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Agenda |

South Australia 2025

Local Government Focus Day South Australia

 Tuesday, 04 Mar 2025
9:30AM

Registration & coffee

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM (30 mins)

10:00AM

Opening from Public Sector Network

10:00 AM - 10:10 AM (10 mins)

10:10AM

Welcome from the Chair and Scene Setter

10:10 AM - 10:30 AM (20 mins)

Liz Watts Partner and National Local Government Lead, KPMG
10:30AM
Keynote

Achieving Financial Sustainability in Local Government: Technology, Transparency, and Teamwork

10:30 AM - 10:50 AM (20 mins)

Jodie Summer Director Corporate Services, District Council of Yankalilla
  • Financial Sustainability as a Foundation: Building resilience through clear policies, realistic service levels, and strategic planning.  
  • Transparency and Accountability: Engaging communities and Elected Members in financial decision-making using accessible data and tools.  
  • Workforce Development: Empowering teams with the skills and confidence to drive efficiency and adapt to change.  
  • Leveraging Technology: Using digital platforms and automation as enablers for financial clarity and operational effectiveness.  
10:50AM

Real World AI Use Cases in Local Government

10:50 AM - 11:10 AM (20 mins)

Simon Adcock Program Delivery Lead, Ennovative Pty Ltd
Aaron Mullins Regional Vice President, Public Sector, Salesforce

We all know what AI promises but it will be a long time before it will be fixing our pot holes. Simon will explore some practical ways that councils can use AI, through platforms like Salesforce, right now to better and more efficiently serve communities.

11:10AM
Case Study

Future-Ready Growth: Agile Transformation in Local Government for Economic Development and Industry Support

11:10 AM - 11:30 AM (20 mins)

Heather Barclay Chief Executive Officer, Rural City of Murray Bridge
  • Exploring sustainable growth management through innovative industry and tourism support initiatives
  • The Future City Program's strategies for fostering strategic partnerships, large-scale land division, and economic agility.
  • Adapting government employment models to build a more transformation-ready workforce.
11:30AM

Brunch & Networking

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM (30 mins)

12:00PM
Roundtables

Roundtable 1: Do more with what you’ve got: How SA Councils can modernise legacy IT with cloud, drive efficiency, and maximise budget

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (60 mins)

Anya Rinaldi Account Manager, Blue Crystal Solutions
Josh Woolston Senior Account Manager, Blue Crystal Solutions

Unsure where to start?

  • Let’s discuss how to determine your council’s ICT infrastructure is ready to support innovation and agility amid rapid technological change and evolving community demands
  • Understand why building a rightsized cloud operating model is essential for future-proofing your digital strategy.

Already there?

  • Learn how to maximise your Cloud investment and discover how to enhance your technology while optimising costs with a focus oni nnovation, continuous improvement and your cybersecurity posture.

Shared Success Stories: How we enabled a cloud migration which resulted in improved performance and increased stability all with no additional licensing spend for the Department for Education SA.

12:00PM
Roundtables

Roundtable 2: Using Data and AI to Unlock Local Government Efficiency

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (60 mins)

Nathan Leverington Chief Executive Officer, Ennovative Pty Ltd
Abel Podger State Director Public Sector, SA, Salesforce

Join Salesforce and Ennovative to discuss how Agentic AI could empower local governments to deliver proactive, efficient and high-impact citizen experiences. Discuss use case examples of how enterprise AI agents can help your council scale your labour force on demand, boost productivity and increase operational efficiency, by taking on repeatable tasks, leaving your human workforce to focus on more complex actions.

12:00PM
Roundtables

Roundtable 3: Reining in M365: A Straight-Talk Guide for Councils – No Magic Required

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (60 mins)

Emma Smith Director, Garage of Awesome Consulting
Ross Smith Director, Garage of Awesome Consulting

Modern councils are under increasing pressure to do more with less. From CEOs and CFOs managing tight budgets, to CIOs and Directors driving digital transformation, everyone wants a Microsoft 365 environment that’s secure, efficient, and ready for innovation. But how do you achieve this without getting lost in technical details?

In this 60-minute round table, we’ll present a clear-eyed look at M365 tenancy management—stripping away the jargon to show how a well-governed environment can streamline collaboration, reduce risk, and pave the way for AI-driven insights. You’ll learn:

  • Governance & Lifecycle Management – Balancing compliance, data loss prevention, and archiving so you keep control without stifling productivity.
  • Identity & Access – Practical ways to ensure the right people have the right privileges, from basic user logins to advanced role-based permissions.
  • Content Maturity – How structured labelling and tagging help teams find information fast and avoid costly duplication or mismanagement.
  • Operational Efficiency – Why routine tenant reviews, cost tracking, and targeted process improvements can yield big savings and happier staff.

Whether you’re managing strategy at the executive level or overseeing day-to-day operations, this session will demystify the path to a confident, future-ready M365 environment. Walk away with actionable insights and a clearer vision of how proactive tenancy management can align with your financial, organisational, and community-focused goals—no technical wizardry required.

1:00PM
Keynote

Navigating Challenges and Unlocking Opportunities – Building Financial Resilience for Rural and Remote Councils

1:00 PM - 1:20 PM (20 mins)

Sean Holden Chief Executive Officer, The Flinders Ranges Council
  • The pressures faced by rural and remote councils
  • Financial sustainability strategies
  • Opportunities in South Australia if financial positions are improved
1:20PM
Panel discussion

Creativity and Innovation in Local Council – How to Unleash Innovation in Your Organisation

1:20 PM - 1:55 PM (35 mins)

  • Tech efficiencies: How can local councils harness AI and innovation to foster creativity and enhance efficiency.
  • Culture: How does technological innovation influence the workforce, workplace culture and employee engagement?
  • Managing risks: What risks and threats accompany innovation, and what strategies can be employed to manage them effectively?
Tony Harrison
Chief Executive Officer, City of Marion
Farlie Taylor
Director, City Strategy, Community and Culture, City of Prospect
Darren Starr
Chief Executive Officer, Wakefield Regional Council
Emma Smith
Director, Garage of Awesome Consulting
Liz Watts Facilitator
Partner and National Local Government Lead, KPMG
1:55PM

Closing Remarks from the Chair

1:55 PM - 2:00 PM (5 mins)

Liz Watts Partner and National Local Government Lead, KPMG
2:00PM

Event Close

2:00 PM - 2:00 PM (0 mins)

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