The Future is Local

As the Executive Director, Young Mayors, Tahlia Azaria oversees the pilot and scale-up of the Young Mayors model across the country.

Tahlia has worked in the youth, media, arts and not-for-profit sectors for over 15 years in senior leadership roles at institutions including SYN Media, Circus Oz and the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia.

Tahlia has a Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) from RMIT University and a MBA from Melbourne Business School, and is Chair of the Outer Urban Projects Board of Directors and Chair of the MAV Future Gen Advisory Panel.

Kingston CEO Peter Bean commenced in November 2021 and has brought a wealth of leadership experience to the role and over 30 years’ experience in the public sector.

Peter is an accomplished senior executive with a proven track record of providing innovative leadership that fosters strong stakeholder relationships and a team approach to outcomes and service delivery.

With an MBA, a Bachelor of Business (Local Government), and a Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management, Peter has built on his experience with life-long learning and improvement.

His wide-ranging public sector experience covers major capital projects, finance, human resources, economic development, information technology, advocacy, events and significant commercial ventures.

Peter also brings a wealth of experience from an extensive local government career including over a decade as a GM at the City of Melton along with roles at Moreland, Nillumbik Shire, Indigo Shire, Albury City and the former City of Mordialloc.

His time at the City of Melton included creating numerous new suburbs, a successful advocacy campaign for a new public hospital in Melton, developing strong connections with business and community groups and being the Executive Officer of Council’s 4500 lot residential housing development – Atherstone.

Sally Capp AO was the first woman to be directly elected as the Lord Mayor of Melbourne. Sally served for 6 years between 2018-2024 and led the city through the pandemic period. Sally has had other firsts in her career.

She was the first woman to hold the post of Agent-General for Victoria in the UK, Europe and Israel from 2009 – 2013 and, as a feral Collingwood supporter, was honoured to be appointed the first female director of the Collingwood Football Club in 2004.

Sally is currently the CEO for Create Advisory and a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Melbourne. Prior to being Lord Mayor, she was the CEO for the Committee for Melbourne and the Victorian Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia.

Sally began her career as a Solicitor, after completing Law (Hons) and Commerce degrees at the University of Melbourne. She has held senior roles at both KPMG and ANZ and co-founded a small business which she took to the ASX.

Chris Carroll was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the City of Port Phillip in December 2022, following a long-standing career with the organisation that began in March 2014. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Chris served as General Manager Customer, Operations and Infrastructure, where he led significant transformation and service delivery initiatives.

Chris is a highly regarded leader with extensive experience across local government, state government, and the private sector. Before joining CoPP, he worked as a Director in PwC New Zealand’s consulting practice and held senior leadership roles at Auckland Council and the former Auckland City Council, where he played a key role in implementing the Auckland local government reforms.

Chris holds a Master of Public Policy and Management and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a graduate of the Stanford LEAD program. He brings expertise in governance and leadership, organisational strategy and performance, and business transformation and improvement.

Elaine Chia is the CEO of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation which champions art, design and architecture that improves Australian lives. Operating on a public-private partnership model, the Foundation collaborates with government, educational institutions and industry partners to deliver flagship initiatives such as MPavilion, Living Cities Forum, and the Richmond Power Station renewal project.

Past roles include Executive Director at the Adelaide Festival, CEO at Sydney’s City Recital Hall and Director, International Signature Projects at the Australia Council for the Arts (Creative Australia).

Elaine has directed major arts festivals, international tours and groundbreaking cultural infrastructure projects. She has also conceived and led numerous community projects, driven by a passion for building connections that foster collaboration, belonging, and stronger neighbourhoods.

Andrew Day has held several executive and senior management positions in local government over the past 20 years, as well as management roles in the not for profit and health sectors. He holds a Master of Business, Executive qualifications in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is an Associate of the Institute of Internal Auditors Australia.

Dr Andi Diamond is the Chief Executive Officer of Monash City Council, a position she has held since April 2012. Dr Diamond was previously Chief Executive Officer of Yarra City Council for four years.

She is a former President of the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board and former board member of the St John Ambulance Victoria Board, Respect Victoria Board and Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand. Andi is also the current Chair of the Victoria University Business School Industry Advisory Board.

