REGIONAL FORUM PRESENTATIONS
NGA 2022 Speakers
Alicia McKay (NZ)
Alicia McKay is a leading authority on organisational strategy and change, empowering senior leaders in government, business and the community to think smarter and make better decisions.
A celebrated author, speaker, facilitator, coach, and leader, she has a voice that cuts through the sea of corporate jargon to get real about what it takes to change our life, work and leadership.
Drawing on specialist accreditations in problem definition, strategy development and investment, Alicia launched Meetings that Matter in 2020, which is quickly becoming the gold standard for strategic facilitation in New Zealand and Australia.
Alicia’s latest book is titled You Don’t Need An MBA: Leadership Lessons that Cut through the Crap.
Dr Jonathan Carr-West (UK)
Dr Jonathan Carr-West has been Chief Executive of LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) since February 2013, where he leads on all aspects of the think tank’s policy, membership and influencing work.
Some of his particular interests are in participative democracy, the evolving nature of public services and devolution. With extensive media profile and sector credibility, he has published on topics as diverse as localism and public service transformation, cognitive and behavioural science, and the politics of cultural memory.
Prior to being appointed as Chief Executive, Jonathan was Director of Policy at the LGIU where he led on research and consultancy, policy development and piloting, best practice dissemination, learning and development.
Stan Grant
Stan Grant is the International Affairs Editor for the ABC, a multi award-winning current affairs host, and author.
Stan’s Aboriginal heritage has shaped his dynamic, resilient personality. Born in Griffith in south-west New South Wales, in 1963, his mother is from the Kamilaroi people and his father is of the Wiradjuri.
Stan has hosted major news and current affairs programs on Australian commercial and public TV, and been a political correspondent for the ABC, and a foreign correspondent for the Seven Network based in London and CNN based in Hong Kong and Beijing.
Stan has written The Tears of Strangers and Talking To My Country (Harper Collins), and has published numerous articles and opinion pieces for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian.
Val Dempsey
For more than 50 years Valmai (Val) Dempsey has dedicated her life to St John Ambulance.
In 2020, Val faced her biggest challenge yet – first with the ‘Black Summer’ bushfires, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response, she led 40 fellow volunteers as they supported fire-affected communities during the emergency that stretched over many weeks, and when the pandemic hit, she personally contacted every volunteer to check they were ‘doing OK’ in terms of welfare, mental health and morale.
It is these tireless commitments to St John that has led many in the community to know her lovingly as ‘Aunty Val’.
Paul Tilley
Paul Tilley was an economic policy adviser to governments for 30 years, working mainly in Treasury but also Prime Minister & Cabinet, the Treasurer’s office and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
He has since published a book on the history of the Treasury, Changing Fortunes: A History of the Australian Treasury, is a Visiting Fellow at the ANU’s Tax and Transfer Policy Institute and a Senior Fellow at the Melbourne Law School.
Paul is currently writing a book on the history of tax reform in Australia.
Gary Okely
Head of JLT Public Sector - Pacific
Gary’s expertise in advisory, risk and insurance sectors has guided the evolution of innovative risk protection solutions specifically tailored to meet the changing needs of local government today.
Having worked with insurance markets here in Australia, in Asia and London during a 30-plus-year career, Gary is highly regarded and his work has been trailblazing – assisting the government sector, businesses and not-for-profit organisations to move beyond traditional approaches to take control of their own outcomes. This has resulted in stronger risk management, including cooperative self-insurance options, and improved claims management results.
Gary is also leading conversations on disaster vulnerability and resilience with public sector entities and the insurance sector.
He became a Director of JLT Australia in March 2010 and today is Head of JLT Public Sector – Pacific. He is Vice President of the National Insurance Brokers Association and a Board Member of the Local Government Mutual Risk Schemes in New South Wales and South Australia. He is a Qualified Practicing Insurance Broker.
Jody Broun
CEO, National Indigenous Australians Agency
Jody Broun is an Yindjibarndi woman from the Pilbara in Western Australia, who has maintained strong connections to country, community and culture throughout her life.Jody is passionate about social justice, community led co-design, and making a difference through changing the way government does business with Aboriginal communities and stakeholders.
Over the past 30 years Jody has held various senior positions in the government and not-forprofit sectors including Executive Director Aboriginal Housing and Infrastructure in WA; Director of Equal Opportunity in Public Employment in WA; Director General Department of Aboriginal Affairs in NSW; and Co-Chair of the National Congress of Australia’s First People and Director of NSW and ACT for Australian Red Cross.
