8.00am
Morning Coffee and Registration

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8.30am
Welcome to Country
LG Professionals WA President’s Address – Anthony Vuleta MLGP, State President 

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9.00am
Opening Keynote: Cheng Lei, LIVE STREAM
Australian Journalist and Advocate for Press Freedom
In this powerful opening keynote, Cheng Lei shares her transformation from presenter to prisoner during her 1000+ day detention in China.

Born in China, Cheng Lei moved to Australia aged 10. She began her career in accounting, working with multinational companies including Cadbury Schweppes and ExxonMobil.

Fueled by a passion for journalism and her bilingual fluency, Cheng took a 90% pay cut to work as a journalist in China. She swiftly rose to become China Correspondent for CNBC, one of the world's most prominent business TV networks.

In August 2020, Cheng Lei was detained by Chinese authorities on suspicion of espionage, despite no details of the accusations against her being provided. She was detained until October 2023 when she returned to Australia and reunited with her family.

Hear her remarkable story of endurance, which will inspire you to pursue an impactful, compassionate life.

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10.00am
Meet the exhibitors
The 2025 State Conference gets underway with a collegiate start. Connect with colleagues, explore exhibitor offerings, and shake hands with sponsors in this interactive opportunity to network and connect.

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10.30am
Morning Tea – Trade Exhibition area

Pilbara Kimberley Branch Meeting

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11.00am
Q&A with Minister Hannah Beazley BA MLA LIVE STREAM
Hannah Beazley BA MLA, Minister for Local Government; Disability Services; Volunteering; Youth; Gascoyne
To forge and maintain strong relationships with other tiers of government requires us to advocate, understand and align on our mutual priorities. Join this interactive session for your opportunity to ask questions and share your views on the issues and initiatives driving impactful action in our communities.

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12.00pm

Concurrent Sessions

Session 1: Conversation with the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC), Daniel Parker, Director Investigations, CCC

Session 2: Coastal erosion case study, Scott Wildgoose MLGP, CEO Shire of Gingin
Conversations on Coastal Hazard Risk Management Planning can be controversial and complex, with scepticism and lack of urgency at times hindering resolutions. Scott Wildgoose will share real world examples from the recent erosion impacting Lancelin, where potentiality has turned into reality and infrastructure is under imminent threat. Discover the conversations, advocacy and action needed to positively impact this important issue.

Session 3: Walmanyjun Cable Beach Foreshore Redevelopment: 30 years in the making, Jeremy Hall MLGP Director Infrastructure and Kirsten Wood, Shire of Broome
Transformational projects like the Walmanyjun Cable Beach Foreshore Redevelopment come to life only with meticulous planning and meaningful consultation. Hear how Shire of Broome brought this ambitious project to fruition, with strategic collaboration and careful consultation paving the way to secure grant funding to turn vision into reality. Packed with insights and lessons learned, this presentation is a must-see for other local governments embarking on community-transforming initiatives.

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12.45pm
Lunch - Trade Exhibition area

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1.45pm
Concurrent Sessions

Session 4: AI in practice at the local level, City of Bunbury and City of Stirling
Anti-drowning technology powered by AI showed its lifesaving capabilities in the first documented AI-assisted rescue at a WA public pool at City of Stirling's leisure centre. City of Bunbury is also making great strides in AI-integrated innovation and efficiency as they work toward becoming a connected 'Smart City'. See how AI is already creating real, positive change in communities and uncover practical ways you can harness its potential to tackle challenges and positively impact your own operations.

Session 5: Building the Newman Youth and Community Hub and YES Youth Entertainment Space: regional and metro perspectives in youth-centred design, Pete Madden MLGP, Manager Community Capacity Development City of Gosnells and Steve Harding MLGP, CEO Shire of East Pilbara
From skateparks to multipurpose hubs, discover how local governments are partnering with young people to design facilities that meet real needs and show them they're part of the community. Featuring case studies from the transformational Newman Youth and Community Hub, which addresses fragmented services, limited infrastructure, and complex social challenges by co-locating health, education, cultural and recreational services; and the YES split-level skating plaza, this session will inspire new ways to engage youth and deliver spaces that matter.

Session 6: Live more simply with 'lessence' - the essence of less (Recycling) Peg Davies
The way we choose to live, work, and play can be either excessive or frugal - a vital plea to live more simply with a light footprint. Peg Davies 'talks rubbish' for a living. She's a waste education extraordinaire who developed the award-winning Earth Carers course at Mindarie Regional Council. Renowned in the waste education space for her vast knowledge and enthusiasm - she's even been interviewed on TV by Costa from Gardening Australia! Peg provides valuable wisdom about a complex subject important to everyone personally and an essential part of every local government. She will inspire you with practical 'lessence' - the essence of less and encourage you to make improvements immediately. More than a learning experience focusing on sustainability - this is about prioritising your wellbeing and those around you.

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2.40pm
Defusing Conspiracy-Driven Narratives: A Practical Playbook for Executives
Matthew Lonsdale
Acquire a fast, respectful way to handle disruption in public forums - whether it's, 'smart-city mind control', 5G fears, anti-vax claims, or unconventional identity assertions (e.g. 'I identify as a cat'). We focus on what works in the room, based on identifying core human needs and local cultural levers, then using a behaviour-first approach to redirect heat without debating entrenched beliefs. Attendees learn a simple escalation ladder aligned to the Behaviour-Attitude_Belief gradient (what you can change quickly vs. what you can't), plus live diffusion techniques - empatheric acknowledgement, values-sandwich reframing, status-neutral language, and meeting-flow cues. We finish with the SURGE framework (Scan, Understand, Resolve, Guard, Enhance) so leaders can spot flashpoints early, respond consistently, and keep dignity intact for all participants.

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3.15pm
Afternoon Tea - Trade Exhibition area

Midwest Branch Meeting

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3.45pm

Closing Keynote
Jonathan Pain
Jonathan Pain believes world history is the story of how powerful personalities have shaped the world. Whatever your view on Donald Trump, Jonathan says the US President is the most powerful personality in the post-war era, and he will write our next chapter.

Jonathan also believes we have seen the emergence of an Axis of Autocracy - comprising Russia, China, North Korea and Iran - that is looking to challenge the United States and the post-war order.

Seeing the world as a giant jigsaw puzzle, Jonathan endeavours to put the pieces together every day. Today, he sees one of the most fascinating, exciting, and complex puzzles of his 41 years in global financial markets.

Our closing keynote will take us on a whirlwind world tour of the global economy to help us understand and identify the key forces likely to shape our world and define the new reality, including predicting what this all means for Western Australia and Australia.

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