Government Innovation Week South Australia
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Local Government Focus Day South Australia 2026

Reimagining how councils deliver: citizen-centric, AI-enabled, productive

16 Jun 2026 KPMG Offices, Adelaide
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Overview

Cost shifting, financial sustainability, and rising customer expectations are reshaping the role of South Australian councils. Once defined by the “three Rs” – rates, roads and rubbish – local governments are now expected to deliver services in healthcare, housing, aged care, recycling and climate adaptation. These expanded responsibilities, combined with shrinking grant funding, rate capping and increasing obligations from higher levels of government, are placing councils under significant strain. With mounting pressure to do more with less, councils face challenges that are largely beyond their control yet critical to their communities’ future.

This event will explore how technology can help councils bridge the gap between limited resources and rising customer expectations. From automation and AI to data-driven decision-making and smarter enterprise applications, sessions will showcase practical strategies to improve efficiency, streamline service delivery and strengthen financial sustainability.

Join peers, sector experts and decision-makers to share experiences and gain actionable insights. Through collaboration and innovation, this event will provide the tools to strengthen financial sustainability, adapt to change and deliver positive outcomes for councils and communities across South Australia.

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Who will be there?

Lead the transformation of financial and operational efficiency through technology and innovation:

  • Utilise AI and automation to streamline financial processes, optimising resource allocation and reducing administrative burdens
  • Implement digital platforms that enhance transparency, accountability, and service delivery across all departments
  • Equip teams with the tools and training to drive financial sustainability while meeting the growing demands of citizens and stakeholders

Shape a future-ready workforce and cultivate a culture of innovation within local councils:

  • Foster an environment where employees are empowered to adopt new technologies and embrace creativity, driving both engagement and productivity
  • Lead with vision by encouraging innovation in service delivery and developing strategies to manage the risks and opportunities of digital transformation
  • Elevate workplace culture by ensuring that technological advancements support employee well-being and align with the strategic goals of the organisation

Lead the charge in transforming local government operations through technology:

  • Drive the adoption of AI and automation to streamline financial operations, reducing costs and increasing efficiency
  • Implement cutting-edge digital platforms to enhance service delivery and ensure seamless citizen interactions
  • Strengthen transparency and accountability through advanced tech tools, improving public trust and government performance
local gov-SA

2025 Featured Speakers

2026 speakers coming soon

Tony Harrison speaker image

Tony Harrison

Chief Executive Officer, City of Marion

Heather Barclay speaker image

Heather Barclay

Chief Executive Officer, Rural City of Murray Bridge

local sa speaker

Jodie Summer

Director Corporate Services, District Council of Yankalilla

local sa speaker

Farlie Taylor

Director, City Strategy, Community and Culture, City of Prospect

Sean Holden

Sean Holden

Chief Executive Officer, The Flinders Ranges Council

Darren Starr

Darren Starr

Chief Executive Officer, Wakefield Regional Council

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Why attend?

Tackle Financial Sustainability Head-On

With budget pressures ranked as the top concern in 2025, this event is designed to help you identify smarter, more sustainable ways to manage resources, stretch funding, and future-proof your council’s finances.

Innovate Within Tight Constraints

Doing more with less is the new normal. Learn how other councils are using digital tools, data, and streamlined processes to drive meaningful change with limited budgets.

Unlock Collective Solutions to Shared Challenges

Financial stress isn’t unique to your council. This is a rare chance to connect with peers facing the same pressures and walk away with practical, proven ideas you can apply immediately.

Network

Engage directly with executive leaders within South Australia's local government sector to gain valuable perspectives and knowledge. Build connections and network with local government leaders, industry experts, and peers from across South Australia to foster collaboration and share best practices.

What your peers had to say

A fantastic knowledge sharing session that helps support Councils to work smarter and not harder, through hearing about key learnings from other Councils.

Adelaide Hills Council

Speakers were great and had insightful into their current financial states. Round table held some good discussions between councils and their experiences/ solutions with IT

City of Marion

Vendors, boost your presence

Becoming a partner at the Local Government Focus Day South Australia offers unique opportunities to connect with decision-makers, showcase innovative solutions, and align with transformative public sector goals. As a partner, you’ll have access to influential government leaders, providing a valuable platform to demonstrate your expertise and contribute to critical conversations on public sector modernisation.

With a focus on South Australia’s specific needs, partnership enables you to collaborate directly with key players, co-develop solutions for the state’s challenges, and reinforce your commitment to advancing government services in impactful ways.

Download the Post Event Report

Rewind: Moments from 2025

GIW Event roundtable taking place in South Australia

2025 Local Government Insights: AI, Capability, and Future Readiness

Polling conducted during the 2025 Local Government Focus Day revealed the evolving priorities, challenges, and ambitions of councils across Australia. With over 50 senior local government leaders participating, the findings offer a timely snapshot into the sector's readiness for digital transformation, financial sustainability, and workforce capability.

Artificial Intelligence: Awareness Rising, Action Emerging

  • 88% of attendees are actively considering AI to enhance workforce operations and service delivery.
  • While 56% are only in the early stages of exploring AI, 28% have begun implementation, and 8% are already applying AI across multiple services.

Financial Sustainability: A Core Concern

  • The top financial worry is the ongoing management and maintenance of assets (37%), followed by modernising IT systems (19%) and workforce productivity (16%).
  • 64% of leaders identified budget constraints and long-term financial sustainability as the most pressing challenge for local government today.

Service Optimisation: Planning Underway

  • 42% of councils are currently building transformation programs to improve services.
  • Only 19% say they have robust, continuous improvement systems in place, suggesting a significant opportunity for capability uplift.

Cyber Resilience: Confidence Needs Strengthening

  • While 68% feel somewhat confident in their ability to respond to a cyber-attack, only 13% reported having a well-tested incident response plan, and 16% admitted to having no clear strategy.

Strategic Priorities for 2026

  • The top council priorities over the next 12 months include:
    • Collaboration across government (25%)
    • Workforce upskilling and culture (22%)
    • Investment in digital technology (22%)

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