S U PPO R T I NG THE PROFESSI ON A LS S H A P I N G Q UE E N S L A N D CO M MUN IT IE S
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 3
THE
Meet the
Manager of the Year
LG Election 24
Wellbeing
Reflections
Annual Conference
Wrap-up
Combating
Change
Exhaustion
Ignite Experience
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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.
A Word from the Minister
6.
CEO Snapshot
9.
LG Annual Conference 2023
14.
LGMA 2023 Manager of the Year
16.
Annual Conference 2023
Workshop Findings
18.
ECQ Keeping Communities at the
Centre of Election Service Design
22.
2024 Women in Local Government
Conference
23.
Wellbeing Reflections
24. Combating Change Exhaustion
26. Awards for Excellence 2024
27.
Governance Advisory Service
28. Ignite Experience
32.
Australasian Management
Challenge 2024
33.
Meet the Member
35.
Calendar of Events
35.
Movers and Shakers
14
28
Contents
LGMA 2023
Manager of the Year
Ignite Experience
LG Annual Conference 2023
PRESIDENT’S
DESK
WELCOME TO THIS EDITION
OF THE JOURNAL.
I am writing this having just attended
our local government conference
which once again was a marvellous
event. It struck me at the President’s
welcome reception how much people
crave connection and belonging. It
also reminded me how much we
have in common, regardless of
where we work or where we live.
It was indeed a symbol of how
LGMA operates and why we exist.
The theme this year was Wellbeing
in Focus which was a well-received
and timely theme for the 250
plus delegates and sponsors.
For me personally, it was Dr Gillian
Hicks, our final Keynote speaker
who stole the show. Gill is a
survivor of the London terrorist
bombings on July 7th, 2005. Her
incredible story of surviving the
attack, despite losing both legs
from just below the knee, had the
audience in the palm of her hand.
Gill’s provocation of asking us all
not to be ‘that stranger on the
train’ was illustrated as she told
her story of a young Adelaide
woman travelling to London on
one of life’s adventures noticing
the lack of eye contact, personal
interactions and humanity as she
travelled daily on the London tube.
Her survival was largely due to a
larger man standing next to her on the
train that day. A stranger, anonymous
and unknown to her. And as she
went on to explain, her message
that ‘your protector might just be
standing next to you’, came to life.
What ensued was a life of tracking
down and building connections with
so many people who were on the
train that day. It extended to the
rescuers, some of whom broke the
rules to enter the carriage and forged
a message of not being anonymous
to those around you. A theme useful
to reflect on when our collective
wellbeing is actually up to all of us.
Finally, thank you for the opportunity
to continue as LGMA President for
the next two years. The Board is
unified in its strategy to widen the
membership to reflect changing
workforces where leaders and
emerging leaders are best supported
when they have support, not only
from within their organisations, but
from our sector more broadly.
We will continue to do this whilst
acknowledging the long history
and association of so many of our
members. It is these members
who have so much to contribute
to new and prospective members
by bringing their experience,
wisdom, and even some battle
scars, to promote the sector and
provide marvellous examples and
support to those equally willing
to serve their communities.
FROM THE
PRESIDENT
Andrew Chesterman
MLGMA
FINALLY, THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO CONTINUE AS LGMA
PRESIDENT FOR THE
NEXT TWO YEARS. THE
BOARD IS UNIFIED IN ITS
STRATEGY TO WIDEN THE
MEMBERSHIP TO REFLECT
CHANGING WORKFORCES
WHERE LEADERS AND
EMERGING LEADERS ARE
BEST SUPPORTED WHEN
THEY HAVE SUPPORT,
NOT ONLY FROM WITHIN
THEIR ORGANISATIONS,
BUT FROM OUR SECTOR
MORE BROADLY.
4 | the journal
THE THEME THIS YEAR
WAS WELLBEING IN
FOCUS WHICH WAS A
WELL-RECEIVED AND
TIMELY THEME FOR THE
250 PLUS DELEGATES
AND SPONSORS.
THE MINISTER
WITH GOOD SECURE JOBS, A
STRONG ECONOMY AND OUR
GREAT LIFESTYLE, IT’S NO
WONDER PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO
QUEENSLAND IN DROVES.
Our rapidly growing population,
combined with an already tight
housing market, means more housing
is needed than ever before.
Thanks to support from the
Palaszczuk Government, the Western
Queensland Alliance of Councils has
now completed 22 Local Housing
Action Plans for remote councils.
Housing availability and affordability
remains an issue in all corners of the
state and these plans are designed
to help tackle the unique housing
challenges facing regional, rural and
remote parts of Queensland. These
plans are a key step towards finding
local housing solutions that will
meet the individual needs of local
communities, while also protecting
our lifestyle.