Dr Diamond started her career as a social worker, working as part of Victoria's first sexual assault team. She went on to train both child protection workers and Victoria Police in interview techniques. Her career in local government included manager and director roles at Boroondara Council, Shire of Melton and Monash Council.

She holds a BA in Social Work and a Master of Business Administration and a Doctorate of Business. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Dale Dickson is a highly experienced and respected leader in local government, having served as the Chief Executive Officer at the City of Gold Coast for almost two decades, Australia’s second largest municipality. Dale is currently the Chief Executive Officer at the City of Stonnington and has also served as the CEO of Mount Isa City Council and Whitsunday Shire Council.

Dale is a strong advocate for the local government sector and holds a Bachelor of Business in Local Government and a Master of Public Policy and Management. In 2014 he was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding service to the local government sector and has also been awarded Governance Professional of the Year and for Manager of the Year Award for Leadership and Management Excellence.

In addition to his local government experience, Dale has held a number of board roles, including with the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Organising Corporation, the Commonwealth Games Infrastructure Authority, and the Gold Coast Suns.

Bruce Dobson commenced as Chief Executive Officer at Knox City Council in September 2021. He is an experienced senior leader with a track record of driving organisational performance and delivering superior outcomes and service to the community.

Bruce has a deep understanding of local government and community, with nearly 25 years’ experience in the sector. Before Knox, Bruce served in senior executive and leadership roles at the City of Boroondara, City of Darebin and Yarra Ranges Shire Council. He is passionate about the opportunity local government has to improve the lives and experience of local communities.

Bruce is also a Chartered Accountant and worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Melbourne and London before entering the local government sector.

Celia Haddock was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Maribyrnong City Council in October 2021. A highly experienced and values-driven leader, Celia brings a strong commitment to public service and community outcomes.

In 2024, she completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at the Harvard Kennedy School. She also holds a Master of Arts in Social Policy, a Bachelor of Education, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). In addition, Celia is a graduate of the LGPro Executive Leadership Program.

Throughout her career, Celia has served on several not-for-profit boards and is currently a Board Member of the West of Melbourne Economic Development Alliance (WOMEDA).

Celia was recognised in 2017 as one of the Top 50 Women in the Victorian Public Sector. In 2023, she received a Certificate of Appreciation from Victoria Police for her exemplary service to the community during the 2022 Maribyrnong River flood event.

Professor Dan Hill is Director of Melbourne School of Design, the graduate school in the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

A designer and urbanist, Dan's previous leadership roles include the Swedish government’s innovation agency Vinnova in Stockholm, Arup in London and Sydney, Fabrica in Treviso, the Finnish Innovation Fund SITRA in Helsinki, and the UK's Future Cities Catapult and BBC in London.

Dan is also a Visiting Professor of Practice and Advisory Board member at UCL's Institute for Innovation and Public Practice and a founder member of the Council on Urban Initiatives. Dan was one of the inaugural Design Advocates for the Mayor of London and a Trustee of Participatory City Foundation.

He is on the editorial board of the Future Observatory Journal and She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation, and is on the advisory board of Open Systems Lab and Scientific Committee of Urban AI. He is the author of the books 'Dark Matter & Trojan Horses: A strategic design playbook' (Strelka Press, 2012) and 'Designing missions' (Vinnova, 2022).

Jane-Frances Kelly began her career at the Boston Consulting Group before joining the Strategy Unit at 10 Downing St for Prime Minister Blair. She then came to Australia and led public policy work for Premiers Bracks and Bligh, Prime Minister Rudd, indigenous leader Noel Pearson, Vice-Chancellor Glyn Davis at The University of Melbourne and Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon at Victoria Police.

She then led the Cities Program at the Grattan Institute, where she published ten influential reports on a wide range of urban policy issues, and co-authored Grattan’s first book: “City Limits: Why Australia’s Cities are Broken and How We Can Fix Them” (MUP). Most recently she served as Deputy CEO of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG), and as Head of Strategy and Insights at LongView, a private sector start-up developing a housing funds investment platform.

Jane-Frances holds a first class honours degree in English language and literature from Oxford University, an MBA from Wharton and a Masters of Public Policy from Princeton University.

Chris Kotur specialises in supporting councils during induction, planning and strategy and with leadership development to strengthen council processes and governance.

