A WORD FROM YOUR NETWORK COMMITTEE CHAIR |
|
|
We hope that everyone has had an amazing year, as we present to our Members the last edition for 2025 and invite you all to consider “the slope of enlightenment!”
Your volunteer-run Business Performance and Improvement (BPIN) Committee has spent the past six months reviewing and updating the Committee Action Plan, which will drive not just the work of our Committee, but what our Members can expect to see, read, interact with and be part of. We are going to focus on three main goals: |
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Mallamo
BPIN Committee Chair |
|
|
- Opportunities to share, learn and work together
- Events and engagement that spark curiosity
- Partnerships that support innovation and growth.
We have some audacious targets to measure how we go in delivering on these goals across 2025-2029, and if you’d like to learn more, reach out to our chair, or any committee member.
Reflecting on 2025, there has been one common theme across the Forums and discussions we’ve held, and from the work that we are all seeking to achieve – people first. This newsletter provides some further considerations for you all from the perspective of our community, our workforce and those stakeholders we collaborate with, as well as a spotlight on one of our long-standing members, Jennifer Fleming. |
|
|
The Committee is supported by the team at LG Professionals SA. If you have any queries or are seeking support, please reach out via networks@lgprofessionalssa.org.au. Meet our current Business Performance and Improvement (BPIN) committee here. |
|
|
IN THIS EDITION
-
Working Differently - Communication, communication, communication! Read more
-
In focus - Getting the right information fast. Read more
-
Call for nominations - Join the BPIN Committee. Read more
-
Trending - Design thinking, innovation and the quiet power of empathy. Read here Spotlight - Three South Australian councils doing great work. Read more Meet The Member - Learn more about your Network. Read more Connect - Events and online discussions. Read more |
|
|
BUSINESS PERFORMANCE AND IMPROVEMENT NETWORK FORUM:
INNOVATION VS. CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - COMPETING FORCES OR PERFECT
PARTNERS?
A common theme across each speaker and from the conversations held
at our final Forum of the year, Innovation vs. Continuous Improvement: Competing
Forces or Perfect Partners?, was that whether you’re looking at making
incremental change or taking huge leaps forward, we need to make sure
people are at the centre of what we do and that we are communicating well!
This was best outlined by the City of Marion, who shared their
Continuous Improvement (CI) Journey. After a peak and a trough (of
disillusionment), they entered the slope of enlightenment – a
period of positive change, energy, collaboration, and drive to move forward. How
did they get there?
- supporting and engaging with staff, providing training and regular
involvement
- setting clear expectations and roles
- communication, communication, communication
- sharing successes
- leader backing.
We also heard from the Director of MOD, Dr Lisa Bailey, who spoke about navigating
together the opportunities for the future and that a part of this is the need of human reflection to sit with discomfort to seek innovation.
Whether our organisations, teams, community or as an individual,
are seeking to make CI or innovative change, we need to consider how we can
work differently, but collaboratively, to make this journey a success.
|
|
|
By Claire Bircumshaw, Change Manager, City of Marion
In our busy work environments, we have very little time to read everything that comes our way and identify the right information quickly.
Here are a few tips to ensure you get your message across in the right way:
Prioritisation – Put the most important message first.
Action early – Highlight due dates and actions up front instead of burying dates in text.
Structure - Lay out content so readers can pick out essentials at a glance. For example, utilise dot points.
Relevance – Only include information that directly supports the purpose.
Emails: Add your ‘call to action’ in the subject line. For example, "To approve by COB".
For those long reports, use a licensed version of ChatGPT or a similar Large Language Model to summarise the content for you. Consider special attention to community impacts, budget, and legislation references when reviewing this output. |
|
|
By Ania Karzek, Program Director - Target Operating Model (TOM), City of Holdfast Bay
At the last BPIN Forum of the year we heard about innovation, continuous improvement (CI) and design thinking. The challenges we are facing as organisations, teams, and individuals are not getting any easier. Almost everything we touch is difficult, wicked, complicated and/or complex. Incivility on our front lines (and social pages) is growing, and genuine dialogue is increasingly hard to come by.
So, it’s no surprise we’re constantly searching for new ideas, new models, new energy. We’re hungry for improvement. We want better systems, better services, better ways of working. Better-ness (yes, it should be a word!) has become the currency of innovation, CI and design thinking.
But alongside all the frameworks and buzzwords, there’s something quieter and more fundamental that holds it all together: empathy. |
|
|
|
|
Be part
of a Network Committee that aims to bring councils together to improve
service planning, delivery and focus on improvement and performance outcomes.
The
Business Performance and Improvement Network Committee meet regularly
throughout the year, considering current themes and challenges experienced by
those who have an interest or role to play in planning for delivery, reporting
on outcomes achieved or improving the way council services are delivered,
developing relevant opportunities for outside the box
thinking, networking and collaboration for the benefit of the local
government sector.
The
Business Performance and Improvement Network Committee wish to invite
nominations for the following:
- One (1) position
for a one-year term, concluding 30 November 2026
- Six (6) positions
for a two-year term, concluding 30 November 2027
For
further information regarding nominating for the Business Performance and
Improvement Network Committee, please click here.