We are continuing to work with
councils to tackle housing issues and
improve the liveability and economic
sustainability of our communities,
with a further 38 councils to
have Local Housing Action Plans
completed by mid-2024.
Every Queenslander deserves to have
a place to call home.
With Queenslanders going to the
polls in March, it is a timely reminder
for aspiring mayors and councillors
that it’s a state requirement for all
candidates to undertake mandatory
training run by the Local Government
department.
The free ‘So you want to be a
councillor’ training course is about
building confidence for candidates
and communities and promoting
community confidence in local
governments, so Queenslanders can
continue to expect their councillors to
be strong and fair representatives for
our communities.
The training includes obligations
around reporting donations and
expenditure during the campaign,
with caps on electoral spending
in council elections applying in
Queensland for the first time. It also
covers responsibilities once elected,
such as understanding conflicts of
interest and the Code of Conduct
and requirements involved with a
councillor’s register of interests.
DEPUTY PREMIER AND MINISTER FOR STATE DEVELOPMENT,
INFRASTRUCTURE, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PLANNING
AND MINISTER ASSISTING THE PREMIER ON OLYMPIC
AND PARALYMPIC GAMES INFRASTRUCTURE
Steven Miles MP
A WORD FROM
The training is live on the
department’s website until the
nomination period ends on 31
January. It can be accessed at
www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.
au/local-government/for-the-
community/so-you-want-to-be-a-
councillor
Already, more than 200 people have
completed the training and this figure
is expected to climb significantly in
the coming months.
In the lead-up to the 2024 elections,
there will also be a limited number
of face-to-face information sessions
about the training held in some of our
remote communities.
The roles we have in serving and
leading our communities place us
in a privileged position of being
able to make a real difference to
Queenslanders’ lives.
I look forward to working with local
governments to see what more we
accomplish for Queenslanders in the
rest of 2023 and beyond.
LGMA | 5
WITH QUEENSLANDERS
GOING TO THE POLLS
IN MARCH, IT IS A
TIMELY REMINDER FOR
ASPIRING MAYORS AND
COUNCILLORS THAT IT’S
A STATE REQUIREMENT
FOR ALL CANDIDATES TO
UNDERTAKE MANDATORY
TRAINING RUN BY THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
DEPARTMENT.
ANOTHER CONFERENCE HAS BEEN
AND GONE AND WE ARE SLOWLY
COMING DOWN FROM OUR BUZZ.
WHAT A FABULOUS EVENT THIS IS –
AND I FEEL COMFORTABLE SAYING
THAT BECAUSE, WHILE WE MIGHT
PROVIDE THE VENUE, MEALS AND
SPEAKERS, IT IS THE DELEGATES
WHO MAKE OR BREAK THE EVENT.
AND AT CALOUNDRA THIS YEAR,
OUR DELEGATES ARRIVED WITH
EXCITED ANTICIPATION, BRINGING
A WILLINGNESS TO SHARE AND
BE OPEN TO IDEAS AND KEEN TO
CONNECT.
It was evident from the very start at
the President’s welcome that all were
glad to be there and eager to catch
up with colleagues and to meet new
people. Although, being heard over
the hubbub of voices was difficult.
That mood continued into the
sessions the following day and turned
competitive for the Beach versus
Bush volleyball game. There was a bit
of a grudge match mentality evident
from the Bush and a great turnout
despite the gathering thunder clouds.
Congratulations to the Bushies who
took out the win.
The conference speaker line-up over
the two days was well balanced and,
although every delegate will not love
every session, on balance, every one
of the presentations hit the mark
for the majority of attendees. I do
want to particularly mention the
‘Fun Team’, a group of four LGMA
members who put their hands up
to research, prepare and deliver a
plenary session. Well done.
The other element of the conference
that I think worked beautifully this
year was our corporate partner
support. We are fortunate to have
a committed group of partners who
add true value to our events. And
not just through the provisions of
funds which allows us to subsidise
registration costs but through the
way they contribute to the event as a
whole; by being relaxed, welcoming
and working with delegates to see
where they can assist rather than
doing the hard sell. This is important
to us and this year the cooperation
from all was exceptional.
I have said it before but for LGMA
staff, the Local Government
Conference is the time when that all
we do comes together and we get to
see first-hand how the contribution
we make does or does not support
local government officers. It is our
‘why we are here’ moment and this
year we were grateful to receive
strong and consistent positive
sentiment about our role and value.
Thank you.
Last month I also had the pleasure of
travelling to Adelaide to participate
in the final of the Australasian
Management Challenge. Central
Highlands Regional Council’s
team, the Highland Gems, turned
out a stellar performance picking
up second place behind South
Australia’s, Marion at First Sight. The
Challenge continues to deliver for
participants and councils, broadening
understanding of councils’ diverse
business, breaking down silos and
building networks and friendships,
both within councils and across state
lines. Registration is now open for
next year’s event, with the final to be
hosted in Queensland.
