FinPro Conference 2024 – It’s a wrap!

October 28, 2024

Thank you to over 340 people (FinPro Members, non-members, sponsors and speakers) who attended last week’s FinPro Conference.  We hope that everyone there benefited from their attendance, whether it be information, a new determination, affirmation, confirmation, and / or new associations.

The aim of the conference was to set everyone attending up for success with the new 4-year term of Councilors.  The topics leant into this theme really well, and we believe, there was something on the program for everyone.

Over the duration of the conference, attendees heard about:

  • New ways of leadership and thinking outside the box
  • The expectations that come with a new council – The Big Reset
    • Presented by Belinda Johnson (Horsham), John Brockway (Warrnambool) and Tony Rocca (Maroondah)
    • Councillor Inductions
    • Planning – the why, the what and the how of strategic planning
    • Presentation slides
  • The importance of Corporate Reporting & Influence
    • Presented by Nathan Kearsley (Latrobe), Simone Wickes (Monash), Aaron Gerrard (Whittlesea) and John Vastianos (Glen Eira)
    • Presentation slides
  • How a strong Procurement Policy is a crucial part of sustainability
    • Presented by Jo Cross, Head of Contracts, Local Government Contracts Australia (LGCA)
    • Presentation slides
  • How to deliver our asset plans – ‘So we have an asset plan – What now?”
  • How our Senior Finance Leaders are working together to help achieve sustainability for the sector.
  • The economy and that it is good (?) we don’t have to move to SA – ‘Economic Outlook
  • How an ambitious IT project can be successful – ‘Coastal Connect’
  • VAGO’s take on our sustainability challenges
  • How some of our CEOs are preparing for the new council cycle
  • The legal issues that will affect us all in council
  • We have been inspired to never give up and follow our dreams – or in our case, our plans!
    • Our Closing Keynote was delivered in a brilliant and inspiring way by the one and only, Steven Bradbury.   What a way to finish off our conference!

We introduced each of our amazing sponsors during an ‘elevator pitch’ session on Thursday morning, providing sponsors which an opportunity to share how they offer value and service to the LG sector, and enabling attendees to gain a better understanding of the organisations who so generously supported the conference.  Over the coming weeks we will also share information about our sponsors by way of case studies.  This is another great way to hear and learn about what our sponsors do with and for the LG Sector.

Thank you to all our sponsors and to our speakers, the conference organising committee, led by Nathan Kearsley, and the whole FinPro Executive team.