A WORD FROM THE CEO February has flown by, and with it comes that welcome rhythm of settling back into the year. Across South Australia, communities are buzzing with activity, and it’s an energising time to be part of local government.
This month has marked the commencement of many of our 2026 Leadership Programs, including Ignite, Strategic Management Program, XLP Connect, and the Women’s Career Catalyst and Navigator Programs. It’s always a privilege to bring Members together to learn, connect and grow, and we look forward to supporting this year’s cohorts throughout their journey. |
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February 2026
Edition 173
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We’ve received a record number of nominations for the 25th Annual Leadership Excellence Awards and are now in the shortlisting phase. Finalists will be announced soon. Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination - the innovation, dedication and impact across our sector continues to impress. I encourage you to register for the Annual Gala Dinner to help us celebrate these achievements together.
If professional development is on your agenda for 2026, our Annual State Conference is fast approaching. Widely regarded as one of the sector’s most valuable events, it offers practical insights and inspiration for professionals at all levels. We hope to see you there.
We also continue to deliver a range of short courses throughout the year - ideal for building skills and gaining fresh perspectives in a focused, practical format.
Finally, our Annual Survey is closing soon! Your feedback helps shape our programs, networks and events, ensuring our offerings remain relevant and responsive to the sector’s needs. We value your input and encourage you to share your thoughts. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Best wishes,
Rhiannon |
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HELP SHAPE WHAT COMES NEXT FOR LG PROFESSIONALS SA
Take our 5-minute survey - link in your inbox!
Tell us what you want more of from LG Professionals SA. Help us get it right.
We recently sent out our annual survey to those who receive our emails. If you saw this in your inbox, we would be so appreciative of you taking the time to provide your feedback to us.
Our Annual Survey is your opportunity to help guide future LG Professionals SA activity, programs and offerings. Your feedback will directly inform the professional development opportunities, networks, events and support we deliver - helping ensure what we offer is relevant, practical and aligned to the needs of people working across the sector.
The survey takes just 5 minutes to complete, and as a thank you, you’ll go into the draw to win one of five $50 VISA Gift Cards. To complete, follow the link through the button sent to you in the email. Survey closes TOMORROW 12:00PM Friday 27 February 2026. |
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WELCOME TO OUR 2026 IGNITE PROGRAM COHORT
We are excited to welcome our 2026 Ignite Program participants, who came together earlier this month to commence their development and education journey.
Our cohort this year consists of (in alphabetical order of last name): Shannon Barton-Ancliffe, Kate Bird, Conor Bye, Lauren Bywaters, Arianne Espera, Kylie Hann, Scott Hanrahan, Ben Heaysman, Daniela Herrera, Rebekah Jones, Emma Kruszynski, Joshua Leong, Hayden Marks, Jacque Opie, Bryar Ostendorf, Bradley Prosser, Farideh Rezaei Nodeh, Tom Richardson, Alison Roush, Emily Rufus, Brooke Sanders, Rob Skinner, Tim Spurling, Katya Stephens, Jessica Struthers, Cindy Szalai, Caleb Travis, Tamsin White, Josh Willox, and Jordan Wood.
This 10-month program is designed to enable those who have limited experience in managing and leading people to develop the competencies to set them up for success in their role. Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will receive the nationally recognised qualification Certificate IV in Leadership and Management.
We hope they enjoy the program, and we look forward to seeing their progress throughout the year! |
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WELCOMING THE 2026 LG PROFESSIONALS SA WOMEN'S CAREER NAVIGATOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
The LG Professionals SA Career Navigator Program supports women to develop a strong, authentic professional identity and approach their career and work with positivity and proactivity.
Our cohort this year consists of (in alphabetical order of last name): Catherine Allen, Clarissa Baker, Nelly Belperio, Samantha Buxton Stewart, Rebecca Chamberlain, Rebekah Dolphin, Lillian Foote, Griffen Keain, Caroline Munchenberg, Stephanie Pongraz, Claire Powell, Chelsea Rose, June Saruwaka, Bronwyn Stratford, Jacqueline Stretton, Lee Sugars, Crystal Tintor and Sariah Zwarts.