In February 2022, Jody was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the National Indigenous Australians Agency.
Muheed Jamaldeen
Director, Deloitte Access Economics
Graham Jarvis CPA MBA
Portfolio Lead (Strategic Finance), AEC Group
Graham’s local government experience includes seven years as Director of Corporate Services at Whitsunday Regional Council.
Graham now leads a team of local government experts within AEC providing a range of financial, economic and property management solutions to local government authorities and local government associations across Australia. Most recently Graham has authored advisory reports for the Australian Local Government Association and the Local Government Association of Queensland.
Michelle Tjondro
Local Government Workforce Skills Project
Before joining SGS, Michelle advised state government’s regional economic growth agenda and supported infrastructure planning with demographic analysis. She advocates a data driven philosophy to policy design for equitable Australian communities.
Michelle has a Master of City Analytics from the University of New South Wales and is a graduate of the Sydney Law School.
Cr Matthew Deeth
Chair, National Growth Areas Alliance
Cr Deeth recognises that Wollondilly is on the cusp of the biggest increase in growth it has ever seen, and the Shire needs urgent attention to improve its existing infrastructure.
He aims to be a strong voice for the community and is willing to demand better outcomes from developers and all tiers of government to ensure his community’s voice is heard.
Marcus Spiller
Principal & Partner, SGS Economics & Planning
Marcus is widely published in regional economic development, housing policy, infrastructure funding and metropolitan governance. This includes writing and co-editing two books on urban management.
He is an Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne, and has been awarded the title of Life Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia.
Wendy Hayhurst
CEO, Community Housing Industry Association
Previously she led CHIA NSW – the state peak - for four years. Wendy has spent almost her entire career in social and affordable housing – working her way from the front line to a non-executive directorship and senior managerial roles in a wide range of housing provider organisations, regulatory bodies, specialist consultancies and performance benchmarking organisations.
She has in-depth knowledge and experience of the NSW, national and international community housing sector through her work with the NSW Regulator, in shaping and administering the National Regulatory System and her work in the United Kingdom.
Damien White
Executive Director, Centre for Population, Federal Treasury
He is a long-term Treasury officer, having joined as a graduate, and has worked across a broad range of policy areas, with a focus on the budget and fiscal policy issues. This has included as Chief Advisor, National Security; Division Head of Infrastructure, Industry, Environment and Defence Division; and Principal Advisor in Social Policy Division.
Damien has also held senior roles in the Office of National Intelligence (including Deputy DirectorGeneral) and the Department of Communications (reviewing the NBN) and was a senior advisor in the Treasurer’s Office.
Fiona Cornforth
CEO, The Healing Foundation
Fiona has gained experience and perspectives in education, leadership and business development globally and shares a message of celebration and gratitude for the greatness of ancestors, elders, and the ontology and authority that holds her and her family.
Zali Steggall OAM
Zali Steggall OAM is the Independent Federal Member for the seat of Warringah in Sydney’s North.
She is also Australia’s most successful alpine skier, winning a bronze medal in slalom at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, and a World Championship gold medal in 1999.
From 2008, Zali was a practising Barrister, specialising in commercial law, sports law and family law. In 2019, Zali contested the Federal Parliamentary Seat of Warringah as an Independent Candidate. The seat had been held for nearly 25 years by former Prime Minister The Hon. Tony Abbott. On 18 May, Zali won the seat with a two candidate preferred vote of 57.24%.
The Hon Murray Watt
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Minister for Emergency Management
Murray Watt was elected as a Senator for Queensland in 2016.
Murray is Brisbane born and bred, and has strong family ties to regional Queensland with both sides of his family having a long history in farming and teaching.
For over 20 years, Murray's working life has been spent as an advocate for others, as a lawyer, a public servant and as Chief of Staff to former Premier Anna Bligh. Murray also served one term as a Queensland State MP and Assistant Minister in health and economic portfolios.
Since his election in 2016, Murray played a key role in Senate Estimates and a range of Senate Committees including the Rural and Regional Affairs Committee. As a Senator and Shadow Minister, he led a number of Senate inquiries into issues including regional development, energy and resources, emergency management and health care.
