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Local Government Focus Day Queensland
Sessions
Registration, Coffee & Hellos
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM (30 mins)
Settle in, grab a coffee, and meet a few friendly faces before we begin.
Opening from Public Sector Network
10:00 AM - 10:10 AM (10 mins)
We’ll also run a couple of quick polls to see what everyone’s interested in and what people are working on right now.
Welcome & How to Make the Most of Today
10:10 AM - 10:20 AM (10 mins)
A short welcome, plus a few quick tips to help you connect, share, and get real value from the day.
Local Government 3.0
10:20 AM - 10:40 AM (20 mins)
AI That Councils Can Actually Use
10:40 AM - 11:00 AM (20 mins)
- AI as an economic lever: Anchoring AI investment in real business cases and whole-of-economy value creation.
- From strategy to execution: Building the governance and capability needed to move AI from ambition to real-world delivery.
- Structured focus: Why the value of AI has natural focal points and a short use-case in asset management.
From Infrastructure to Intelligence: Measuring the Outcomes That Matter
11:00 AM - 11:20 AM (20 mins)
Governments have become highly effective at measuring what they build, fund and deliver. The next challenge is understanding what happens because those investments exist. Did people visit? Did they stay longer? Did economic activity increase? Did communities become more connected, resilient or prosperous?
In this keynote, Kevin Harper explores how modern data can help government move beyond traditional performance metrics to understand the real-world impact of investment, policy and place. Drawing on examples from economic development, tourism, transport, precinct planning and public infrastructure, he demonstrates how the fusion of movement, visitation and economic signals can help agencies make more informed decisions and create measurable public value.
The session challenges leaders to think differently about evidence, shifting the focus from reporting on activity to understanding outcomes, and from static dashboards to living intelligence that supports better decisions.
Connected Councils: Building the Digital Foundations for Growth, Innovation and Brisbane 2032
11:20 AM - 11:50 AM (30 mins)
- Building connected councils through shared platforms, integrated data and regional collaboration to improve service delivery and operational efficiency
- Turning AI, automation and data initiatives into practical outcomes across planning, customer experience, asset management and council operations
- Strengthening digital infrastructure, cyber resilience and data governance to support population growth, community expectations and Brisbane 2032 readiness
Lunch: Wander, Discover, Connect
11:50 AM - 12:35 PM (45 mins)
Grab lunch, have a wander, and chat with industry partners and peers about practical ideas you can take back to work. Arguably the most important part of the day!
Interactive Roundtable Discussions
12:35 PM - 1:35 PM (60 mins)
Our interactive roundtables give you space to swap notes with peers. Hosted by industry leaders, they blend lived experience with practical insights. Bring your biggest challenges, wins, and lessons, and leave with ideas you can apply straight away.
Choose one · 12:35 PM - 1:35 PM (60 mins) · 4 options Roundtables
Roundtable 1: Data-Led Government: Turning Insights into Action for Better Community Outcomes
12:35 PM - 1:35 PM (60 mins)
Interactive Executive Roundtable featuring Visa Government Insights Hub (VGIH) and Moreton Bay City Council
Governments have access to more data than ever before, yet many agencies continue to face challenges in translating data into practical decisions that improve services, justify investment and demonstrate measurable community outcomes.This interactive roundtable will explore how public sector organisations can use trusted, privacy-conscious insights from the Visa Government Insights Hub (VGIH) and Visa Government Insights Data to better understand citizen movement, visitor behaviour, economic activity and infrastructure utilisation.Drawing on the practical experience of Nishant Tandon and the Moreton Bay City Council team, participants will examine real-world examples of how data-informed decision making can support infrastructure planning, tourism development, major events, transport strategies, economic development and community investment prioritisation. Rather than a traditional presentation, this facilitated discussion will enable attendees to work collaboratively through government use cases, identify common challenges and explore practical approaches to adopting insights-driven decision making within their own agencies.
Discussion Topics
- How government agencies are using data to support evidence-based investment decisions
- Understanding movement, visitation and economic activity through aggregated insights
- Measuring the impact and return on investment of infrastructure, events and programs
- Building the business case for data-led decision making
- Lessons learned from the Moreton Bay journey
Roundtable 2: Lost in the Cloud: Data Risk in an AI World
12:35 PM - 1:35 PM (60 mins)
As councils adopt AI tools, sensitive public data is increasingly exposed through staff use of public AI platforms, unclear data sovereignty and gaps in cloud security.
This roundtable will explore four themes:
- Where the data goes - the hidden risks of AI and cloud platforms
- Sovereignty and compliance - keeping public records safe and lawful
- Human factors - staff habits that can quietly expose data
- Building resilience - practical safeguards councils can implement now
Roundtable 3: Driving AI Adoption in Local Government
12:35 PM - 1:35 PM (60 mins)
Residents increasingly expect the responsiveness of private industry from their councils, but AI adoption across local government remains uneven. Using customer engagement as a practical example, this roundtable will bring leaders together to explore what is working, what is not and how councils can scale AI effectively from chatbots and virtual assistants to intelligent case management and personalised service delivery.
The discussion will explore:
- Identifying AI use cases that address genuine customer and operational needs
- Moving successful AI initiatives from pilot projects into everyday service delivery
- Using chatbots, virtual assistants and intelligent case management to improve responsiveness
- Building resident trust and measuring the impact of AI-enabled services
Roundtable 4: Surfing the Wave: Getting Queensland's Community Spaces Ready for Brisbane 2032
12:35 PM - 1:35 PM (60 mins)
Brisbane 2032 will surge demand for community spaces. But is your council ready to capitalise? Too many Queensland venues are still hidden behind fragmented systems and lengthy forms, making them invisible to hirers actively looking for them. As AI reshapes how people search, discoverability matters as much as availability. And with a growing skills gap in venue management, the councils that invest in both better technology and better people will be the ones who surf the wave, not get caught in the break.
Building Financially Sustainable Digital Ecosystems
1:40 PM - 2:00 PM (20 mins)
Shaping Queensland’s Future: Aligning Infrastructure, Precincts and Investment for a Lasting 2032 Legacy
2:00 PM - 2:20 PM (20 mins)
- How councils can align infrastructure, precinct planning and investment to support population growth, improve liveability and create a lasting Brisbane 2032 legacy.
- Balancing today's service and infrastructure demands while planning for long-term economic growth, connected communities and future city outcomes.
- Lessons in collaboration across all levels of government to accelerate investment, deliver major projects and maximise the benefits of Brisbane 2032 for Queensland communities.
Smarter Asset Management: Leveraging Data, Sensors and Technology for Better Decision-Making
2:20 PM - 2:40 PM (20 mins)
This session explores how emerging technologies, including sensor networks and data analytics, are transforming asset condition monitoring, planning, and operational management in local government. It will share practical insights from Redland City Council on how technology is being applied to improve asset performance, extend lifecycle value, and support more informed investment decisions.
Navigating the Challenges of Modern Local Government
2:40 PM - 3:10 PM (30 mins)
- Leading councils through workforce shortages, funding pressure, and increasing community expectations
- Balancing innovation, operational delivery, governance, and long-term strategic planning
- Building resilient organisations that can adapt to growth, digital change, disaster readiness, and Brisbane 2032 opportunities
Closing Remarks: What We’re Taking with Us
3:10 PM - 3:15 PM (5 mins)
We’ll pull out a few highlights from the day, share what’s coming next, and point you to ways to stay connected.
Afternoon Tea
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM (30 mins)
Event Close
3:45 PM - 3:45 PM (0 mins)
