and
management excellence and
is presented to a senior local
government employee who has made
an outstanding contribution to the
positive growth of their council and
community. I can think of no better
recipient than Ken, who is both
generous with his time for others in
the sector and a passionate long-term
local government employee with vast,
community-building experience.
Looking to the future, the LGMA
Board has seen some changes
welcoming new Director (SEQ) Zala
Chatur (CEO Cherbourg and 2022
Manager of the Year) and Director (At
Large) Leisa Dowling (CEO Gladstone
and 2023 Manager of the Year), we
have farewelled Debra Howe (Scenic
Rim Regional Council), Rachel Brophy
(Douglas Shire Council) and Robert
Andrews (Brisbane City Council).
They were great contributors and
will be missed. Daniel Wagner
(Isaac Regional Council) has been
returned for another term. A fresh
online election will now take place
for a remaining North Queensland
Director position yet to be filled.
FROM THE
With a new LGMA Growth Plan
in place to support the fresh
Strategic Plan, the Board will focus
on equipping the association with
the necessary resources to achieve
the growth targets established
which is all within the context of
building capability in the sector
and growing our future leaders.
Finally, in personal news, I have
recently resigned after 7.5 years
as Redland City Council CEO and
most of the last 30 years in the
public sector. As this journal goes to
print, I will be taking a holiday and
a break from full time employment
before looking to return to the
workforce in a new capacity.
PRESIDENT
Andrew Chesterman
MLGMA
WITH A NEW LGMA
GROWTH PLAN IN PLACE
TO SUPPORT THE FRESH
STRATEGIC PLAN, THE
BOARD WILL FOCUS
ON EQUIPPING THE
ASSOCIATION WITH THE
NECESSARY RESOURCES
TO ACHIEVE THE GROWTH
TARGETS ESTABLISHED
WHICH IS ALL WITHIN THE
CONTEXT OF BUILDING
CAPABILITY IN THE
SECTOR AND GROWING
OUR FUTURE LEADERS.
LGMA | 5
MEET THE BOARD
Andrew Chesterman
MLGMA
President
First appointed April 2021
Chatur Zala
MLGMA
Director (SEQ)
Appointed August 2024
Chief Executive Ofcer
Cherbourg Aboriginal
Shire Council
Peter Franks
MLGMA
Treasurer
Director (At Large)
First appointed September 2021
Chief Executive Ofcer
Mareeba Shire Council
Daniel Wagner
MLGMA
Branch Director (CQ)
First appointed September 2022
Director Planning, Environment
& Community Services
Isaac Regional Council
Daniel Fletcher
MLGMA
Director (SQ)
Appointed September 2022
General Manager Community
and Liveability
Western Downs Regional Council
Susan Jarvis
MLGMA
Director (At Large)
First appointed September 2013
General Manager Finance and Corporate
South Burnett Regional Council
Leisa Dowling
MLGMA
Director (At Large)
Appointed August 2024
Chief Executive Ofcer
Gladstone
Director (NQ) - vacant
6 | the journal
IN RECENT YEARS, COMING
OFF THE HIGH OF THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE
HAS BEEN A TIME OF
AFFIRMATION.
This year was no diferent as the
conference once again reminded us
why LGMA does what it does. To
see local government ofcers from
across the state (people who have, in
many cases experienced high levels
of change in the past 6 months,
people who, in all cases, work in high
pressure environments and struggle
for resourcing (people and funds)),
come together to share, celebrate
achievements and support each other
is the greatest demonstration of why
we are here.
It is for that purpose – to connect, to
share and to support. And what the
conference does is reminds us that
LGMA is the vehicle for those things
to happen, but it is the sector, the
individuals, who actually do the heavy
lifting. That is the case whether you
are lucky enough to be able to do it
through a conference, or whether you
do it in your daily work-life.
This year, we had another bumper-
crop of first-time conference goers. It
was great to see them engaging with
frequent attendees; long-term career
ofcers. Across the three days there
were plenty of examples of shared
stories and advice helping problem
solve specific challenges. As always,
there were many new connections
forged that will continue post event.
Thank you to all who were able to
attend and contributed to a fabulous
event.
