The Local Leaders Series
Leading Through Crisis and Complexity
Local governments are navigating an era of increasing complexity. Climate shocks, financial pressures, community expectations and interdependent systems are converging and demanding a new kind of leadership.
The Local Leaders Series: Leading Through Crisis and Complexity is a new, applied learning experience designed to support Mayors and Councillors to lead with confidence, clarity and collaboration in this evolving landscape.
Delivered by the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) in partnership with the Melbourne Centre for Cities (University of Melbourne), and other leading contributors, this inaugural series brings together municipal leaders to build capability and rethink leadership for today’s challenges.
A Different Kind of Learning Experience
This is not traditional training. The Local Leaders Series is a practical, cohort-based program with each session designed to build on the last. Grounded in real governance challenges, each participant will bring a governance challenge from their municipality, developing it through the series. Participants will:
- Learn directly from senior municipal leaders, industry experts, academics and practitioners
- Engage in real-world problem solving, not classroom-based theory
- Build strong networks through structured peer learning and collaboration
- Access curated pre-reading and an always-on learning platform
- Explore how to move from managing inherited systems to stewarding transformation.
What You’ll Gain
Participants will leave the series better equipped to:
- Lead through complex, compounding crises
- Work across sectors and levels of government
- Build coalitions and partnerships
- Navigate systems change and uncertainty
- Strengthen governance and strategic leadership capability.
Program Schedule
- 21 August
Session 1: Leading Cities Through Compounding Crisis and Municipal Diplomacy (in person, MAV offices)
10.00am–2.00pm, including lunch. - 18 September
Session 2: Social Cohesion and Information Integrity and Place-Based Delivery (Hybrid, MAV offices and Online)
10.00am–2.00pm, including lunch. - 16 October
Session 3: Transition and Resilience with Strategic Thinking and Foresight (in person, Castlemaine Institute regional session)
10.00am–3.00pm, including lunch. - 13 November
Session 4: City Leadership (Hybrid, University of Melbourne and online)
10.00am–2.00pm, including lunch. - 20 November
Capstone Forum: Local Leaders as Stewards (in Person, MAV offices)
10.00am–2.00pm, including lunch.
Who Should Apply
Mayors and Councillors who:
- Are ready to lead differently in a complex environment
- Want to build deeper networks and peer connections
- Are committed to collaborative, forward-looking leadership.
Register Your Interest
Apply to join the inaugural cohort
Places are limited. While single session attendance will be considered, priority will be given to Mayors and Councillors who can participate in the full series and actively contribute to the cohort experience.
Attendance at three out of four sessions required to participate in the capstone forum, and to receive a Certificate of Completion.
A Word from MAV CEO
The challenges facing local government are evolving rapidly, and so too must the leadership required to meet them. This series is an opportunity to learn, connect and lead differently in a time of compounding challenges.
— Kelly Grigsby, CEO, Municipal Association of Victoria