Tue 16 Jun 2026
9:30 - 2:30PM AEST
View event detailsRegistration, 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)
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. We’ll also run a couple of quick polls to see what everyone’s interested in and what people are working on right now.
Local–State Partnerships That Actually Work
10:20 AM - 10:40 AM (20 mins)
A practical case study on how the Rural City of Murray Bridge has moved beyond transactional funding arrangements to build genuine Local–State partnerships that deliver faster infrastructure, better services, and stronger community outcomes. The session explores governance models, trust-building at executive level, and how strategic, data-led planning has positioned Council as a partner of choice for State government in a high-growth regional context.
Reimagining Service Delivery Through AI and Automation - Presented by MTX
10:40 AM - 11:00 AM (20 mins)
Practical use cases for improving efficiency, streamlining processes, and enhancing customer experiences
AI and Digital Transformation: Opportunities and Challenges
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM (30 mins)
- How AI and digital tools can enhance operational efficiency, creativity, and service delivery in councils.
- The impact of technological innovation on workforce culture, engagement, and upskilling.
- Key risks and strategies for managing cybersecurity, compliance, and change during digital transformation.
Lunch: Wander, Discover, Connect
11:30 AM - 12:15 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!
Roundtable 1: AI in Action: Practical Strategies for Smarter, More Efficient Service Delivery - Presented by MTX
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM (60 mins)
As councils face increasing pressure to deliver better services with limited resources, AI and automation are becoming critical tools for improving operational efficiency and customer outcomes. This interactive roundtable will explore practical use cases, lessons learned, and implementation strategies for streamlining processes, reducing administrative burden, and enhancing community experiences through AI-enabled service delivery. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss common challenges, share insights, and explore how organisations can move from experimentation to scalable impact.
Roundtable 2: Navigating the agentic future for public sector - Presented by Salesforce/Ennovative
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM (60 mins)
- What we're seeing as an AI native systems implementation business. The shifts in how we deliver work for clients, and the efficiency gains starting to come through in practice.
- What we're hearing from local government clients. How councils are thinking about the AI disruption coming at them, and where their heads are at on response.
- Where organisations are getting stuck. The common patterns we're seeing as councils try to commence their AI journey, and what's tripping them up.
- The shift from deterministic to agentic workflows. What this looks like in our business and in our clients' businesses, and why it matters for the roundtable conversation that follows.
Roundtable 3: The Future Workforce: Equipping Councils for the Next Decade
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM (60 mins)
Skills shortages, changing workforce expectations and emerging technologies are reshaping local government. This discussion focuses on attracting talent, developing digital capability and preparing leaders and teams for ongoing transformation.
Roundtable 4: Navigating Political Sensitivity in Digital Engagement - Presented by Open Point
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM (60 mins)
Navigating Political Sensitivity in Digital Engagement is designed for engagement practitioners working in the messy middle of complex projects, public scrutiny, and competing expectations. When issues are contested, visible or politically charged, a digital engagement page is no longer just a place to publish information and collect feedback — it becomes part of the public record, a trust signal, and a test of how defensible the process really is.
Andrew Coulson and Leanne Robb will help you explore the judgement calls that matter most when designing digital engagement for sensitive or contested projects.
- how to select the right mix of tools to support broader, more accessible participation
- how to be clear from the beginning about the level of influence people have
- how to create transparent, balanced, and neuro-inclusive project narratives
- how to connect individual projects to the organisation’s broader strategic vision.
Future-Ready Infrastructure and Digital Platforms
1:15 PM - 1:35 PM (20 mins)
Building scalable, secure systems to support long-term growth and resilience.
Beyond Modernisation: Accelerating Digital Transformation in Local Government
1:35 PM - 1:55 PM (20 mins)
- Implementing AI tools and modern digital platforms, alongside cloud migration and cybersecurity upgrades.
- Upskilling staff, embedding agile practices, and fostering a digital-first culture to support innovation.
- Driving transformation initiatives that are reshaping council operations for more efficient, responsive, and forward-thinking service delivery.
Leading Under Pressure: Navigating the Challenges of Modern Local Government
1:55 PM - 2:30 PM (35 mins)
This panel explores the complex challenges facing local councils today. Drawing on insights from CEOs the discussion will highlight how to collaborate under pressure, and practical strategies for maintaining performance, trust, and community impact.
- Managing budget constraints, cost shifting, and resource pressures
- Balancing rising community expectations with operational realities
- Navigating reform and exploring, strategies for collaboration
- Maintaining performance, trust, and community impact in challenging environments
Closing Remarks: What We’re Taking with Us
2:30 PM - 2:35 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
2:35 PM - 3:05 PM (30 mins)
