2025 Sydney Summit Program
All times are AEST
Thursday 8 May 2025
PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney
Please note: This event won’t be livestreamed, but some presentations WILL be recorded and videos available to all registrants (both Summit and Development Program) for a limited time.
9:00 am – Horizon 2030: Shaping local government communication in the next phase of the decade
It’s been said that change has never been this fast, and it will never be this slow again.
For local government communicators, standing still equates to falling behind.
While it’s easy to get swept up in the daily demands of your role, it’s essential you’re aware of the technological and global developments shifting and shaping our profession.
From the AI revolution to the media trends of the mid-decade, this session will set you up to give clear and fearless advice to your Council’s leaders about the next trends for cutting through and building more trust with your community.
Dr Neryl East - Summit Convenor and local government communication specialist
10 am – CASE STUDY: Navigating the implementation of a Special Rate Variation
Few issues provoke community hostility more than a rate rise. In some states this takes the form of a Special Rate Variation (SRV), with many approval hoops for councils to jump through and multiple opportunities for ratepayers to vent their rage.
Council communicators, tasked with “selling” an inherently unpopular decision, often face an uphill battle to convey clear messages about the proposal.
In this session, you’ll learn about Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council’s experience in communicating about – and successfully implementing – an SRV over three years.
Regardless of whether your Council faces a similar rate challenge, you’ll take away ideas and insights for communicating in the face of widespread opposition.
Nathaniel de Hoog - Coordinator, Communications and Engagement, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council
10.30 am – Morning break
10.30 am – Morning Break
10.50 am - Solving the digital dilemma: Why owned media should be the foundation of your Council’s Digital Communication Strategy
With so many ways to tell your Council’s stories, are you investing your energy wisely?
Navigating the ever-changing digital landscape is increasingly complex. Council communicators are faced with evolving community expectations, algorithms and technology - plus, the unpredictability of platform companies that can seemingly deactivate accounts at a whim and with little explanation. Not forgetting their love-hate relationship with governments, “trying” to catch up on social policy.
Owned media is the one constant that councils can rely on.
When you are in command, you can ensure brand consistency, align messages and maintain a narrative that resonates better with your community. You might not trend instantly, but you can manage growth over a longer term.
In this session, we’ll look at how to structure your digital communication planning and ensure a clear line of sight from your Council’s overarching vision and strategic objectives to your day-to-day work. We will argue for prioritising owned media and then integrating shared, paid, earned and borrowed media as you need it.
Louise McFarlane - Eunoia Communications
11.50 am - Panel discussion: A fascinating window into communication team structures, managing workflow and getting to grips with how your Mayor communicates.
You might believe there are only a few options when it comes to structuring a council communications team. Think again!
Where you fit in the org chart, how you combine (or not) communication with community engagement, customer service, advocacy and many other functions and whether you take a centralised or decentralised approach, all combine to make your comms team unique.
Then there’s size, job titles and descriptions… the list goes on.
In this session, we’ll jump into a discussion about how different councils manage communication, from structuring the team to managing interactions across the organisation and coordinating tasks. There’s no right or wrong way, but you’ll pick up valuable ideas to take back to your Council.
Come armed with questions and stories to share about your own experience.
12.30 pm – NETWORKING Lunch
1:15 pm - Uncomfortable Influence: Practical ways to confidently set boundaries and manage expectations with senior stakeholders and other council departments.
Being effective as a council communication professional often means dancing the fine line between blunt honesty and diplomacy. Unrealistic ideas, strong opinions and missed internal deadlines are just some of the factors that make influencing others in your council a tricky but essential skill.
In this session, we’ll dive into practical approaches to handling push-back, negotiating priorities and communicating assertively without burning vital internal relationships.
While we’ve covered influence in previous Summits, this was by far the most requested topic in the feedback from last year’s program. There’s always more to learn when it comes to honing your super-power to positively influence others.
Dr Neryl East - Summit Convenor and local government communication specialist
2.15 PM - CASE STUDY: How a low-budget campaign successfully reached a targeted community
What do you do when you’re called on to address a major community issue, with next to no communications budget?
That was the dilemma facing Rous County Council in the Northern Rivers of NSW – with a small social media presence and few comms resources, but a big challenge involving water use across the region.
Through the Mindful Water Habits Start Now campaign, Council got the community thinking about their individual actions in helping to conserve the region’s precious water supplies. In the process, Council significantly grew its digital engagement and conservation efforts.
Whatever the size of your Council, chances are you’re keen to get more bang for your communications buck. This case study will give you practical ideas to get your message across without costly bells and whistles.
Karin Van der Heijde - Water Sustainability Officer, Rous County Council
2.45 pm - Afternoon break
3.10 pm - Getting maximum impact from video for your Council’s communication
We’re constantly reminded of the power of video in telling local government stories – but what are the top tips for producing videos that hit the mark without killing your budget?
In this session, you’ll hear a series of case studies about councils using video to convey a message effectively. Get ready for some lightbulb moments!
Anthony Lam - Managing Director, Punchy Digital Media
3.40 pm - Better Wellbeing, Bigger Impact: How to grow your resilience and productivity by being kind to your mind
As a council communication professional you’re likely to spend much of your time making others look good. It’s easy to forget that we also need to take care of ourselves.