Now we turn our minds to the next
12 months and how we can continue
to add value to our members and the
sector as a whole. Planning for the
2024 and 2025 Local Government
Conferences is now underway as well
as the rollout of the programmes
delivered in the first half of the year
(the Awards for Excellence, the
Propellor and Ignite Programmes,
and two conferences: Women in
Local Government and Inspire).
Village schedules are being set and
CEO Forums locked in. We also still
have the three Rural Management
Challenges running in the coming
months – with bumper participation
this year.
At the same time, the major
legislative changes for the year
have largely been tabled and now
the toing and froing about specifics
is underway. This includes not
insignificant changes to the Local
Government Act and to privacy
and right to information provisions.
We also continue to work with the
Department on the development and
Peta Irvine
MLGMA
SNAPSHOT
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
CEO
6 | the journal
NOW WE TURN OUR MINDS
TO THE NEXT 12 MONTHS AND
HOW WE CAN CONTINUE
TO ADD VALUE TO OUR
MEMBERS AND THE SECTOR
AS A WHOLE. PLANNING FOR
THE 2024 AND 2025 LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CONFERENCES
IS NOW UNDERWAY AS WELL
AS THE ROLLOUT OF THE
PROGRAMMES DELIVERED
IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE
YEAR
LGMA | 7
publishing of a suite of policies and
guidelines relating to the governance
of councils.
Another area occupying some time
and thought is the 2024 Election.
LGMA is working with the ECQ
through its Advisory Committee to
seek to ensure a smooth process.
Of course, much of the difficulty
you all experience does not relate
to the election itself but to the
posturing that is already underway
in many councils as candidacies
are announced (or hinted at) and
campaigning begins (whether
candidacy is announced or not). We
know this can be a difficult time for
senior officers and encourage you to
stay connected with colleagues and
us to ensure you get any support you
need, even if it is just to share war
stories - cathartic for all involved.
Following the AGM, the current
Board has been returned and I am
looking forward to continuing on the
path they have set to ensure that
LGMA remains contemporary and
responsive. There are a number of
ideas being explored and, as these are
fleshed out, we will come to members
for feedback.
At this time of year, I want to also give
a shout out to my fabulous team. This
is a small but dedicated group and
each one is committed to delivering
great service to our members. I feel
privileged to have this incredible
group around me.
Hope to see you all somewhere soon.
Peta
I have said it before but for LGMA staff, the Local Government
Conference is the time when that all we do comes together, and we
get to see first-hand how the contribution we make does or does not
support local government officers.
Members’ description of LGMA values and culture (Survey March 2023)
Webinar registrants
Programme participation 2022/23
212 276
Training programme
participants
In-council Training
participants
700
Forum participants
Conference
participants
Village exchange
registrants
1,200
225
613
6 | the journal
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LGMA | 9
THE SUNSHINE COAST IS
A DIVERSE REGION WITH
PICTURESQUE HINTERLAND
TOWNS, COASTAL URBAN
CENTRES, WATERWAYS,
NATIONAL PARKS, STATE
FORESTS, BUSHLAND,
RURAL AREAS AND SCENIC
MOUNTAINS. IT IS THE
ANCESTRAL HOMELANDS OF
THE KABI KABI PEOPLES AND
THE JINIBARA PEOPLES —
WHO ARE THE TRADITIONAL
CUSTODIANS OF THE LAND
AND WATER OF THE SUNSHINE
COAST REGION. IT WAS AN
HONOUR TO HAVE KABI KABI
REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN
WARNER, WELCOME LGMA
DELEGATES TO COUNTRY.
The 2023 conference was all about
Wellbeing in Focus. As we enter
the post-COVID era, there is no
doubt that our collective mental
and physical wellbeing has, at least
in part, been affected since early
2020. So, this conference focused
on providing inspiration, motivation,
insights and lessons learned to
equip all for the future ahead.
The opening keynote presentation
from Olly Bridge started proceedings
with a bang through a vibrant and
engaging presentation, getting
everyone motivated for the two
days ahead. Olly had everyone out
of their seats and moving to rock
classics and a ‘Sally Up’ challenge
for fun. The ‘three-legged stool’
concept explored three critical
aspects of wellbeing: physical activity,
recovery and nutrition. This was a
great analogy for both personal and
professional wellbeing, encouraging
delegates to reflect upon, and
set themselves up for, success.
Gina Campbell, of the University
of Queensland and Sandy Tacey,
of Griffith University delivered a
knowledgeable session on workforce
planning, exploring what councils
can do to ensure their workforce
planning activities are future-proofed
and provide a practical pathway to
sustainability. By the end of this
session, most delegates had a list of
planning dos and don’ts to take back
to their council and all had agreed
some common elements that local
government can market to ensure the
sector as a whole is an attractive one.
