
Join us as we welcome Paul Sutton, Mark Withers, Martin Borgas and Judith Lowe as guest speakers for the LG Professionals SA Business Performance and Improvement Network Forum: Collaboration - Why is it so hard?.
This Forum will be held in person and via Zoom on Thursday 23 November 2023 from
9:15 AM - 12:15 PM at Weigall Oval, Oval Terrace, Plympton.
The Ingredients for Successful Cross Council Collaboration
Mark Withers |
Paul Sutton |
Chief Executive Officer |
Chief Executive Officer |
City of Port Adelaide Enfield |
City of Charles Sturt |
With a shared vision to deliver better outcomes for their communities, the Cities of Port Adelaide Enfield, Charles Sturt and Marion have committed to a formal program of collaboration across all aspects of service and operation. This formalised collaboration comes after many years of informal and ad-hoc sharing of resources and ideas, and includes budget assurance, service reviews, benchmarking and shared service provision.
Together, the three large metropolitan councils have established a governance framework, service level contracts and shared values to set the collaboration to achieve great long-term outcomes. Fundamentally, however, the relationship and its success is based on the trust and connection between the three CEOs and the organisations they lead. Join us to hear from two of them as they discuss how they are committed to a collaborative leadership framework which is transforming their councils, in order to meet the challenges of the future and enhance their local communities.
Cross Council Collaboration: Case Studies from across SA
In this session we will hear from Martin Borgas, CEO, District Council of Karoonda East Murray, and Judith Lowe, Sustaining Independence and Wellbeing – Project Officer, Active Ageing, City of Onkaparinga, presenting on their award-winning collaboration efforts. They will provide insights on their projects, challenges overcome and what they would do differently.
2022 Leadership Excellence Award Winners, District Council of Karoonda East Murray and Southern Mallee District Council Regional - Pest and Weeds Management Program
Martin Borgas
Chief Executive Officer
District Council of Karoonda East Murray
On the back of several years of sustained drought, The District Council of Karoonda East Murray and the neighboring Southern Mallee District Council continued their successful partnership to deliver the Regional Pest and Weeds Management Program.
In collaboration with the Natural Resource Management (NRM) Board, staff from both councils assessed the highest priority farm properties and locations in the region that would benefit from weed and pest management activities.
This project was a true collaboration with 12 full time local jobs created as a result. Focusing on supporting and encouraging landholders to be active in environmental management, with great results.
2023 Leadership Excellence Award Winners, Cities of Onkaparinga, Marion, Holdfast Bay and Mitcham, Inner Southern Councils Advance Care Directive Collaboration - Advance Care Directive Peer-Led Workshop Project
Judith Lowe
Sustaining Independence and Wellbeing – Project Officer, Active Ageing
City of Onkaparinga
The Inner Southern Councils Advance Care Directive Collaboration was formed to create a new and sustainable model to raise community understanding of advance care planning, foster self-determination and establish innovative peer volunteer roles.
Supported by Office for Ageing Well and Health Services Programs (SA Health), this community development project has enabled and encouraged active participation of older South Australians in the inner south, created purposeful peer volunteer roles and contributed to improving the autonomy and quality of people’s lives.
The Advance Care Directive Peer-led Workshop Project uniquely fulfilled commitments to public health and community wellbeing, while leveraging community strengths and protecting against the rising trend of ageism and elder abuse. These workshops used innovative tailored resources to tackle the topic step-by-step, utilised peer facilitators who have completed their own Advance Care Directive and promoted non-judgemental discussion inclusive to CALD, LGBTQI+ and faith-based communities.
Hot Topics
Join your peers for an interactive session to identify and share emerging issues across the sector.

Registrations for this forum are open to Local Government Professionals Australia, SA members, council employees, employees of regional subsidiaries and Local Government Professionals Australia, SA invited guests.
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