Burnout in our profession is a genuine risk. Heavy demands, longer hours, shrinking resources and never enough time are common realities across council communication teams.
Award-winning speaker and performer Julia Grace brings a unique blend of humour, story, science and song that will have you looking at stress and overwhelm through a different lens. You’ll come away from our closing session with new tools to feel energised, get more from your day and tackle challenges – all through Julia’s signature message: Be Kind to Your Mind.
Julia Grace - Award-winning speaker and entertainer
4.40 pm – Final summary and cementing new relationships
What have you taken from a day of insights, sharing and reflection, customised specifically for council communicators?
Our final discussion question will help you get clear on your next steps, so all that learning translates into positive action.
We’ll close with networking drinks to celebrate new relationships, fresh ideas and invaluable achievements.
5.00 pm – SUMMIT close
Summit Venue - PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney
150 Day Street, Sydney
Located in the heart of Sydney, PARKROYAL Darling Harbour offers modern comfort and convenience just moments from the city’s vibrant waterfront. The hotel features stylish rooms, state-of-the-art conference facilities and exceptional dining options. Its location offers easy access to Darling Harbour’s attractions, including restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues, making it the perfect base for conference attendees to explore Sydney.
Getting There:
PARKROYAL Darling Harbour is easily accessible by public transport and private car. From Town Hall Station, it’s a five-minute walk via Bathurst Street. Numerous bus routes also stop nearby along Druitt and Sussex Streets. For those driving, the hotel offers secure on-site parking (fees apply) and is located near the Western Distributor for easy access from major highways.
For a special Summit rate, please email the PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney at this address: group.prsyd@parkroyalhotels.com and quote booking code #1228556 to receive 20% off the best available rate.
Meet Our Speakers
Dr Neryl East, Local government communication specialist
Neryl is Australia’s leading authority on local government communication, having spent many years in senior council communication roles after an extensive media career.
As well as partnering with councils around Australia to elevate their communication skills, she coaches government leaders at the highest level on communicating high-stakes messages with credibility and connection.
Neryl has a PhD in Journalism and is the author of five books including an Amazon best-seller on media and reputation. She is a Past National President of Professional Speakers Australia and convenes the Local Government Communication Professionals Network.
Julie Grace
Julia Grace is a dynamic keynote speaker, award-winning singer-songwriter, and passionate mental health advocate. She brings more than 30 years of experience, transforming mental health discussions with her unique blend of humor, heart, science and song.
Drawing from her own experiences with clinical depression and anxiety, Julia equips audiences with practical tools for mental wellness. Her electrifying presentations combine all of Julia’s skills leaving audiences laughing, crying and inspired. Her ability to tackle serious topics with warmth and wit makes mental health discussions accessible and enjoyable.
A recognized leader and PSA NZ Educator of the Year, Julia has touched tens of thousands of lives across five continents. Her book, Be Kind to Your Mind, and her powerful songs further amplify her message of hope and resilience.
Anthony Lam
Anthony Lam is the founder of Punchy Digital Media - Australia’s leading award winning video agency specialising in public sector communications. Punchy has produced over 1200 videos over the last 13 years on some of the most critical campaigns in Australia.
Louise McFarlane
Louise McFarlane, Eunoia Communications, is a fresh voice; someone who loves learning and sharing how to resolve complex problems with creative solutions. Backed by more than 20 years of experience in public relations and events, she passionately talks about purpose-driven, values-based communications.
Starting her career as a journalist, Louise then worked as a local government manager for several years. During this time, she led customer service, community / corporate events, communications, media and advocacy teams. Along the way, Louise undertook two stints as a sessional teacher at RMIT University, School of Media and Communication.
Before opening Eunoia Communications, Louise was the Manager Strategic Communications at the MAV - Victoria’s peak body for local government. Her qualifications include a Master of Communication from RMIT University and Bachelor of Arts (Media Relations and Politics) from Swinburne University.
Nathaniel de Hoog
Nathaniel started out in the recreation and sporting industry, connecting directly with the community and providing services they love. In 2016, Nathaniel stepped into the role of Communications and Engagement Officer with the freshly merged Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council.
In this role Nathaniel helped develop clear messaging for the community around the merger and rates harmonisation, and the many capital and community projects that came out of the merger. Working in a small 3-person communications team, Nathaniel was the primary content and copywriter for QPRC’s communication with residents and ratepayers.
In 2020 he took an opportunity to explore communications with the Federal Government, working at the Department of Social Services. During this time Nathaniel missed the flexibility, independence, and culture of local government and applied for his current role, Coordinator, Communications and Engagement in May 2021.
Since then, he has been integral to improving the way QPRC communicates with the community and tackling communications strategies for major projects including the Special Rate Variation.
Karin Van der Heijde
Karin plays a vital role in water management at Rous as the Water Sustainability Officer. She's responsible for overseeing the regional plan for water demand management. This plan includes strategies, policies, and procedures to ensure sustainable water use. Karin also manages the sustainable water partner program, collaborating with non-residential customers to find ways to conserve water. Prior to joining Rous Karin built a strong foundation in water management at the Queensland Government. Her experience spanned various areas, including water management, water catchment planning, policy and legislation and Murray-Darling Basin Implementation.