With council amalgamations high on the agenda for statewide debate, Tasmania’s local government
leaders will tomorrow come together to explore and discuss ways for councils to improve their
communication and collaboration with their local communities.

More than 60 council general and senior managers will attend the Local Government Managers
Australia (LGMA) Tasmania Annual Conference to hear from state, national and international expert
speakers on a range of hot topics currently affecting local government.

This year’s conference, Communication and Collaboration, boasts a line-up of high profile speakers,
including Walkley Award winning journalist and Crickey.com founder Stephen Mayne, and Chief
Commissioner of the Integrity Commission the Hon Murray Kellam AO.

LGMA Executive Officer Pamela Crawford said this year’s program would highlight to delegates the
importance of effective communication, consultation and collaboration with their local communities at a
time when the future of councils was somewhat uncertain.

“With local government reform currently in the spotlight, now more than ever councils need to find new
ways to engage with their communities and demonstrate their relevance through open, efficient and
effective communication,” she said.

“These ideas will be explored both through lessons learned from past case studies and through new
means of communication and engagement, including social media, with a range of exciting expert
speakers sharing their knowledge and experience.

“Among the keynote speakers is Simon Kelly from Queensland Police, who will discuss the use of social
media during the Queensland floods and Dr Mark Elliot who founded Collabforge, an innovative
consultancy responsible for a number of cutting-edge digital government initiatives.”

The 2011 LGMA Tasmania Annual Conference and AGM will be held from October 26 – 28 at Freycinet
Lodge, Coles Bay, kicking-off with the LGMA Board meeting and Conference Dinner on Wednesday,
followed by the LGMA Annual General Meeting and official conference program on Thursday.
Local Government Managers Australia