PROGRAM OUTLINE

Day One: Wednesday 5 November

12pm Registration and lunch

1pm Session one: Innovation and Leading Practice Introduction Sarah Artist, Manager Learning Solutions, Local Government NSW Innovation in Local Government National research into necessary elements for an innovative council has highlighted the importance of highly skilled adaptive leadership, a facilitative approach to collaboration and a focus on creating public value. Professor Mark Evans, Director, Australia NZ Institute for Governance Strategic HR and the Future of Work According to FCB’s employer research most employers expect more social networking in the future, haven’t started planning for an ageing workforce and identify only 50% of current leaders with the skills required to be future leaders. Campbell Fisher, Managing Partner & Solicitor Director, FCB Group Driving Change in HR Practice A clear sense of purpose and six key values have anchored the development of leadership, performance management and staff engagement programs. Key lessons from the City’s experience and ongoing journey will be shared. Susan Pettifer, Director Workforce and Information Services, City of Sydney

3.30pm Afternoon Tea in Exhibition Area

3.45pm Interactive Workshops Option 1 Promoting Innovation in your Council Insights from the adaptation of UK local government to recent austerity measures will inform this workshop which will involve a facilitated step-by-step approach to promoting innovation amongst participating councils. John Ravlic, Ravim RBC Option 2: Innovations in WH&S and Wellbeing Targeted to professionals responsible for managing either WH&S or employee wellbeing programs, the session will focus on two key areas: implications of research funded through the NSW Innovation Fund which explored ways that technology can improve productivity and WHS in local government; and how to innovate through an evidence based workplace health strategy that delivers results for the wellbeing of your people and your council. Ashley Frost, Inductus and Carl Buick, Bupa

Option 3: Workforce Planning – Insights from Queensland The Local Government Association of Queensland has been working with member councils to develop an informed approach to workforce planning. This workshop will review the tools and approaches used in Queensland and will discuss their potential application for councils in NSW. Gabrielle Dorward, Principal Advisor, Workforce Strategies LGAQ

5pm Close

7pm – 10pm Harbour Cruise Leaving from Darling Harbour this Corporate Networking Harbour Cruise will include dinner, drinks and music. A Harbour Cruise in Sydney is an unforgettable experience, so join us aboard a 30 metre catamaran to enjoy the sights and vibrant atmosphere of Sydney Harbour in style.

Day Two: Thursday 6 November

9am Session two: Leadership and Strategy The new Chief Executive of Local Government NSW has extensive leadership experience in the NSW public sector and will open the session. Donna Rygate, Chief Executive, Local Government NSW Local Government Leadership Programs A recent nationally funded research project compared eight local government leadership programs in four Australian jurisdictions. Leadership challenges, corporate trends and program innnovations will be presented. Dr Tim Robinson, Director Sector Engagement, Australian Centre for Excellence in Local Government Case Study 1: Blacktown City Council Blacktown City Council is located in a fast-growing area of Western Sydney, and has developed a Leadership Capability Framework which is designed to prepare leaders for a changing workforce. David Reynolds, Manager Workforce & Corporate Development, Blacktown City Council Case Study 2: Bellingen Shire Council Bellingen Council have recently undertaken a comprehensive program to better understand and develop community leadership amongst elected members. Complimentary initiatives in the council have also focused on better alignment in terms of structure, culture, service, systems and processes. Libby Darlison, The Miller Group and Kerrie Coleman, Executive Manager Organisation Development, Bellingen Shire Council

11.15am Morning Tea in the Exhibition area

11.30am Interactive Workshops

Option 1: Leadership development This interactive workshop is designed to continue the plenary session discussion, and to facilitate the sharing of experiences amongst participating councils for developing leadership capabilities. Norm Turkington, LGNSW Learning Solutions Option 2: Creating the Context for Effective Performance Management Leadership, strategy and innovation are driven through an effective performance management framework. It enables all players to understand how their individual and collective endeavours impact Local Government. In this workshop we focus on how best to do this in your Local Government organisation given contemporary prescriptions as to how a council’s performance should be judged. Dr John Martin, Emeritus Professor, La Trobe University and Adjunct Professor Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government, UTS. Option 3: Bargaining for productivity This workshop will review lessons learned through the Enterprise Bargaining process and will cover approaches most likely to result in outcomes for greater workforce productivity. Henry Skene and Aaron Allegretto, Seyfarth Shaw Australia

12.30pm Lunch in the Exhibition Area

1.15pm Session three: Engagement, culture and communication Building strategic and cultural alignment Most organisations have aspirations for an ‘effective strategy’ and a ‘strong’ culture, but they don’t always understand the relationship between the two. Specific strategies require specific cultures if they are to be well implemented. Selecting a ‘desirable’ culture can sometimes destroy the intended strategy. This session will outline how your strategy can be aligned with the appropriate culture.

Dr Norman Chorn, Strategy and Organisation Development Consultant, FutureBuilders

Leading excellence The City of Marion is an Adelaide Council which won the 2011 Australian Business Excellence Award. Expectations for people to be creative, supportive and co-operative are promoted by systems, procedures and practices which value quality service, product quality, goal attainment and people development.