I want to add my congratulations
to those expressed by Andrew
Chesterman for the 2024 Manager
of the Year, Ken Diehm. I feel
privileged to be able to describe
the achievements of such great
contributors to the sector, managers
who we have come to know and
value, and announce the Award. As
always, an exemplary winner.
Moving on from Conference, the Rural
Management Challenges are about
to kick of with a dozen teams to
compete in Roma in a matter of days.
These teams are already working on
their pre-challenge tasks and doing all
the necessary preparation to manage
team dynamics and output on the
day. With this number of teams
competing, expect a few changes
this year and, other than the enforced
lunch break, not much time to suck in
the breaths.
The North Queensland Challenge
(Ingham) is later in October and the
Central Queensland (Barcaldine)
event is in November.
There are a number of forums
happening between now and the end
of the year with places still available
in each. The Work Health and
Safety Forum later this month was
an initiative of Gladstone Regional
Council and Central Highlands
Regional Council who both pushed
for an event bringing together work
health and safety ofcers from
across the state to share ideas and
discuss some of the critical issues
being tackled by Queensland local
governments. A number of recent
incidents provide good case studies
to learn from and the programme
promises to be highly informative.
The regular Governance Forum will
be in Mackay in late October. With
lots going on in the privacy, archiving
and local government regulatory
areas, there is plenty to update and
consider. There are also many lessons
coming out of the work done through
the Governance Advisory Service
which can be unpicked to assist
councils.
CEOs will meet in November for both
the CEO Forum (which all council
CEOs can attend) and the Indigenous
Council CEO Forum. With CEOs
meeting as a dedicated group for the
first time since the March election,
there will be plenty of analysis and
lessons which will be captured to
assist in the next round of elections
(because 4 years is a long time and
memories fade).
There are also plenty of webinars
still to occur this year. There are a
wide variety of topics and something
to suit everyone, I believe. Make
sure you keep an eye out as we
are continuing to build the 2025
programme and new topics are
dropping regularly.
Lastly, North Queensland members
will have seen that we called for
nominations to the Board. This closes
within days of going to print and
ballots will be issued soon. Please
exercise your right to vote for what is
an important decision for LGMA.
I hope you enjoy this edition of the
journal and look forward to seeing
you somewhere soon.
Peta
Peta Irvine
MLGMA
CEO
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THE BEAUTIFUL CAIRNS
IS KNOWN FOR TROPICAL
WEATHER, THE GREAT
BARRIER REEF, AND THE
DAINTREE RAINFOREST
NORTHWEST OF THE CITY.
It is a place where beach truly
meets bush. Rich in culture,
traditional owners within the
Cairns region include the Djabugay,
Yirriganydji, Bulwai, Gimuy
Walubara Yidinji, Bundabarra and
Wadjanbarra Yidinji, Mandingalbay
Yidinji, Gunggandji, Dulabed and
Malanbara Yidinji, Wanyurr Majay,
Mamu and Ngadjonjii peoples. It
was a privilege to be welcomed
to the 2024 Local Government
Conference by the Yidinji people.
This year, the focus of the conference
was Leading From the Front:
Leading From the Back. Sessions
provided important insights,
lessons and real-life examples to
shed light on the need to lead from
both the front and the back.
The conference commenced with
the poolside welcome reception
hosted by LGMA President, Andrew
Chesterman. This casual networking
opportunity was the perfect way
to set the tone for the rest of the
conference and allow delegates to get
to know each other and reconnect
with colleagues before the formalities
began the following morning.
The opening keynote session was
Thriving in Uncertainty, delivered
by globally renowned content
curator, powerful speaker, master
questioner and one of Australia’s
100 most influential women, Holly
Ransom. Holly kicked us of with a
bang: high energy, on point delivery,
spruiking the idea of pre-mortems,
reminding us of the importance of
narrative and encouraging all to
recruit their 4 Ss: supporter, sounding
board, sage and sparring partner.
A stakeholder panel comprising
Emily Carrigan (DHLGPPW), Glen
Beckett (LGAQ) and Mark Crawley
(Mark Crawley Consulting), delivered
a session, Whose role is it anyway?
The panellists explored the concept
of local government as leaders
within community, where we excel,
potentially fall short or where
responsibilities conflict with other
government spheres or stakeholders.
