Agenda: LG innovate 2026
Wednesday 2nd & Thursday 3rd September 2026 | Melbourne Town Hall
Day 1 - Wednesday 2nd September 2026
Across two days, you'll hear from Australian and international thought leaders, council executives and AI specialists as they share proven approaches to innovation, governance and transformation.
8:45 - 9:00am | Official Welcome
Official welcome from all event hosts:
Jacqui Wightman, CEO, Davidson
Alison Leighton, CEO, City of Melbourne
Kim Jackson, Sales Manager NSW Government & Local Government, AWS
9:05 - 9:45am | CEO Index Launch & Panel Discussion - Luke Heine, Davidson & guests
Launch of the 2026 Australian Local Government CEO Index, revealing survey insights & CEO Index Panel Discussion.
Presenter:
Panelists:
Tammi Rose: CEO Yarra Ranges Council
Stephen Wall: CEO Wyndham City Council
Alison Leighton: CEO City of Melbourne
9:50 - 10:10am | AI in Action at the City of Melbourne - Kritika Sharma
Kritika Sharma , Head of Data & AI, City of Melbourne
10:15 - 10:45am | AI & Cybersecurity, AWS Deep Dive- Stephen Kraemer, AWS
AWS Deep Dive - Protecting critical infrastructure in an AI-first world.
Presenter:
Stephen Kraemer, Executive Coach & Boards Advisor, AWS
10:45 - 11:15am | Morning Break & Networking
Connect with your peers over morning tea or visit the AI Demo Lounge for live AI demos and hands on skill builder sessions.
11:20 - 11:50am | Digital where possible, human where it matters - Julian Patmore, UK
Digital where possible, human where it matters: Striking the right balance in citizen service delivery.
International presenter:
Julian Patmore: Service Director for Digital & Customer Access, Peterborough City Council, UK
11:55 - 12:25pm | Turning AI into Better Resident Experiences - Technology1 & guests
Explore how councils can use AI to create better resident experiences and what’s possible in practice.
Manohar Esarapu : Product General Manager, Technology1
Lou Hallam: Product Success Director, Technology1
12:30 - 1:00pm | Doing More Without More Money: AI for the Whole Council. - Michael Fagan, Symphony3
Improving productivity, service responsiveness and cost efficiency
Michael Fagan: Non-Executive Director, Advisor to CEOs and Managing Directors
1:00 - 2:00pm | Networking Lunch
Enjoy your lunch, connect with your peers and visit the AI Demo Lounge for live AI demos and hands on skill builder sessions.
2:05 - 2:35pm | AI & Digital Technology - Matt Cosgrove, Port Macquarie Hastings Council
AI & Digital Technology: Understanding the voice of the customer.
Presenter:
Matt Cosgrove, Customer Experience Leader, Port Macquarie Hastings Council
2:40 - 3:10pm | Realising Value from Digital Transformation- David Freeman, AWS & Dr. Joe Sweeney, IBRS
Bringing together executive insights, independent research and practical frameworks to help councils maximise the value of digital transformation.
Presenters:
Dr Joe Sweeney: IBRS
David Freeman: Principal Partner Account Manager, AWS
3:15 - 3:45pm | Delivering business value through large scale transformations - Bianca Lochner Ph.D, USA
Delivering business value through large-scale digital transformations, resilient cybersecurity strategies, and advanced data and AI capabilities.
Presenter:
Bianca Lochner Ph.D: CEO, City of Scottsdale, USA
3:45 - 4:10pm | Afternoon Break & Networking
4:15 - 4:45pm | Archistar AI Precheck - Chris Clark, Archistar
Archistar AI Precheck: Eliminating Rework Before It Starts
Explore why traditional intake processes are no longer sufficient and how councils are responding with AI-powered approaches.
Presenter:
Chris Clark, Head of Product Platform & Innovation, Archistar
4:50 - 5:20pm | LG Pro Victoria Customer Panel
Panel facilitator: Jill Brown: CEO, LG Pro Victoria
Panelists:
- Justin Daly : Emerging Technologies Lead, Mornington Peninsula Shire
- David Hansen: Strategic Change Leader, Whitehorse City Council
5:20 - 5:30pm | Closing remarks
Closing remarks for Day 1.