Mark Searle, CEO, City of Marion, South Australia

Understanding economic drivers Understanding the Australian economy will support an enhanced awareness of current and future business conditions to inform HR decisions. This session will be delivered by the conference’s elite sponsor, Local Government Super.

Peter Lambert, CEO, Local Government Super

2.30pm Afternoon Tea in the Exhibition Area

2.45pm

Session Four: Effectiveness and driving change Embracing Change Workplace change is happening faster and more intensely than at any point in history. Organisations are traditionally very good at implementing change, but not so good at getting employees on side. This presentation will cover: the one core reason why employees resist change and how to overcome it; the key steps in turning cynical employees into advocates of change; and the process to follow when employees stubbornly oppose a new change. James Adonis, Change Management Consultant

The Role of Leaders in driving change and innovation Managers play a key role in enabling change and innovation through their ability to empower employees to develop their own solutions to challenges and opportunities in the workplace. This session will consider recent research findings on employee perceptions of managerial coaching and will also offer examples and practical tools.

Simon Covill, Manager Learning, Culture and Creativity, City of Sydney The role of HR Managers in driving change and innovation HR managers and practitioners can play a key role in change management by understanding the challenges and proactively advising senior staff before and during significant reforms.

Sheridan Dudley, Chief of Staff – NSW Minister for Education and previously CEO Camden Council

4.30pm Interactive Workshops Option 1: Effective staff engagement and communication strategies This interactive workshop will be designed to facilitate the sharing of experiences amongst participating councils for developing better workplace communications. The workshop will encourage participants to share successes and lessons learned.

Sandene Chatwend (tbc), Insync Surveys and Robbie Singleton, LGNSW Learning Solutions

Option 2: Avoiding the pitfalls of unfair dismissals Utilising a range of authentic but anonymous case studies the LGNSW Industrial team will present some lessons learned in NSW councils.

Michelle O’Neill and Vikki Sultana, LGNSW Industrial Team

Option 3: Rethinking and reworking council salary systems This workshop will explore the evolution of council salary systems over time, with the aim of drawing out best practice and industry trends. Compliance with the NSW Local Government Award will be included as a consideration.

Jamie Anderson, Mastertek and Ross Nassif, LGNSW Industrial Team

5.30pm Conference Close

6.30pm Pre-dinner Networking Drinks

7pm Conference Dinner The Conference dinner speaker will be James O’Loghlin – media host, comedian, and host of The New Inventors. James has a passion for practical innovation and will explore ways we can become more innovative in everyday life as well how companies create a culture that encourages innovation. The dinner theme is red, so please wear something to mark the occasion and celebrate in style!

Day Three: Friday 7 November

9am Amalgamations and Workforce Planning in Western Australia With mandatory amalgamations underway in Perth metro, the WA Department of Local Government and Communities have prepared a local government reform toolkit to guide WA councils through the necessary steps towards amalgamation. This experience offers insights for councils facing reform in NSW. Tim Fowler, Special Advisor – Legislation and Metropolitan Reform, WA Department of Communities and Local Government View from the Top – A CEO’s Perspective Three local government CEOs will be invited to reflect in a panel session on the challenges and aspirations for HR and local government in the future. Adam Dansie, Manager Industrial Relations, Local Government NSW

11am Morning break

11.15am Stronger Local Government through Sector-Led Development Local Government in NSW is poised for significant change, and the recent Independent Local Government Review Panel called for a new approach to promote, capture and share innovation and best practice. Drawing together the themes of the conference, this session will point to a sector-led approach to improvement and building strategic capacity in the local government workforce. Professor Graham Sansom, Previously Chair, Independent Local Government Review Panel and ALGA CEO Award for Excellence in Human Resources This award recognises significant achievement in human resources management practice in the local government sector through demonstrated leadership and innovation. Winners of the voting process will be announced and the award presented. Lillian Tiddy, Director Workplace Solutions, Local Government NSW

12.30pm Conclusion

Registration and Payment

DATE: Wednesday 5 – Friday 7 November, 2014 VENUE: Rydges World Square, Sydney

CONFERENCE COST:

Early Bird Registration: $990 incl. GST (closes Wednesday 1 October). Standard registration: $1190 incl. GST

HARBOUR CRUISE COST:

$70 per head (incl. GST) for dinner, drinks and cruise.

ACCOMMODATION: To book accommodation, phone 02 8268 1888 or email reservations_worldsquare@rydges.com and quote code: 0411LOCAL

REGISTRATION: Online registration at lgnsw.org.au/events-training/local-government-human-resources-conference

CONTACT: For further information, contact LGNSW Learning Solutions: 02 9242 4181 learning@lgnsw.org.au

Sponsorship LGNSW Learning Solutions would like to thank the following sponsors and exhibitors for their support of the 2014 NSW LGNSW Human Resources Conference:

• Local Government Super – Elite Sponsor

• Bupa – Dinner Sponsor

• DC Workplace Consulting

• Flexible Business Learning

• Institute for Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA NSW)

• Insync Surveys

• Jardine Lloyd Thompson

• Leonard Holt Robb

• Local Government Appointments

• Management Consultancy International

• MG My Gateway

• OO-Soft

• Royal Life Saving Society

• SafeAbility

• StateCover.