We are looking forward to the skills and tools our participants will gain to assist them in building career courage and take charge of their life and career. |
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CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE - WE'RE SEEKING YOUR LEGACY STORIES
Submit your story by Friday 6 March 2026
As we prepare to celebrate the 25th Annual Leadership Excellence Awards in 2026,
LG Professionals SA is undertaking a special recognition project to honour the outstanding initiatives that have shaped our sector over the past quarter century.
For 25 years, councils and subsidiaries across South Australia have delivered award-winning projects that continue to influence communities long after the moment of recognition. This milestone offers a unique opportunity to look back, reconnect with these projects, and share how their impact has evolved over time.
We are inviting councils, subsidiaries, teams and individuals who have previously won a Leadership Excellence Award to express their interest in contributing to this 25-year legacy project. Read the full overview of what we're asking from you here.
We look forward to hearing your stories and shining a spotlight on the incredible work that has shaped our communities over the last 25 years.
Thank you for your ongoing leadership, commitment and contribution to excellence in local government. |
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LG PROFESSIONALS SA WOMEN'S NETWORK FORUM
Thursday 12 March 2026
Join us for the upcoming LG Professionals SA Women’s Network Forum – Rebalance. A powerful and reflective three-hour forum designed to support women to pause, reassess, and realign what they give their time, energy, and “yes” to.
In a world that often rewards doing more, this forum invites us to explore when it’s right to say no, how to say yes to what really matters, and how to rebalance work, life, ambition, care, and self, without guilt.
Through expert facilitation and deeply human stories, our speakers will challenge long-held expectations, share practical strategies, and offer permission to prioritise what’s right for you.
This Forum will be held in person at Lockleys Community Room and via Zoom on Thursday 12 March from 9:30AM - 12:30PM and is FREE for Members. |
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LG PROFESSIONALS SA GENERAL MANAGERS AND DIRECTORS NETWORK FORUM
Thursday 19 March 2026
Local government General Managers and Directors are invited to join us for the first
LG Professionals SA General Managers and Directors Network Forum of 2026: From Uncertainty to Alignment: Practical Leadership for Complex Transitions. This interactive session is designed for General Managers and Directors who are navigating complex change and want practical ways to build clarity, alignment, and momentum across their organisation. Participants will explore how people actually respond to change, why uncertainty often triggers hesitation, frustration or disengagement, and what leaders can do to create the conditions for progress. The session will also unpack the impact of leadership congruence, highlighting how trust and culture are shaped by the consistency between what leaders say, do, prioritise and emphasise.
This Forum will be held in person at LG House, Adelaide CBD and via Zoom on Thursday 19 March from 1:00PM - 5:00PM. |
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LG PROFESSIONALS SA BUSINESS PERFORMANCE AND IMPROVEMENT NETWORK FORUM
Tuesday 24 March 2026
You’re invited to attend the upcoming LG Professionals SA
Business Performance and Improvement Network Forum: Partnerships – Challenge to Opportunity. A Forum
designed to spark fresh thinking about how powerful partnerships can shift
challenges into opportunities across local government.
Partnerships – Challenge to Opportunity invites
you to explore how councils, communities, and cross‑sector collaborators can
work smarter together... not by avoiding complexity, but by using it as a
springboard for innovation, performance uplift, and better outcomes for the
communities we serve.
This Forum will be held in person at Brighton
Sports and Social Club, Highet Ave, Hove and virtually via Zoom from 9:30AM
– 12:30PM. |
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LG PROFESSIONALS SA PEOPLE AND CULTURE NETWORK FORUM
Tuesday 31 March 2026
Recognition is changing and so is the way we lead, engage and
celebrate our people. You’re invited to the first People & Culture Network Forum for
2026: Recognition in Action.
