Our CEO panel topic is 'The Future of Local Government: Ready or Not?'. We will explore a broad range of topics from Ai, LG working conditions, Importance of cyber security and emerging technologies. Hosted by Dr Jonathan Reichental. 

Kelly Grigsby, CEO municipal Association of Victoria  

Kelly Grigsby is Chief Executive Officer of the Municipal Association of Victoria and a progressive, visionary leader with extensive experience in city shaping, organisational transformation and local government. Driven by the belief that cities are among the world’s most powerful economic engines, Kelly is passionate about urban design, placemaking, innovation, social and economic inclusion, and social justice. She has a strong record of leading large, complex multidisciplinary organisations and delivering transformational, place-based change through collaboration with communities, governments, businesses, investors and other partners. A sought-after keynote speaker, panellist, facilitator and media commentator, Kelly contributes to conversations about leadership, the future of local government, organisational transformation, good governance, deliberative democracy, diversity and equality, urbanism, placemaking and social inclusion. Kelly is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Melbourne’s School of Government and a recipient of Victoria University’s Companion of the University Award for her contribution to advancing Melbourne’s west. She has served on and chaired numerous boards and advisory committees, including as a member of CEDA’s Victoria–Tasmania State Advisory Council.

Sam Johnson OAM, CEO City of Launceston 

Sam Johnson OAM is the Chief Executive Officer of the City of Launceston and a nationally recognised local government leader with two decades of experience spanning local government, community leadership, and corporate banking. Sam has served the sector as a Councillor, Mayor, and Chief Executive across regional and metropolitan councils in South Australia and Tasmania, giving him a deep, lived understanding of governance, service delivery, and the evolving expectations placed on councils and their workforces. In his current role, Sam is leading major organisational reform focused on sustainability, capability, and culture, including positioning the City of Launceston as Australia’s first council to implement a genuine four day working week, embedding productivity, wellbeing, and attraction and retention at the centre of workforce design. Sam holds numerous formal qualifications, with a strong emphasis on local government, leadership, governance, and management. He is a recent graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where he completed executive education focused on public leadership, organisational performance, and leading reform in complex systems. Sam is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and brings deep financial and commercial acumen shaped by his earlier career in corporate banking. Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for distinguished service to local government and regional communities, Sam is known for his collaborative, reform driven leadership style and his strong advocacy for innovation, fairness, and future fit local government. He brings a practical, evidence-based lens to the challenges and opportunities shaping the future council workforce, making him a compelling contributor to today’s discussion.

Gail Gatt, CEO Horsham Rural Shire Council 

Horsham Rural City Council welcomed Gail Gatt as its new Chief Executive Officer in May 2025. 
Gail Gatt brings a wealth of experience in local government leadership, having held senior roles across regional Victoria.
Previously, she served as General Manager Strategy and Effectiveness at Surf Coast Shire, led key portfolios at Latrobe City Council and also worked at Wellington Shire Council.
As CEO, Ms Gatt leads the organisation’s day-to-day operations and works with Councillors to implement policy and deliver services that are consistent with the Council Plan.

Council Case Studies 

Andrew Downie, Manager ICT and Digital Transformation Golden Plans Shire Council

Andrew is a digital transformation leader with over 25 years’ experience helping organisations get real value from technology. As Manager ICT and Digital Transformation at Golden Plains Shire Council, he delivers practical initiatives that improve services and outcomes for the community.Andrew has previously held senior technology roles in Local Government and as a Consulting Practice Manager across the APAC region for a multinational software company.He’s known for his pragmatic, down-to-earth approach, focusing on what works and helping organisations successfully navigate change.

Brady Curran, EASY PDs 

Brady worked across People & Culture positions in the Victorian Local Government industry for 16 years before branching off to become a Workplace Investigator and create his own firm (Independent Investigations). In between seeing every element of (poor) human behaviour in the workplace (theft, bullying, sexual harassment - the stories that could be told), Brady had an idea to create life easier for the clients he worked with – Hr Professionals. After knowing the challenges they faced and the resource limitations placed upon them he created EasyPDs to help his clients perform the tasks that he once performed on a daily basis. Creating job advertisements, assessing and reviewing a position description, creating recruitment packs for hiring managers - these tasks plus many more could be completed with the use of AI technologies. EasyPDs actively solves problems for Local Governments and makes their work lives that little bit easier. 

Syed Naqvi, Cyber Security Specialist City of Launceston

Syed is a Cyber Security Specialist at the City of Launceston, where he's known for turning cybersecurity from a back-office concern into a genuine organisational priority. Holding certifications including CISSP, CISM, he brings sharp technical depth paired with a strategic eye for risk, the kind of rare combination that lets him speak fluently to both engineers and executives. Syed believes local government deserves the same calibre of cyber defence as any major enterprise, and he's built a reputation in the Tasmanian public sector for making that ambition a practical reality, one system at a time.

