Latest News
Local government congress to discuss solutions to extreme events in Adelaide
MEDIA RELEASE
Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government
Date: Friday 14 May 2010
A MAJOR national local government conference to be held in Adelaide next week has attracted leading national and overseas experts on government, business and community responses to dramatic financial, social and climatic events.
The 2010 Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA) National Congress and Business Expo will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre from Sunday 16 to Wednesday 19 May.
The theme for the congress is Re-generation: New beginnings.
A jam-packed program of keynote presentations, panel sessions and workshops, will be head-lined by leading US recovery expert, Professor Daniel Alesch, Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority chair, Christine Nixon, World Vision Australia, Chief Executive, Reverend Tim Costello AO and former Australian Democrats Leader and Labour MP, Cheryl Kernot.
LGMA National Chief Executive Officer, John Ravlic, said the bulging four-day event has drawn delegates from all over the country.
“Re-generation is an appropriate theme for the 2010 congress”, Mr Ravlic said. “It reminds us of how the events of recent years have forced our world and community leaders to re-think the way they do business in order to accommodate a rapidly changing world.
“As the level closest to the people, communities look to local government to help them prepare for, respond to and recover from extreme events.
“Daniel Alesch is a leading U.S authority on the affects of extreme events on communities, business and recovery,” Mr Ravlic said. “The knowledge and advice he can impart to the Australian local government sector so we can ensure our communities will be more resilient and sustainable, will be invaluable.”
“Tim Costello will share his first-hand experiences on the challenges and frustrations of climate change on the world’s poorest people and how the local government sector can work together to make a difference.
“Christine Nixon will discuss the Victorian’s Black Saturday Bushfires – one year on, and Cheryl Kernot will explore how local government managers can use social enterprise to help solve some of the sectors most pressing issues.”
2010 is the Year of Women in Local Government. The congress will include a number of interesting and challenging sessions around increasing women’s participation in executive and elected roles.
“Women on Boards Chair, Ruth Medd will discuss a number of private sector initiatives to elevate women into CEO roles and on boards, there will be a presentation by three 2010 LGMA Management Challenge teams on gender-based workforce insights, and of course, we’ll host our annual Women in Local Government networking breakfast. ”
Mr Ravlic also said that he is looking forward to hosting the congress at the Adelaide Convention Centre for the second time. The first was in 2003.
“The national congress and business expo is Australia’s premier forum for local government professionals and our choice of venue supports that position,” Mr Ravlic said.
“With world-class facilities, the multi-award winning Adelaide Convention Centre at its spectacular waterfront location will add significant value to our delegates learning and networking experience.”
Adelaide Convention Centre CEO, Alec Gilbert said they were looking forward to providing the ideal platform for the National Congress and Business Expo, and supporting the several hundred delegates from local government within Australia and abroad.
“Eminently walkable, serviced by electric trams and the world’s first solar-powered bus, Adelaide is Australia’s green conference destination and our Gold Service Green Attitude philosophy will ensure we provide our distinguished guests with both environmentally friendly and exceptional service,” he said.
Adelaide’s Lord Mayor, Michael Harbison will officiate at a welcome reception on Sunday evening at 6.00pm. His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce AC CSC RANR, Governor of South Australia will officially open the congress and business expo on Monday at 9.00am
For a snap shot of the 2010 LGMA National Congress and Business Expo program, including highlights of presentations by South Australian councils please visit the on-line media centre at www.lgma.org.au > media centre.
Ends
For more information please contact:
Helen Diggerson
Manager, Marketing and Communication
LGMA National
+61 3 9682 9222
0414 376 924
media@lgma.org.au
www.lgma.org.au