Nominations can be made by
completing the online nomination form accessible via the button below by
5:00PM Friday 21 November 2025. |
|
|
|
|
Across the South Australian local government sector, many of our business areas are doing great things for
our community and our organisations. Here are some of the recognitions councils are receiving: |
|
|
Alexandrina Council's 'School Open Street'
Alexandrina Council brought together bikes and scooters at Goolwa Primary School as families left their cars behind to walk and ride to school. This initiative promotes active transport and children’s wellbeing, aligning with their 2040 community vision. |
|
AWARD WIN! Tonsley's Water Sensitive Urban Design The City of Marion has won the Stormwater South Australia (SSA)
Excellence Award in Strategic or Master Planning, in partnership with Renewal SA and DesignFlow. |
|
City of Holdfast Bay's sustainable Adopt-A-Tree Program
The City of Holdfast Bay currently offers an Adopt-A-Tree Program, to engage residents in their target to increase canopy cover from 15.3% in 2018 to 16.8% in 2030. |
|
|
LG PROFESSIONALS SA STRATEGIC PLAN 2025-2029
LG Professionals SA has recently launched their Strategic Plan for the next four years.
Through a focus on delivering tangible value, fostering professional growth, and enabling collaboration across all corners of the state, this plan is about making things happen. Together, we’re building a sector that is inclusive, future-ready, and deeply connected — shaping not just the workforce of tomorrow, but the communities they serve.
|
|
|
We recently spoke with Jennifer Fleming from the City of Holdfast Bay, to hear more about her role and interest in the Network.
What is your role, and how long have you been in local government?
My current role is Strategy and Governance Lead. I’ve worked in local government for four years, and since joining the City of Holdfast Bay, I’ve been honoured to receive two peer-nominated awards recognising my commitment to exceptional service delivery.
|
|
|
|
Jennifer Fleming
Strategy &
Governance Lead
City of Holdfast Bay |
|
|
What’s the most beneficial aspect of being a member of the Business Performance and Improvement Network?
I find the most beneficial aspect to be the shared learning environment - hearing firsthand how other councils are enhancing their services and processes. These insights not only inspire new ways of thinking but also help identify practical improvements we can apply to deliver more efficient and customer-focused outcomes.
What’s your favourite performance or improvement work / life hack?
My go-to improvement hack is questioning whether a task or process adds real value. If not, I find a smarter or leaner way to achieve the same outcome - whether that’s through automation, simplification, or combining efforts. It’s a simple mindset shift that consistently saves time and money.
I’ve also had the privilege of reporting to inspirational and successful women throughout my career - Alana Martin, Ania Karzek, and Pamela Jackson - whose leadership has shaped how I think about improvement and efficiency. Having such great teachers has truly been one of the secrets to my own success.
What do you do with yourself in your spare time?
I have a strong desire to step into a leadership role, drawing on my extensive experience across state and local government, political environments, and customer-focused roles. These experiences have shaped my strategic mindset and strong “can-do” attitude, both in supporting my peers and serving the community. I’m driven to make the most of each day - professionally and personally. Outside of work, I’m passionate about fitness and train daily at The Yard in Somerton Park. I’ve been lifting weights for the past year, and while I’m naturally competitive and love my cardio, my trainers have helped me shift my focus from competition to personal growth - setting meaningful goals and striving for continuous improvement. |
|
|
LUNCH AND LEARN SERIES: LGITSA AI ADOPTION TOOLKIT
Our final Lunch & Learn session for the year will be hosted by the
LG Professionals SA Business Performance and Improvement Network, in partnership with Local Government Information Technology South Australia (LGITSA).
Ready to take the next step with AI? LGITSA is investing in a series of initiatives to support your council’s AI journey guided by the LGITSA AI Sub-Committee.
Join us to hear more about the recently launched LGITSA AI Adoption Toolkit and learn how councils can adopt AI responsibly and strategically. Discover practical tools for local government AI strategy, governance and implementation - all designed for the sector, by the sector. We’ll also be discussing LGITSA’s next steps to further support your council’s successful AI journey.
Speakers for this webinar will include members of the LGITSA AI Sub-Committee.
Date: Wednesday 26 November 2025
Time: 12:00PM - 1:00PM
Location: Virtually via Zoom
Register to receive your link, which will be sent directly to you closer to the Webinar
Investment: Free! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EVENT - WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA?
You are warmly invited to join a public event to imagine the future of democracy in South Australia.
DEM36 is an incorporated community-focused association, which is launching a draft ‘Charter for Democratic Renewal’ to capture and promote ideas to strengthen and renew South Australia’s democracy.
Guest Speakers include: David Washington, Executive Director of The Don Dunstan Foundation, Prof Lisa Hill, The University of Adelaide, Prof Alan Reid, University of South Australia, Dr Sarah Moulds, Director of the Rights Resource Network SA.
Details: Friday 5 December 2025, 6.00PM - 7.30PM
Venue: Barr Smith South – Flentje Lecture Theatre, The University of Adelaide |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Business Performance and Improvement Network is keen to serve and support our sector in our never-ending quest for innovation and continuous improvement.
In 2026, we will again be bringing you opportunities to gather and learn at face-to-face and online forums, which we encourage everyone to attend and share widely with your colleagues. Watch your inbox for news of upcoming forums.
We are currently undertaking a review of our Business Performance and Improvement Network Viva Engage site. We will update the Network on the review when an update is ready to be shared, and in the meantime will not be accepting any requests to join the platform. |
|
|
LG Professionals SA | Networks and more Did you know that the
Business Performance and Improvement Network is just one of many Member Networks supported by LG Professionals SA? Alongside a range of training and
development opportunities, network events and forums are a great way for you to
connect with like-minded professionals within the sector.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