Accredited Mental Health First Aid
Instructor and registered counsellor
Michelle Hall followed this up with
a session on Mental Health First Aid
both personally and professionally. A
key take-away from this session was a
reminder to ‘Be the Dog’. This refers
to a dog’s willingness to sit and offer
silent support to its human without
a need to ‘solve’ every problem.
After a lovely lunch break and time
to catch up with corporate partners
and peers, delegates heard from
four councils: Ipswich City Council,
Quilpie Shire Council, Redland
City Council and Western Downs
Regional Council. This presentation
showcased five recent nominations
for the LGMA Awards for Excellence
in the Wellbeing category. These
demonstrated councils can work
with both staff and community to
focus on wellbeing as a priority.
The ever-popular CEO panel featuring
Andrew Chesterman, Ken Diehm,
Jeff Stewart-Harris and Cassie White
focused on culture; what makes a
good organisational culture. The four
panellists all provided a fascinating
description of their own experiences
and perspectives as to what they
have learnt about culture during their
careers, how to sustain a positive one
and some tips for identifying and
capturing the behaviours sought.
Thursday’s programme commenced
with LGMA Fellow Chris Rose,
explaining how lessons learnt
professionally helped him face
significant challenges on his personal
journey with Stage 4 cancer. A
very poignant, personal story
The 2023 conference
was all about Wellbeing
in Focus. As we enter
the post-COVID era
there is no doubt
that our collective
mental and physical
wellbeing has, at least
in part, been affected
since early 2020.
10 | the journal
which was well received by the
delegates with one stating, “Years
of experience that matter, delivered
with simplicity and aligned with
a personal journey – Brilliant”.
Characteristics of a great team
presented by Tabitha Chilman, Lidewij
Koene-Sloss and Belinda Walker
featured this group of young guns
examining the topic of workplace
fun over the past few months. Their
insightful findings were packaged in
an interactive presentation on the day.
In concurrent sessions, delegates
had three topics to choose from.
Thank you to Jason Erbacher
for Building community capacity
through thoughtful partnerships,
Daniel Fletcher for Exploring the
intersection of AI, LG and Wellbeing
and Ron Petterson and Matthew
Magin for the Mental Health from the
ground up. All were well received
with delegates noting points for
application in their own councils.
Delegates then broke off into three
groups where they discussed the
initiatives and successes local
governments have experienced
over recent months along with
problems they are still trying to
solve. Facilitators, Michelle Clarke,
Carly Quinn and Rob Andrews put
the groups through their paces and
elicited wide ranging responses.
These have been collated and
are included in a later article.
Lisa Annese, CEO of Diversity Council
Australia, delivered a very professional
and knowledgeable presentation on
diversity and inclusion for workplace
performance. This session provided
plenty of information on why it
has never been more relevant (in
today’s legal and social context) for
organisations and local governments
to include diversity and inclusion
in decision-making processes. Lisa
provided useful research into the
expectations and demands of
future workforces that has direct
application to local government.
The closing keynote session featured
Dr Gill Hicks – WOW what a thought-
provoking presentation looking at
life through her eyes. Through her
actions and approach Gill showed us
what we are capable of achieving as
connected human beings and inspired
delegates with her life lessons ‘to be
alive and not live, connecting, letting
go, adding value and being present’.
The audience was awed by Gill’s
incredible story of courage and
determination with one delegate
writing, “What a way to end the
day. That was so inspirational. I
have listened from the start to the
end holding my breath and being
inspired with every word spoken”.
Thank you to all the presenters.
LGMA delegates sincerely
appreciate your time, content and
expertise. Feedback was positive
and highlighted the importance
of continued discussions, thinking
strategically, networking, collaboration
and planning for the future.
Delegates were also introduced to
the International Manager Exchangee,
Dennise Elers from Central Hawkes
Bay District Council. Alicia Cutler
from Rockhampton Regional Council
will travel to Hastings in November as
the LGMA Exchangee to New Zealand.
From a social perspective, the
two and a half days of the Annual
Conference commenced with the
President’s Welcome Reception.
LGMA President, Andrew Chesterman,
welcomed guests and officially
commenced proceedings for
the conference. Thank you to
reception partner Redman Solutions
for supporting this event.
The picture-perfect surroundings of
Caloundra leant itself to a relaxing
start to the overall event. It was great
to network with new contacts and
connect with friends and colleagues.
Under the threat of the approaching
storm after the Wednesday session
was completed, the rivalry was fierce
as Beach versus Bush beach volleyball
game kicked off - a key highlight of
the day, especially for the winning
Bush team. Congratulations to the
participants and the cheer squads!
Thank you to all the presenters. LGMA delegates sincerely
appreciate your time, content and expertise. Feedback was positive
and highlighted the importance of continued discussions, thinking
strategically, networking, collaboration and planning for the future.