James Stokie, Manager Information Technology City of Greater Bendigo

James Stokie is an experienced technology executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience across application development, infrastructure, cyber security, project delivery, and IT operations in both national and multinational organisations. He is recognised for delivering strategic and operational outcomes through strong leadership, collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer-focused technology solutions. Over the past three years, James has applied his extensive private-sector expertise within local government, motivated by a desire to give back to the community and support regional growth. As Manager Information Technology at the City of Greater Bendigo, he has led significant technology transformation initiatives that have strengthened cyber security, improved service delivery, enhanced organisational capability, and fostered regional collaboration through innovative shared service models. James is passionate about leveraging technology to create meaningful outcomes for organisations and communities alike. He has championed affordable, sustainable, secure, and innovative technology solutions that balance strategic vision with practical delivery, ensuring investments generate real value and long-term benefits. 

Adam Knell, Information Technology & Data Manager Glenelg Shire Council 

Adam Knell is the Information Technology & Data Manager at Glenelg Shire Council and a technology leader with more than 20 years' experience across local government and healthcare. Passionate about cybersecurity, AI and digital transformation, Adam is known for making complex technology simple, practical and engaging. Drawing on real-world leadership experience, he helps organisations confidently navigate change while keeping people at the heart of technology.

Workshops

Customer and Process Workshops

Sandra Ennor BIM CERIM FRIM, RIMPA Global Ambassador 

Sandra Ennor has embraced a 25-year career in the industry and is currently working as an Information Management Consultant.  Focusing on client engagement, where system design and managing processes, analysis of recordkeeping practices, training and education had been core to her work - Sandra’s new challenges include influencing information culture, recordkeeping compliance and maturity and data management.Pursuing a number of related interests has broadened Sandra’s awareness of industry perspectives as well as a deeper appreciation of risk management.Sandra is honoured to be a Local Ambassador and give back to a vibrant and enthusiastic community.

AI & Data  Workshops

Dwight Faulkner, Manager Technology and Operations enablement City of Greater Geelong 
Dwight Faulkner is the Manager Technology and Operations Enablement at the City of Greater Geelong, with more than 17 years of experience delivering technology services across local government. His experience spans infrastructure, enterprise applications, information management, service delivery, cloud technologies and cyber security, with a focus on modernising technology while keeping services practical, secure and customer-focused. With qualifications in computer systems, networking and telecommunications, along with specialist training in cyber security risk and strategy, Dwight brings a pragmatic approach to technology leadership. He is passionate about helping councils navigate digital transformation, operational resilience and the growing role of AI in local government. As Co-lead of the ALGIM Cyber Security Community of Practice, Dwight works with technology leaders across Australia and New Zealand to share knowledge, tackle common challenges and strengthen cyber resilience throughout the sector. Outside of work, Dwight can usually be relied upon for a well-timed Simpsons reference. In cyber security terms: excellent credentials, strong defences and perfectly cromulent humour.

Carolynne Roberts, ICT Coordinator Golden Plains Shire Council  
Carolynne Roberts is the Coordinator of Information Communication and Technology at Golden Plains Shire Council, with more than 25 years of experience in local government technology. She is a Director of ALGIM Australia and Co-Lead of the ALGIM Cyber Security Community of Practice, where she supports collaboration, practical knowledge-sharing and stronger cyber resilience across the sector. Outside work, Carolynne enjoys rural life raising cattle and is involved in the carriage-driving community, giving a whole different meaning to managing horsepower.

Lisa Ippolito, AI Enablement Lead City of Whitehorse 
Lisa is the AI Enablement Lead at Whitehorse City Council, where she’s focused on making local government work smarter, faster, and more purposefully. With deep expertise in process improvement and digital transformation, she’s now applying that same mindset to the possibilities of AI. Lisa is driven to find practical, real-world applications that councils can trial, tailor, and embed. Her approach is grounded in hands-on experimentation, strong collaboration and a firm belief that AI must be used responsibly, ethically and safely, while also being accessible and tailored to the needs of the public sector.

David Hansen, Technology Change Manager Whitehorse City Council  

David Hansen is a strategic advisor and organisational transformation specialist with extensive experience driving innovation and change across complex public sector organisations. Previously a consultant at both KPMG and PwC, David has partnered with senior leaders in government agencies, ASX-listed companies and major public institutions on workforce strategy, organisational development and technology-enabled transformation with a focus on human-centred design and sustainable change.