We caught up with Lisa Warren, HR Business Partner, City of Onkaparinga, about her experience organising a recent Emerging Leaders Program module, how collaboration shined within the group and her biggest takeaways.

You were part of the organising group for this module. What did you want the cohort to get out of the module?

As part of the group that organised the Local Government Module: Rural Perspective, we wanted participants to gain a better understanding of both the advantages and challenges of working in a rural council environment. We aimed to provide experiences and insights that participants may not have been exposed to in their own councils, helping broaden their perspective on local government across South Australia. Most importantly, we wanted everyone to have a fun and enjoyable day while taking away practical ideas, learnings and connections that they could apply back in their own councils.

How did you find organising the module with your group?

I enjoyed meeting people from other councils and working together to deliver the module. Everyone brought different strengths, ideas and experiences, which helped create a well-rounded and engaging program. Like any group project, there were challenges in coordinating schedules and pulling everything together, but it was a great opportunity to collaborate, share responsibilities and learn from one another. It also reinforced the importance of communication, flexibility and teamwork when delivering an event with many moving parts.

What was your biggest takeaway from the module?

My biggest takeaway was the value of collaboration and seeing how different councils approach similar challenges. It reinforced that while our contexts may differ, many of the issues we face are shared, and there is a lot to gain from learning from others' experiences. I also came away with a greater appreciation of the unique opportunities and challenges faced by rural councils and the innovative ways they adapt to meet community needs. It highlighted the importance of remaining open to new perspectives and considering how different approaches could be applied within our own organisations.