We caught up with one of this year's Emerging Leaders cohort, Kelly Vandermoer, Finance & Executive Administration Officer at East Waste to find out how she's finding the program so far.

What made you sign up for the Emerging Leaders Program?

I have only worked within Local Government for a short time, but it didn’t take long to realise that I could see myself in it for the long haul.  The Emerging Leaders Program presented as a worthwhile opportunity to get to know others in the industry, understand what it’s like working in Council from a range of different perspectives and seniority levels, and gain insight into what it takes to be a successful leader.

The most recent module focused on the Political Context – what were some of your takeaways from this module?

I found the complex dynamic of the relationships between Council Executives, Staff, and Elected Members the most interesting, and how it must be delicately managed to ensure successful outcomes for our communities.