This dynamic, future‑focused Forum goes beyond theory to explore
how councils across South Australia are redefining what meaningful, everyday
recognition looks like in practice.
Recognition in Action invites you to reimagine
how your organisation can build belonging, boost morale, and strengthen culture
through simple, strategic and human‑centred approaches.
This Forum will be held in person at Tiwu
Kumangka, Blackwood Library & Community Centre and via Zoom from 9:30AM
– 12:30PM. |
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TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO JOIN US AT THE LG PROFESSIONALS SA 2026 ANNUAL STATE CONFERENCE: POWERING LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Friday 20 March 2026
You are the people who POWER local government in South Australia.
Join us for the LG Professionals SA Annual State Conference: Powering Local Government - an inspiring day designed to strengthen the people who support our communities to thrive.
This conference brings together leaders, storytellers, and innovators to explore the skills, insights, and connections that empower local government staff. From impactful leadership and effective communication to workforce wellbeing, resilience, and collaboration, each session is crafted to build your capability, connection, and confidence.
Our full program includes change makers, mentors, public figures, an Olympic gold medallist and your peers in local government, for a day of connection, learning, collaboration, and meaningful inspiration to power your work and your council's future. |
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JOIN US TO CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR SECTOR
Friday 22 May 2025
Join us as we celebrate a milestone year, 25 years of the LG Professionals SA Leadership Excellence Awards, and come together to recognise the leaders, innovators and changemakers shaping our sector.
Our Annual Leadership Excellence Awards Gala Dinner is more than an event. It is an evening of recognition, connection and celebration - a chance to honour outstanding achievements, be inspired by excellence and gather with colleagues from across South Australia for a truly memorable night.
With a milestone anniversary and strong demand anticipated, this event is expected to sell quickly.
The Awards Gala Dinner will take place on Friday 22 May 2026, from 6:30PM at the Adelaide Convention Centre. Secure your place at the sector’s most prestigious evening and celebrate 25 years of leadership excellence in style. |
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How Adelaide Plains Council’s Blue Carbon Project is restoring wetlands and reimagining climate leadership.
On the shores near Webb Beach, something amazing is happening.
Each year, around 15,000 migratory shorebirds land within the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park. They arrive from as far as Siberia and East Asia, resting and feeding in South Australia’s coastal wetlands before beginning the long journey back to their breeding grounds.
For generations, these wetlands have been vital. But like many coastal systems across Australia, they have also been altered; isolated by levee banks, reshaped by agriculture, and slowly degraded over time.
Now, thanks to the Blue Carbon Project, led by The Nature Conservancy in partnership with Adelaide Plains Council and a coalition of collaborators, those wetlands are breathing again.
And in doing so, they’re capturing carbon, rebuilding biodiversity, and creating new economic opportunities for the region.
Recognised with the 2025 Excellence in Environmental Leadership and Sustainability Award, the project demonstrates what’s possible when local government leads boldly on climate action, grounded in community and partnership. |
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This month we spoke with Sophie Rawson, Team Leader Environment and Sustainability, City of Victor Harbor, about her role, what an average workday looks like for her, her participation on the Field Workforce panel at the upcoming
LG Professionals SA Annual State Conference, and how you'll usually find her surfing at the beautiful Victor beaches on the weekend.
What is your role and how long have you been in local government?
I am currently acting as the Team Leader Environment and Sustainability, and my substantive role is Municipal Employee – Open Space Biodiversity and Conservation. I have been working in local government for approximately 2.5 years. Read more... |
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Sophie Rawson
Team Leader Environment
and Sustainability
City of Victor Harbor |
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CHANGE DRIVERS PROGRAM - NEW PROGRAM
Register now to drive change in your organisation!
We’re excited to now offer the Change Drivers Program, delivered in partnership with Reframe Change.
In an increasingly complex and uncertain environment, leaders need more than traditional change management tools. The Change Drivers Program equips leaders to guide their organisations through change with confidence, clarity and momentum - aligning purpose, people and performance to create meaningful progress.