Chris is a trusted adviser working across the public sector and particularly with Integrity agencies, government departments and public sector leaders. Her skills as a strategist are particularly sought after as councils work through significant and complex adaptive challenges.

Chris has had the unique experience of working closely with three Royal Commissions into Bushfires, Family Violence and Victoria’s Mental Health System. She has also worked closely with major state inquiries including government reviews of emergency events (Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiries, Flood Review) and the trial of the Medically Supervised Injecting Room.

Through this work, Chris has supported organisations and agencies in implementing over 600 recommendations and developed unique understanding and insights into the adaptive challenges required as Victorians work to meet complex changes.

Chris has had a distinguished career in senior executive roles, including as a chief executive, Pro Vice Chancellor and as a board member, director and trustee.

For her contribution to education and in recognition of her commitment and services to the community, Chris was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2024.

Fiona Le Gassick is an accomplished executive with a diverse career spanning local government, education, and community services across Victoria and Tasmania. She brings over three decades of leadership experience, with deep expertise in strategic and business planning, stakeholder engagement, workforce development, cultural transformation, and organisational performance.

Fiona has held executive and senior roles at Greater Shepparton City Council, TasTAFE (including Acting Chief Operating Officer), GOTAFE, Berry Street, and the former Victorian Department of Human Services. Her leadership is defined by a strong ability to translate strategic vision into impactful outcomes, build high-performing teams, and deliver initiatives that drive regional growth and community wellbeing.

She holds qualifications in management, marketing, psychology, sociology, and social work, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Fiona is also a committed contributor to community and industry governance, having served on several Boards in Victoria and Tasmania, is a current Board member of Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) Limited, Goulburn Region Tourism and GOTAFE.

As CEO, Fiona leads the organisation with a focus on customer and community-centric planning, fostering a positive and values-driven culture, strengthening relationships with Councillors and stakeholders, and ensuring the sustainable and efficient delivery of services.

Rebecca McKenzie is a highly regarded local government and public purpose leader with international experience across Australia, the Republic of Ireland and the UK. Having most recently spent 13 years as CEO at Glen Eira City Council and Mitchell Shire, Rebecca now provides advisory and consultancy services to the sector with a particular focus on sector reform, individual and organisational capability development and good governance.

Rebecca has been named one of the Top 50 Public Sector Women in Victoria and Top 50 Global Government Innovators. Rebecca is also the Chair of Zoos Victoria, a world leading Zoos based conservation organisation.

Travers McLeod joined the Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL) as Executive Director in April 2022 and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the organisation. Travers has led BSL through the development of Strategy 2030 and its commitment to advance an ambitious national agenda on poverty reduction.

Prior to joining BSL, Travers was the CEO of the Centre for Policy Development, an independent Australian policy institute he led for eight years and remains connected with as a Senior Fellow.

Travers began his career in public law, working for the State Solicitor’s Office in Western Australia and for Justice Michael Kirby in the High Court of Australia. He worked as a Policy Adviser for the Oxford Martin Commission for Future Generations, playing a lead role in their 2013 report Now for the Long Term. Travers is the author of Rule of Law in War, published by Oxford University Press in 2015, which is based on his postgraduate research on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Travers holds a DPhil and MPhil in International Relations from the University of Oxford, where he studied as a Rhodes scholar and was a Lecturer in Politics and International Relations. He has completed Executive training in non-profit management at Harvard Business School.

Terry Moran’s distinguished career includes serving as Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the most senior role in the Australian Public Service. Appointed by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, he continued under Julia Gillard. He was previously Secretary of the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet for over seven years.

Terry led work on national security, international policy, environment, industry, economic and social policy, and reforms through the Council of Australian Governments, including reshaping public hospital funding and governance. During the global financial crisis, he helped lead Australia’s successful policy responses.

He developed and implemented the National Reform Agenda, reshaping Commonwealth-State relations in regulation, health, education, housing, Indigenous affairs, and cities. He also helped establish key institutions including the Australian and New Zealand School of Government, Melbourne Recital Centre, Wheeler Centre, Grattan Institute, and Opera Victoria.

Terry has held senior roles in education, including CEO of the Australian National Training Authority and Director-General of Education in Queensland. Since retiring, he has chaired the Barangaroo Delivery Authority, Cranlana Foundation, Melbourne Theatre Company, and Centre for Policy Development.

