Join us for the LG Professionals SA Business Performance and Improvement Network Forum: Partnering for Progress. This Forum brings together local government professionals, community leaders and regional changemakers to explore the power of partnership in creating vibrant, connected and resilient communities. Through real-world case studies, collaborative discussions and networking opportunities, attendees will hear how councils are working alongside community, volunteers and local business to deliver meaningful social, cultural and economic outcomes.
The Forum will showcase innovative approaches to community-led development, place activation and stakeholder engagement, highlighting the importance of trust, collaboration and shared ownership in driving successful outcomes.
Read more about the sessions below:
Success grounded in community collaboration
Nick Perry, Manager Economic Development and Business Sustainability, and
Molly Flanagan, Arts and Cultural Facilitator, Yorke Peninsula Council
Discover how the Yorke Peninsula Council partnered with community to bring the GROUNDED YP Art Festival to life across Guuranda (Yorke Peninsula). Through a highly collaborative, place-based approach, Council worked alongside local artists, schools, Progress Associations, Traditional Owners, community groups and businesses to co-design more than 40 events across 12 townships.
This session will explore how genuine community partnership created strong local ownership, strengthened regional identity and delivered lasting cultural, social and economic outcomes. Learn how collaboration and creativity transformed local spaces into vibrant community experiences and created a sustainable model for regional engagement and growth.
This project won the 2026 Excellence in Community Partnerships and Collaboration Award at the LG Professionals SA 25th Annual Leadership Excellence Awards.
Volunteers and Partnerships – How can council effectively partner with community groups
Councils can’t meet every community need on their own. This session will explore how councils work with volunteers and community groups to strengthen local services, build community connection, and deliver better outcomes for their regions. When these partnerships work well, they create trust, clarity, and shared value for both councils and communities.
In this panel discussion, you'll hear from:
Ross Whitfield – Manager Field Services, Alexandrina Council
Monika Rhodes – Team Leader Environmental Strategy, Alexandrina Council
Structured Networking Session
An opportunity for attendees to connect with peers, share experiences and build relationships across councils and communities.
Streets ahead – Made by Design, Sustained by Partnership
Just five minutes east of Adelaide's CBD, the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters punches well above its weight. Home to a vibrant multicultural community of over 40,000 people, NPSP — and The Parade Norwood in particular — has transformed over 25 years into one of South Australia's most vibrant destinations: a cosmopolitan hub of lifestyle, dining, retail, professional services, innovation and creativity. A place for businesses to not only survive but to thrive, backed by having the lowest business failure rate in Australia.
In this session, we pull back the curtain on how Council actively nurtures local businesses at every stage — from first-time operators finding their feet to long-standing institutions that have shaped the street's identity for decades. Discover how strategic planning and investment, genuine partnership and building trust with local business have made The Parade one of Australia's most resilient commercial strips.
In this panel discussion, you'll hear from:
- Eve Green, Coordinator Marketing & Place Activation — As a former small business owner, Eve understands the pressures businesses face at every corner and lead’s Council’s place activation. She shares how NPSP connect, engage and nurture start-ups and long-standing businesses, from planning approvals through to local business advisory and joint ventures.
- Stuart Pope, Project Manager, Civil Projects — Building trust and business engagement in project planning and delivery is key to building long standing relationships on trust and transparency. In this panel discussion, Stuart will share the community engagement and project management strategies used to successfully manage impacted business in the delivery the George Street Upgrade.
- Gabby Cavuoto, Owner of European Café — over 40 years on The Parade and still going strong, Gabby shares the role Council has played in their success, longevity and opportunities for their business.
Thinking about making the trip? We encourage our members to join us in-person for this forum. Reach out to your colleagues for carpooling opportunities to maximise connection and reduce your environmental footprint.
Registrations for this forum are open to Local Government Professionals Australia, SA members, council employees, employees of regional subsidiaries and Local Government Professionals Australia, SA invited guests.
By registering for this forum, you will be subscribed to the LG Professionals SA mailing list. Should you wish to unsubscribe at any time, please email admin@lgprofessionalssa.org.au.
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