Delivered across three immersive four-hour modules, the program strengthens how leaders navigate change within themselves, their teams and their organisations. Grounded in practical tools and real-world application, participants will expand their thinking, build confidence and move from insight to action.
Who should attend?
This program is designed for leaders responsible for guiding, coordinating or supporting transformation and change initiatives within local government and beyond. Interested in offering this program 'in-house' to your staff? Let us come to you. Please reach out to Kylee Noble, Manager — Professional Development and Networks via kylee@lgprofessionalssa.org.au.
Download the brochure or visit our website. |
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We caught up with Amy Kennedy, Governance and Risk Officer, Northern Areas Council, about what led her to participate in the Emerging Leaders Program, her key takeaways from the program, and her advice for those undertaking the Emerging Leaders Program in 2026.
Congrats on graduating from the Emerging Leadership Program! What made you sign up initially?
The program was recommended to me by our then CEO, Kelly Westall. To me, it was an honour to be recommended, a true acknowledgement of my leadership potential.
What was your biggest takeaway from the program?
My biggest takeaway from the Emerging Leaders Program was realising how much influence I can have, regardless of my role or title. The program helped me understand my leadership style, build confidence in my strengths, and see that effective leadership is really about self‑awareness, connection, and the courage to step forward. It also gave me an amazing network of like-minded people - the invaluable networks I formed made the program worth it! |
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What advice would you give to someone considering doing the Emerging Leaders Program in the future?
My advice is to absolutely go for it but be prepared to commit the time needed.
The program gives you more than just professional development - it gives you clarity about who you are as a leader, a supportive network of peers, and the space to stretch yourself and your ideas. Go in with an open mind, be willing to participate fully, and don’t underestimate how much you’ll grow simply by showing up and engaging. |
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Amy Kennedy
Governance and Risk Officer
Northern Areas Council
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We're pleased to announce that registrations for the 2026 Emerging Leaders Program sold out in record time! If you were looking forward to joining us in the program this year, we encourage you to sign up to our waitlist to be the first to be notified of any places that might open up prior to the program commencing. |
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POWERFUL BUSINESS WRITING
Monday 2 March 2026
This course uses your own writing examples to demonstrate the use of Plain English principles and persuasive writing techniques.
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AI TRANSFORMATION: INTRODUCTION TO AI
Tuesday 10 March 2026 - ONLY 4 PLACES REMAINING!
Discover not only why integrating AI into your work is essential for the future but also how to implement it ethically and responsibly. Learn practical strategies to leverage AI effectively while mitigating risks and ensuring that your adoption of this inevitable technology is both impactful and safe.
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AI BOOTCAMP
Tuesday 10 March 2026 - SOLD OUT! JOIN THE WAITLIST
This is a detailed and immersive workshop designed to empower you with the skills and knowledge to harness the full potential of free AI software and programs easily available to you, and to understand more of Microsoft Copilot Pro. You’ll explore how to use free AIs safely, while understanding the difference between free and paid options currently within the market.
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INTRODUCTION TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Wednesday 25 March 2026
This one-day course is designed to cover the basic principles of managing projects to help you plan, control and organise activities to ensure that you are delivering successful projects every time. It is best suited for staff who may be new to managing projects or have not previously undertaken any formal project management training before.
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ADVANCED PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Wednesday 13 May 2026
Beyond providing you with essential knowledge and skills to plan, manage and execute projects on time and on budget, this course takes a deeper dive into project management theory and looks at both operational and strategic elements of project management.
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SPEAK WITH INFLUENCE, NEGOTIATE WITH EASE
Friday 5 June 2026
This course will provide you with an insight into your current communication, negotiation and influencing styles. Course facilitator, Gary Edwards, will share a range of tools and frameworks that will enable you to communicate more effectively in any situation.
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Looking for a specific short course or want to secure your place for a courses next scheduled session? Express your interest for the variety of our short courses on offer through LG Professionals SA here.
