LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP
Local Legends
Equip Councillors and Council managers to lead with clarity and confidence
A transformative experience for local government leaders that delivers long-term results and measurable impact.
ABOUT
Equipping local government leaders to be strategic, collaborative thinkers is like powering Councils with rocket fuel.
Local government leadership is complex. Balancing governance, strategic priorities, and community expectations can feel overwhelming. Elected and executive Council leaders are the most engaged, connected and invested people in their place - but turning that on-ground brilliance into high-level impact is not an intuitive process.
Local government gets a bad rap, but it is the most productive and efficient sphere of government by a country mile despite extraordinary funding, regulation, perception and delivery challenges.
Local Legends equips Councillors with the tools, frameworks, and confidence to rise above the noise, focus on what matters most, and leave a lasting legacy for their communities.
Get out of the weeds
Go beyond potholes and barking dogs. Learn to ask great questions, interrogate systems and expand your leadership perspective.
Accelerate progress
Change moves at the speed of trust. Clarify roles, learn to use strategic impact levers and drive big-picture progress through quality relationships.
Make a real difference
Lead confidently in an uncertain, complex, political environment with tools and frameworks to make sound strategic decisions.
Why choose Local Legends?
This premium leadership program is tailored specifically for local government, addressing the unique challenges of governance and management.
Strategic governance
Equip Councillors to define their role, align with management, and make smarter, high-impact decisions.
Collaborative leadership
Build stronger, more productive relationships between governance and management teams.
Visionary focus
Shift from operational distractions to strategic priorities that create long-term value for communities.
Who is Local Legends for?
Councillors
Councillors and community leaders who want to strengthen their strategic governance skills to make high-quality, long-term legacy decisions.
Council executive teams
Directors, General Managers and C-Suite leaders who want to build more productive relationships with their elected members.
The Local Legends difference
Local Legends teaches you the skills you wish you'd learned when you started in local government.
Real-world, practical skills to get you out of the weeds and operating at the highest level.
4 ways to experience Local Legends
1. Buy the book
Read or listen to Local Legends: How to Make a Difference in Local Government - the essential guide to local government leadership. Buy copies for your whole Council - bulk deals available.
What you'll learn
Inside, find tools and strategies to:
- Expand shared perspective.
- Make full, fair and focused decisions.
- Build trusting, collaborative relationships.
- Balance short-term needs with long-term goals.
- Design projects and policies to stand the test of time.
- Align people and systems for organisational performance.
2. In-house workshops
*BOOKED OUT FOR 2025*
Bring your Councillors and executive team together for an exclusive, hands-on, 2-day workshop that delivers immediate, practical value. These highly interactive sessions focus on real-world application, equipping attendees with the tools and confidence to drive meaningful change.
What you'll gain
- Unparalleled clarity in the roles of governance and management.
- Proven frameworks for making smarter, more strategic decisions.
- Practical strategies to foster collaboration and navigate complexity
- Tailored insights specific to your Council’s challenges.
- A comprehensive toolkit, including workbooks and templates, to ensure long-term impact.
- Post-session resources for continued learning and application.
Investment
$38,900 + travel
3. Public workshops
Our public workshops help local government leaders transform their strategy, decision-making, and leadership approach. These are not your typical training sessions—they’re immersive, practical, and tailored to the challenges you face in Council and community leadership.
Why join a workshop?
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Strategic skills for the real world: Learn to navigate complex challenges, focus on what matters most, and make better decisions.
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Actionable insights: Walk away with tools and frameworks you can apply immediately in your role.
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Collaborative learning: Engage with peers facing similar challenges and share ideas in a supportive environment.
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Expert guidance: Led by Alicia McKay, a recognised authority in strategic leadership for local government.
4. COMING SOON: Facilitator kits and resources
Work is underway to distribute Local Legends as a self-led programme with facilitator kits and resources. If you are interested in discussing a partnership or licensing arrangement, or would like to be notified when the kits become available, register your interest on the form below.
What topics does Local Legends cover?
Strategic shifts
Local government faces three common strategic problems: short-termism, disconnection between governance and management, and scattered and incobsistent decision-making.
Addressing these three problems requires three fundamental shifts: Perspective, Relationships and Decisions.
- Perspective: Lift your gaze and think long-term to make decisions that define your legacy.
- Relationships: Build respect, clarity, and collaboration between governance and management.
- Decisions: Use strategic frameworks to navigate complexity and make smarter choices.
Key learning outcomes
- Understand the difference between leading a Council and a business.
- Get clear on the governance-management dynamic.
- Use strategic impact levers at the policy and governance level.
- Master decision-making tools and frameworks.
- Build trusting relationships with peers and colleagues.
- Practise asking better questions to achieve better outcomes.
“Council staff and Councillors are the closest I've seen in my three years in Council. Many people who’ve been here longer than me, say the same thing.”
Liam Wood
Mayor, Mildura Rural City Council
★★★★★
"I thought we'd be challenged, but I didn't realise we'd have so much fun! Lifting to the strategic level made us realise we were operating in the weeds.”
Matthew Pears
CEO, City of Mitcham
★★★★★
What makes Local Legends different?
Local government specific
Most leadership development programs are off the shelf and targeted at the private sector. Elected members learn to be company directors, Council officers learn to be corporate executives - and communities miss out on the leadership they need.
Local Legends is exclusively designed for local government leaders. You'll learn proven strategies that work in this uniquely visible and regulated sector. All content is tailored to suit local government's pressures and privileges and delivered by a local government expert.
Practical and applied
We don't lose the crowd with boring slide-shows and complex theory. We get runs on the board fast by learning skills you can put to the test in the room.
By the end of two days, Councillors and executive managers have new tools and strategies to run better meetings, make better decisions and move beyond the operational pull to make a real difference.
