MEET OUR SPEAKERS
Optimising Cognitive Energy for Performance
Thursday 24 August – 9.45am – 10.45am
Vanessa Bennett
CEO | Next Evolution Performance
Cognitive energy is the foundation of high performance. It helps you to get more done in less time with less effort and burnout. It is also a pre-requisite to improve mindset, resilience, and avoiding mental health problems. Vanessa explains the neuroscience of cognitive energy, how to optimise it, and how it relates to resilience.
Learn more about Vanessa
Vanessa is the CEO of Next Evolution Performance – a global high performance coaching company using neuroscience to help driven leaders and teams to optimise profitability, productivity and energy AND to decrease their effort, sickness, burnout and mental health problems. This ensures that success, and therefore profitability, is sustainable.
Vanessa also has over 20 years of experience in the financial services and health and fitness professions.
She has a Master of Science in Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health – with Distinction, from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London.
The new Guidelines for Risk Management and Internal Audit for Local Government in NSW
Thursday 24 August – 11.15am – 12.00pm
John Davies
Manager Council Governance | Office of Local Government
John will be giving an overview of the new requirements for councils to have a risk management framework and internal audit function. Why these are important and what the implementation timeframes are.
Learn more about John
John Davies is the Manager of the Office of Local Government’s Council Governance Team. John has led the development of much of the current statutory and policy framework for the internal governance of councils and the administration of their elections, including the Model Code of Conduct and Procedures, the Model Code of Meeting Practice, councillor induction and professional development requirements and the new framework for internal audit in local government. John has also led the development of best practice model governance policies for use by councils on topics such as councillor and staff interactions, councillor expenses and facilities, social media use and engagement with the media. The Council Governance Team is currently working on lobbying and procurement guidelines for councils.
John has had many years’ experience in dealing with local government governance issues including as a senior investigator with both the Office of Local Government and the NSW Ombudsman.
Welcome to Waves – Why we considered rebuilding our one and only pool
Thursday 24 August – 3.30pm – 4.15pm
Michael Edgar
General Manager | The Hills Shire Council
After 53 years, The Hills’ local pool no longer met community needs or accessibility standards. The facility was in poor condition with high maintenance costs, unable to continue operating in a compliant and safe manner.
To ensure it would be capable of serving a region with more than 250,000 additional residents expected within the next decade, the decision was made to demolish the existing pool and develop a new complex to maximise use of the existing space and encourage greater participation.
Council had a sharp focus on risk management the whole way through the project, not just in the way known risks were identified and controlled, but also in the way professional service providers were reviewed and managed on things like design standards, monthly accounting/payment accuracy, the Royal Life Saving risk assessment process and safety for example.
The risk management plan was integral to the project’s success.
Learn more about Michael
Michael commenced his Local Government career in 1986 as a Trainee Health and Building Surveyor. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Applied Science and has also been involved in academic roles with the University of Western Sydney, Western Sydney Institute of TAFE and the University of Technology related to Local Government and construction. He joined The Hills Shire Council in July 2005 and was appointed General Manager, 14 July 2017.
Impacts of flooding in Cabonne Shire
Friday 25 August – 11.10am – 11.55am
Bradley Byrnes
General Manager | Cabonne Council
On the night of Sunday, 13 November 2022, the Cabonne Local Government Area would expereience a catastophic flooding event, the worst in the regions recent history. At its height more than 60 roads were closed across Cabonne, 18 helicopters were assisting with evacuations and tragically two residents even lost their lives.
General Manager of Cabonne Council, Bradley Byrnes will recount this event, what actually happened and the long lasting impacts it has on the environment, the economy and the health and well-being of the Cabonne Shire community.
Learn more about Bradley
Brad Byrnes commenced as General Manager of Cabonne Council in April 15 2019. Brad quickly established himself as a highly-motivated and resilient leader who concentrated on building the capability and capacity of the organisation while having a high focus on community engagement.
He has over 30 years’ experience in the public sector including a career spanning 21 years with the NSW Police Force where he built a comprehensive understanding of operating in highly regulated, statutory environments where outcomes are dependent on forming strong, reciprocal relationships.
He commenced in a management role at Parkes Shire Council in 2008 eventually elevating to the Chief Operating Officer role where he led organisational change and was a member of the executive team and a key player in establishing the council’s strategic direction.
Brad holds a Graduate Certificate in Risk Management, a Master of Business Administration and Masters of Public Policy and Administration.
Tree roots, stormwater and rocks – how much of a nuisance can they be
Friday 25 August – 11.55am – 12.40pm
Nikki Cassar
Special Counsel Insurance | Mills Oakley
Everyday Councils receive complaints from residents about tree roots blocking their drains or causing damage to their property, stormwater flowing onto their property or rocks hanging precariously over their land. Nikki will talk about the law of nuisance and Councils’ responsibilities and obligations in dealing with these issues.