Local Government Focus Day Victoria

• Exploring techniques to maximise existing resources, reduce waste, and drive cost savings across the council.
• Best practices for simplifying workflows and removing inefficiencies to enhance service delivery.
• Leveraging collaborations with private and public entities to share resources and reduce operational costs.

• Improving product and service deliveries as citizens need and access to these services grows smarter with quicker access – the importance of continuous citizen engagement in service design
• Examining the correlation between simplicity in service delivery and citizen trust
• Balancing personalisation with privacy and security considerations

The Victorian Government’s recently announced Economic Growth Statement is creating new opportunities for local councils to drive digitisation, AI adoption, and economic growth. This keynote will provide an exclusive look at funding programs, upcoming reform initiatives, and real-world success stories from councils that have leveraged state support.

Join this session to:

• Gain insights into available resources, funding streams and other reform program opportunities.
• Learn from successful case studies in local government.

Following the morning keynote on reform opportunities, this roundtable is an opportunity for councils to share experiences with state government on what works well when it comes to digitisation, what are the challenges we still need to address to get it right and discuss opportunities for your council to participate in our Digitisation and AI grants program.

• The adoption of AI across councils to support service
• The need for business automation and workflow to support
• Facing the challenge of “doing more with less” while meeting community expectations for sound governance and agility

• Leveraging an agile framework to identify key financial challenges and priorities in Victorian local councils.
• Using agile methodologies and tools to track financial health and uncover actionable insights.
• Adopting iterative planning and flexible responses to adapt to changing economic pressures and regulatory requirements.

• 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?

Jennifer Bednar

Director Customer and Corporate Services, City of Casey

Mark Cochrane-Holley

Director Invest Melbourne, City of Melbourne

Rebecca McKenzie

Chief Executive Officer, Glen Eira City Council

Lalitha Koya

Chief Information Officer, Darebin City Council