He is a Companion of the Order of Australia and an Officer of the Order of Australia for his service to public sector leadership and policy.

Margaret O’Rourke OAM is a passionate advocate for regional development and education, with deep ties to Bendigo and Victoria. She recently concluded eight years as a Councillor and four terms as Mayor of the City of Greater Bendigo and served as Chair of Regional Cities Victoria.

In 2025, she was appointed Chair of the Regional Development Advisory Committee, where she brings regional voices directly to government. Throughout her time on Council, Marg supported business, industry, and First Nations engagement—championing initiatives such as bringing Qantas to Bendigo and advancing the City’s Reconciliation Plan.

She brings strong leadership and governance experience from roles across education, health, water, and transport. Currently Head of Campus at La Trobe University Bendigo, she has also chaired TAFE and training boards, led the Bendigo Kangan Institute merger, and sits on the V/Line Advisory Board. As RDAC Chair, Marg continues to build partnerships across Victoria, providing coordinated advice on regional priorities and investment.

Geoff Rollinson was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Gannawarra Shire in 2022. Geoff's earliest qualifications and experience are in agriculture. He gained extensive experience and knowledge in Local Government when working with both the former Borough and Shire of Kerang and then the Gannawarra Shire upon amalgamation in 1995.

He has a Diploma of Civil Engineering and held the positions of Works Engineer and Manager of Operational Services with Gannawarra Shire from 1995 until he started in the Director Infrastructure and Development in 2011.

Professor Naomi Stead is an architectural critic, researcher and academic leader, currently Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor Engagement (interim) in the College of Design and Social Context at RMIT. Previously the Head of Architecture at Monash University she has, throughout her academic career, been committed to research-based advocacy - particularly into gender equity and work-related wellbeing in creative workplaces.

Stead has a particular focus on understanding the experiences of marginalised groups, including the LGBTIQ+ community – and is strongly motivated by questions of social, spatial and environmental justice. She has edited or co-edited six books, including the award-winning After the Australian Ugliness (NGV & Thames and Hudson, 2020), and been the recipient of three Australian Research Council grants.

She is widely published as a critic and commentator in architecture and related fields – most recently as architecture critic for The Saturday Paper. In 2023 she was the state winner of the Bates Smart Award for Architecture in the Media and in 2024 was made an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects.

Marcus Spiller is a founding partner at SGS Economics & Planning Pty Ltd with over 40 years’ experience in public policy analysis as an urban economist. Holding degrees in urban planning and economics, his expertise spans metropolitan planning, housing policy, infrastructure funding, and city and regional productivity.

Though primarily an independent consultant, Marcus has held various secondments and part-time roles that deepened his understanding of policymaking across government levels. These include lecturer in urban economics at Melbourne University, adviser to the Victorian Minister for Planning and Housing, and Senior Executive in Queensland’s Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning. He has also advised internationally in Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, China, and Sri Lanka.

Marcus is a recognised leader in Australian urban policy. He is a past National President and Life Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia. His government appointments include Board member at VicUrban (now Development Victoria), and member of both the former National Housing Supply Council and the current National Housing Supply and Affordability Council.

He is a principal contributor and co-editor of two books on metropolitan governance and infrastructure funding. Marcus is also an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne.

Jacqui Weatherill is the Chief Executive Officer of Greater Dandenong City Council in southeast Melbourne, Victoria. The municipality is one of Australia’s most culturally diverse, with 8 in 10 residents speaking a language other than English and originating from 158 countries. It also faces significant socio-economic challenges, ranking among the lowest on the SEIFA index nationally.

Despite this, Greater Dandenong is a major centre for manufacturing and employment, contributing approximately $63 billion to the national economy annually and employing around 114,000 people. Jacqui has led the Council since 2022, bringing energy and vision to organisational leadership and cultural transformation.

With over 20 years of senior executive experience across not-for-profits, local government, and the public sector, Jacqui has served as a CEO for 13 years. She oversees a $287 million budget delivering more than 120 services to the community. Deeply committed to working with diverse communities, she strives to make a meaningful difference.

In 2017, Jacqui was named one of Victoria’s Top 50 public sector women, recognising her leadership and impact.