• Learn how to reduce Council’s exposure to risk

  Council risks are constantly shifting – some new, some emerging, and some long-standing but increasingly difficult to manage. The Summit is built around addressing the most pressing risks currently facing Victorian councils, including:

  • Financial sustainability
  • Planning reforms and their practical impact
  • Workforce and service delivery challenges
  • Governance, trust and transparency pressures 
  • The sector skills gap, as identified in LGPro’s Victoria’s Future Local Government Workforce report 

  You’ll receive dedicated legal training grounded in the operational pressures and risks that officers are managing every day, and you’ll leave with actionable tools to reduce your council's exposure and risk of non-compliance. 

• Benefit from deep sector understanding

  We have advised local government for more than a century, and no other Victorian law firm knows the sector as deeply as we do. Our lawyers regularly advise on these risks and they understand the operating environment, the common obstacles and the ways that councils can respond. You’ll receive training that is informed by our lawyers’ frontline experience with real matters, rather than generic legal theory.

• Access tailored, applied training

  Our lawyers have delivered training to more than 50 councils over the last three years. You’ll receive training that is tailored specifically to the needs of Victorian councils, with practical takeaways that you can begin to implement at Council right away.

• Hear from the sector

  With four networking opportunities during the conference, along with a keynote from sector leaders Kelly Grigsby and Sue Wilkinson, you’ll have the chance to connect with your peers and hear directly from those helping to shape the future of Victorian local government. Step back from the day-to-day, share experiences and better understand how councils are responding to the pressures, risks and uncertainty facing the sector.

• Meet learning and development requirements

  All attendees will receive a certificate of attendance, helping you to satisfy your learning and development requirements.

  For qualified lawyers, we anticipate that all 5 of the sessions in the Governance & Risk stream can be counted towards the Substantive Law component of your CPD, meaning that attending this stream will count for 5 CPD points. 

  For registered planners, our understanding from the Planning Institute of Australia is that 1 hour of conference attendance equates to 1 CPD point, meaning that attending the Planning & Environment stream will count for 5 CPD points.

Format

Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026
Time: 8.30 am – 5.30 pm
Venue: The Events Centre, Collins Square, Melbourne, VIC

How it works

The Risk Summit features four concurrent streams, with five training sessions in each stream. Each stream is tailored to a specific cohort of council officers, so attendees can focus on the issues most relevant to their role and leave with guidance they can apply immediately.

Attendees register for and attend one stream. They can meet other officers attending other streams during the breaks between sessions. 

All attendees will then come together at the end of the day for a keynote conversation with Kelly Grigsby, CEO of MAV, Sue Wilkinson, CEO of the City of Yarra and President of LGPro, and Kate Oliver, Partner and Victorian Local Government Sector Leader, on the state of play and future direction of the sector.

Cost

• Early bird rate of $575 (excluding GST) if registering before October 22^nd 
• $625 (excluding GST) if registering after October 22^nd

All training materials and catering will be included. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

• Who should attend the Local Government Risk Summit?

  The Summit is designed for Victorian council officers who are managing legal, operational, governance, workforce, planning, property, project, revenue or compliance risk. Each stream is tailored to a specific cohort, so attendees can choose the stream most relevant to their role and responsibilities.

• How does the stream format work?

  There are four concurrent streams, each focused on a different area of council risk. Attendees register for one stream and remain in that stream throughout the day, attending five dedicated training sessions before joining all attendees for the closing keynote conversation.

• Can I attend sessions across different streams?

  No. To ensure each stream is as practical and targeted as possible, attendees register for and attend one stream for the day.

• Are places limited?

  Yes. Each stream has a capped number of places to support focused discussion and practical training. We recommend registering early to secure your preferred stream.

• Can I share a ticket with another council officer?

  No, it won’t be possible for tickets to be shared. 

• Will catering be provided?

  Yes. Catering will be provided throughout the day, including refreshments during scheduled networking breaks. Attendees will have the opportunity to advise of any dietary requirements as part of the registration process.

• Will I receive a CPD certificate?

  All attendees will receive a certificate of attendance confirming their participation in 5 hours of training. 

  For qualified lawyers, we anticipate that all 5 of the sessions in the Governance & Risk stream can be counted towards the Substantive Law component of your CPD, meaning that attending this stream will count for 5 CPD points. A CPD certificate can be issued for these points. 

  For registered planners, our understanding from the Planning Institute of Australia is that 1 hour of conference attendance equates to 1 CPD point, meaning that attending the Planning & Environment stream will count for 5 CPD points.

• Will there be opportunities to network?

  Yes. The Summit includes four networking opportunities during the day, giving attendees time to connect with peers from across the sector, share experiences and discuss common challenges.

• How do I pay for it?

  Council will be invoiced for all attendees following their registration for the Summit.

• What will I take away from the Summit?

  You will leave with practical, legally-informed guidance to help identify, manage and reduce key areas of risk within your council. The sessions are designed to provide actionable tools and insights that can be applied immediately within your role.