Place-Change Initiatives: The role
of local government was delivered
by Dr. Michelle Lucas and Margaret
Allison from Logan Together. This
session focused on how place-
change initiatives are established and
methods used to gain traction and
momentum. Michelle and Margaret
analysed the role of local governments
in this initiative and how leading
from the front and back is involved.
A highly rated session, where
delegates took many notes away
with them for further exploration.
As always, the CEO panel was a
highlight of the conference and
included Ken Diehm (Fraser Coast
Regional Council), Jodie Taylor
(Western Downs Regional Council),
Martin Drydale (Charters Towers
Regional Council) and Kevin Bell
(Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire
Council). Each of the CEOs reflected
on leadership in the council context,
reflecting on the diferences
between councils, what has and
has not worked for each of them
and the lessons gained from this.
After the sessions, the highly
anticipated Beach versus Bush
challenge was held. Bush handed
back the trophy as the defending
champions of Beach Volleyball 2023
and it was again up for grabs in a
winner takes all clash on the rebound
soccer court. Congratulations to
the 2024 winners, the Bush Team.
Thursday kicked of with a
presentation from Mark Puncher
Annual Conference 2024
8 | the journal
This year, the focus
of the conference was
Leading From the
Front: Leading From
the Back. Sessions
provided important
insights, lessons and
real-life examples to
shed light on the need
to lead from both the
front and the back.
LGMA | 9
(Employer Branding Australia),
detailing The Power of Your
Leadership Brand. Mark is passionate
about personal brand and the
importance this holds. In this session,
he conveyed how personal brand
can drive results individually and in
team environments. He explained this
in the context of local government
careers and employee value.
Concurrent session presenters: Thank
you Aaron Pont (Rockhampton
Regional Council), Dr. Daniel
Stronggrove (Cairns Regional
Council), Michael Bissell (Palm Island
Aboriginal Shire Council) Dr. Sophie
Coulon (Queensland University of
Technology), Ellen Buttrose (Cairns
Regional Council), PJ Humphreys
(Sunshine Coast Council) and
Kim Romanova (Lived Experience
Leader) for your presentations in
the concurrent sessions, they were
thoroughly enjoyed by all delegates.
In the return of the debate format,
The role of local government – to
reflect community sentiment or to
shift community sentiment was the
topic du jour. Representing the
afrmative argument was Shaun
Jorgensen (Burke Shire Council),
Isabella Kennedy (Cairns Regional
Council) and Daniel Wagner (Isaac
Regional Council). Representing
the negative argument was Daniel
Fletcher (Western Downs Regional
Council), Amy Russell (Charters
Towers Regional Council) and Justin
Kronk (Murweh Shire Council). What
a fiery debate this was; fighting
words, illegal props and plenty of
drama. All that aside, both sides
presented compelling arguments
supporting their case and many
delegates had cause to reconsider
their positions. In the end, the
Negative Team was declared as the
winners. A big thank you to Lead
Adjudicator, Marina Dunston of
Preston Law and to co-adjudicators,
Geof Redman and Mark Crawley.
The final conference session saw Mark
Squirrell OAM (Squiz) present Chaos
and Culture. Squiz has experienced
it all; from car bombings, meeting
Yasser Arafat, making it to the
summit of Mount Everest and being
awarded the coveted ‘Green Beret’,
and he used these to demonstrate the
challenges of leadership. Delegates
were invited to make their own
decisions when faced with particular
scenarios and, invariably, were
surprised at the available options and
consequences. A thought-provoking
end to two great days of sessions.
The conference concluded with
the final social event, the gala
dinner. This year’s theme was
‘nautical’ and it was great to see
so many delegates get behind it
and dress up – most memorable
include people’s choice winners, The
Spongebobs and Popeye. Thanks
to all that attended for a fabulous
night of networking and fun.
Thank you, once again, to all
delegates that attended the
conference and to all speakers on
your insightful and well-presented
sessions. Another big thank
you to our corporate partners
who make delivering the Local
Government Conference possible.
The conference would not happen
without your continued support,
dedication and contribution.
Next year’s Conference will be hosted
in Brisbane and will be LGMA’s 75th
Anniversary celebration. Stay tuned
for more information as it is set to
be an event for the history books
that you will want to be part of!
Next year’s Conference
will be hosted
in Brisbane and
will be LGMA’s
75th Anniversary
celebration.