5:30 - 8:30pm | Evening Networking Reception hosted by Technology1
Attendees are invited to an exclusive networking evening, hosted by Technology1.
Attendance is included with your LG Innovate 2026 ticket however, places are limited. Attendees must register their interest by selecting the networking event add-on during ticket purchase.
Day 2 - Thursday 3rd September 2026
8:50 - 9:00am | Day 2 Opening - Kim Jackson, AWS
Setting the scene for skills-focused sessions.
Presenter:
Kim Jackson, Sales Manager NSW Government & Local Government, AWS
9:05 - 10:05am | Agentic AI Workshop - Elijah Glass & Ellie Orton AWS
Skills Enhancement: Build, deploy and govern AI agents for
council workflows.
Upskill your team to lead the autonomous AI revolution.
Presenter:
Elijah Glass: Information Services Manager, City of Bunbury, AWS
Ellie Orton: Executive Manager, AWS
10:05 - 10:30am | Morning Break & Networking
Connect with your peers over morning tea or visit the AI Demo Lounge for live AI demos and hands on skill builder sessions.
10:35 - 11:35am | Design It, or It Designs You: The Human-AI interface - Mattias Otte, AWS
Accountability, relational stance and culture. Shaping how people and AI work together in councils.
Presenter:
Mathias Otte, Customer Success Team Leader, AWS
11:40 - 12:05pm | Beyond the Hype: Practical AI Implementation in Council Services Panel
Panel facilitator: Fergal Coleman: CEO of Symphony3
Panelists:
- James Plozza : Manager Governance, Warrnambool City Council
- Anthony Dow: Strategic Advisor, Noosa Council
- Evan Jardine: Coordinator IT Web and Analytics, City of Greater Bendigo.
12:10 - 12:30pm | Day 2 Closing Remarks - Kim Jackson, AWS & Luke Heine, Davidson
Commitments, connections, and continuing the journey.
Presenters:
Kim Jackson, Sales Manager NSW Government & Local Government, AWS
Luke Heine, National Senior Partner - Business Advisory, Davidson
Easier to engage across government
Davidson is an approved supplier across a range of Federal, State and Local government procurement arrangements, making it easier for government organisations to access our expertise through established procurement pathways.
Selected agreements include:
Federal government
- People Panel 1 (Recruitment and Search Services)
- People Panel 2 (Labour Hire Services)
- People Panel 3: Professional Contractor Services
- Digital Transformation Agency - DMP2: ICT Labour Hire
- Digital Transformation Agency - DMP2: Professional & Consulting Services Department of Defence: ICTPA
State and territory government
- NSW Government SCM007 (contract recruitment)
- NSW Government SCM0012 (permanent recruitment)
- NSW Government SCM0020 (ICT services)
- NSW Government SCM0005 (performance management services)
- NSW Government Master ICT Agreement (MICTA) (professional services)
- NT Government (AGC25-0031) (recruitment services)
- VIC Government State Purchasing Contract (staffing services)
- QLD Government – GGS0060 (temporary and contracted workers)
- QLD Government - GGS0111-24 (professional services)
- SA Health (professional services)
Local government
- Local Buy LB297: (recruitment services – permanent)
- Local Buy LB334 (recruitment services – contract and labour hire)
- Local Buy LB309 (business management & consulting services)
- Local Buy LB308 (ICT solutions, products, services & new tech)
- Local Buy LB328 (people & wellbeing services)
- Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV(temporary and permanent recruitment services)
- Local Government Procurement LGP808-4 (contract and permanent recruitment)
- Comensura (contract and labour hire)
- Procurement Australia (temporary and permanent recruitment services)
- Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (temporary and permanent recruitment services)
CONTACT US
Talk to us
Talk to a team that understands the realities of the public sector and can connect the right people, strategy and technology expertise around what you need to achieve.