See a course that you would like to deliver in-house directly to your employees at your Council or Subsidiary? Please reach out to Jade Falco, Training and Development Officer at jade@lgprofessionalssa.org.au.
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FROM OUR COPORATE PARTNER, HOSTPLUS
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2026 FREE EDUCATIONAL WEBINAR
Empower your financial future with our partner, Hostplus.
Join Hostplus' free International Women’s Day webinar to discover simple steps to take charge of your super.
Hostplus are hosting two webinar sessions, taking place on Tuesday 3 March and Wednesday 4 March 2026 at 12:30PM – 1:15PM.
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FROM OUR COPORATE PARTNER, MAXIMA
MAXIMA’S SEAN ROBERTS NAMED COMMUNITY-BASED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Congratulations to Sean Roberts, who was recently named Community-Based Employee of the Year at Maxima’s Graduation and Awards Night.
Sean works at The ARC Campbelltown, a community-focused sport and fitness centre managed by the City of Campbelltown, where he is Health Club Supervisor. Since joining The ARC in September 2024, Sean has become a valued part of the local government community; leading fitness classes, supporting members and helping foster a welcoming, inclusive environment.
Living with cerebral palsy, Sean brings resilience, empathy and lived experience to his role. His approach goes beyond physical fitness, supporting members to build confidence, connection and a sense of belonging. In particular, he works closely with the Fit for Life community, where social connection is just as important as movement.
Sean has worked in local government for nearly six years and says the support provided through Maxima allows him to focus on delivering meaningful outcomes for the community. Maxima provides employment and on-site HR support to The ARC team, helping ensure staff feel backed and supported in their roles.
Sean’s recognition highlights the important role local government employees play in building stronger, more connected communities.
If you are looking to strengthen your workforce and support high-performing teams, consider partnering with Maxima to deliver tailored employment and HR solutions within your council. |
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YOUR NEEDS, YOUR MEMBERSHIP
8. BE PART OF A COMMUNITY We are here for you. Join a community of likeminded,
connected and passionate people, committed
to delivering valuable outcomes for their
organisations and communities.
Learn more about what your LG Professionals SA Membership offers you. |
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NEW
MEMBERS
Welcome
to our 81 new Members! Click here to see the list.
We look forward to
providing support and professional development and networking
opportunities
through every stage of your local government career.
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Please save the date for the following LG Professionals SA events for 2026. If you are planning a local government event, we invite you to contact us to avoid date clashes.
Thursday 23 April 2026 - LG Professionals SA Management Challenge
Friday 19 June 2026 - LG Professionals SA Economic Development Conference
Friday 24 July 2026 - LG Professionals SA People and Culture Network Conference
Friday 30 October 2026 - LG Professionals SA Women's Network Conference
Registrations and further details on our events will be released soon! |
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LG PROFESSIONALS SA SPONSORSHIP AND CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS
Do you work for or know an organisation who would be interested in gaining exposure to local government professionals through sponsorship with LG Professionals SA?
As a not-for-profit association, LG Professionals SA rely on the support of sponsors to be able to continue to deliver the range of high quality events and professional development programs that we are known for.
Partnering with sponsors also creates opportunities for our members to learn, build
relationships and receive best value. Please contact Megan Down, Manager - Events and Partnerships, for further details on corporate partnership opportunities.
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ABOUT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROFESSIONALS AUSTRALIA, SA
LG
Professionals SA is a not-for-profit member based association representing
professionals working in local government in South Australia.
We have
the ability to link and connect people from different councils who may not
otherwise form relationships or share.
Our high
quality professional development programs and networking events are uniquely
local government – reflective of the culture of the sector and sensitive to the
needs of its
professionals.
The
content of our events and programs are informed by our members and people who
genuinely care about the sector.
We
provide a safe and supportive environment in which to grow and learn while
creating
opportunities to make time away from the office to work on the
business or on self.
We award and acknowledge
achievements of excellence. |
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