Vasyl Myroshnychenko
Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia
Vasyl Myroshnychenko resumed the functions of the Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia on 1 April 2022.
On 7 March 2022, the Minister of Defence of Ukraine appointed him as his advisor.
In May of 2021, he was appointed as a member of the Supervisory Board of the Ukrainian Institute, a cultural diplomacy outfit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Prior to joining the Foreign Service, he was an active business and civil society leader in Ukraine.
From 2006 to 2022, he was a Partner at CFC Big Ideas, a Kyiv-based strategic communications company. He has 20 years of experience advising clients on corporate communications, public affairs and reputation management. Vasyl advised many multinational companies and domestic industry leaders across various sectors. Vasyl is a co-founder of Ukraine Crisis Media Center, a media NGO set up in early March of 2014 aimed at amplifying Ukraine’s voice internationally. He was in charge of numerous projects and campaigns during 2014-2019.
Catherine King
Federal Member for Ballarat
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
First elected in 2001, Catherine King represents the electorate of Ballarat in the Australian Parliament.
Following the 2022 Election, Catherine was sworn in as the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government – a key portfolio that reaches into the heart of every community across the country.
Catherine held a similar portfolio in the previous term of opposition, as well as serving six years as Labor’s Shadow Minister for Health and Medicare.
Catherine has previously held the Cabinet portfolio of Minister for Regional Australia, Local Government and Territories, as well as serving Minister for Regional Services, Local Communities and Territories, Minister for Road Safety, and before that as Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Parliamentary Secretary for Health.
Catherine holds Bachelor Degrees in Social Work and Laws and a Masters’ in Public Policy.
Prior to entering Parliament, Catherine was a senior manager at KPMG’s Consulting Practice.
As a regional MP, Catherine is a strong advocate for the seven million Australians who live outside our capital cities.
Kristy McBain
Member for Eden-Monaro
Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories
Kristy McBain proudly grew up on the NSW Far South Coast, and she is the first woman to represent Eden-Monaro.
Since being elected in 2020, Kristy has built a formidable reputation as a plain spoken, hard-working local member who advocates with all levels of Government and all sides of politics to get results for her constituents.
Kristy will bring her passion and expertise for regional development and local government to the of Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, and will work hard to create meaningful change and the best outcomes for our country.
As Mayor of the Bega Shire Council, Kristy advocated day and night for people through the darkest days of the Black Summer Bushfires in 2019-20. Kristy brings that same courage and determination to the recovery of those regions, and to the building of job opportunities, education and thriving communities across her electorate and regional Australia.
Kristy’s family moved to the Bega Valley in the 90s and ran a small sporting store in Merimbula for over a decade. Kristy met her husband Brad at Eden Marine High School and they have three young kids. Brad and Kristy built up a successful local plumbing business so Kristy knows the pressure small businesses are under, and how important they are as local employers.
Kristy studied law at the University of Canberra and as the first person in her family to go to university, Kristy is passionate that all kids get the chance to go to university or TAFE and have the opportunity to build their careers and lives in the regions as she has done.
Cr Jacob Lesetja Dikgale
National Executive Committee Member, South African Local Government Association
Cr Dikgale started in local government as a ward Councilor from the year 2000 to 2006, and in 2006 he became a member of the Executive Committee for Thembisile Municipality.
In 2006 he was elected in the Nkangala District Municipality to be a Member of the Mayoral Committee, and In 2008, he was elected into the Provincial Executive Committee of the South African Local Government Association.
In 2022 he was elected to serve in the National Executive Committee of SALGA and to be Chairperson of the Municipal Finance Working Group.
He currently serves as the Executive Mayor of Thembisile Municipality, and holds various qualifications from leading South African Universities in Municipal Finance, Leadership Development, Data Processing and Accounting and Management
Cr Peter Scott
Councillor Peter Scott has served with Cook Shire Council since 2004 as Councillor and 2008 as Mayor.
Peter spent his formative years in the country areas of Australia. He worked for the Westpac Bank for 23 years in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Currently, Cr Scott and his wife operate the Cooktown Alamanda Inn.
During the last 17 years, Peter has been actively involved in many community groups and committees including the Cooktown Golf Club, Cooktown Tennis Club, RSL Building Committee, Cooktown & District Junior Rugby League, Regional Rugby League Steering Committee, Cooktown Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, Community Advisory Network and the Cooktown State School P&C Association.
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