2025 LGP Annual Conference

21-22 October 2025

Future Focused: 2026 & Beyond

Join us this October in Sydney, for two days of forward-thinking discussions shaping the future of government procurement. 

This year’s program explores the future of AI in government, the impact of geopolitical disruption on local government supply chains, and strategies to future-proof procurement practices.

Hear from industry leading experts, gain practical insights from council case studies, and connect with peers and suppliers to spark new ideas. Leave inspired, informed, and ready to drive better outcomes in your organisation.

When: 21st – 22nd October 2025
Where: Doltone House, Darling Island

Attendee Registration (Public Sector Only): Open Now
Sponsorship & Exhibitor Packages: Available Now

Platinum Sponsor

We’re proud to welcome Telstra back as our Platinum Sponsor for this year’s conference.

Media Partner

Proudly supported by Council Magazine, our official 2025 Conference Media Partner.

Speakers

Kirsty McGrath

Kirsty McGrath

Managing Director, OnPoint Solutions | 8x Microsoft MVP

Session: The Future of AI in Government

Kirsty is an 8x Microsoft MVP (dual awards in M365 & Copilot), Founder of the Microsoft 365 Adoption User Groups, and Author of the internationally shared Microsoft 365 Infographic. She’s a leading global voice on Microsoft 365 adoption, change management, training and AI in the workplace.

Kirsty brings a rare blend of technical expertise and people-focused insight to the evolving world of AI in government. She will guide councils on boosting productivity by streamlining reporting, presentations, and data analysis, mastering prompting to craft precise outputs with Microsoft 365 Copilot, exploring real-world demos from everyday tasks to tailored scenarios, and driving adoption to maximise ROI with proven strategies.

Daniel Murray

Daniel Murray

CEO, Empathic Consulting

Session: Embedding Empathy into Culture to Drive Performance

Daniel is a leading expert on Strategic Empathy, helping leaders turn empathy into a measurable business advantage. Drawing on his experience advising Australia’s largest financial services companies and speaking across the APAC region, Daniel shows how organisations can combine human understanding with AI and data-driven decision-making to drive collaboration, strengthen trust, and unlock performance. In this engaging, thought-provoking session, you’ll walk away with practical strategies to embed empathy into culture, make better decisions, and lead more effectively in a rapidly evolving world.

David Griffiths

David Griffiths

Chief Information Security Officer, Northern Beaches Council

Session: Cyber Protection in Practice 

David, CISO at Northern Beaches Council and former manager of Cyber Security NSW’s intelligence and incident response team, brings first-hand experience of the cyber challenges facing councils across NSW. In this practical and eye-opening session, he takes you behind the scenes of real council incidents to reveal the realities of local government cybersecurity. David will share simple, actionable strategies that councils of all sizes can implement to strengthen protection, while highlighting why honest conversations and a mindset shift are key to resilience. Far from fear-driven, this session empowers attendees with the understanding and confidence to build safer, more resilient organisations.

Carly Cembala

Carly Cembala

Coordinator Procurement, Singleton Council

Session: Modern Slavery Journey Case Study

Carly has spent over a decade in local government, specialising in procurement, contract management, and building strong, transparent processes. In this session, she shares Singleton Council’s real-world journey tackling modern slavery and meeting the Guidance on Reasonable Steps (GRS). Carly will walk through the challenges faced and the practical steps taken, including improving risk assessments, ethical sourcing, and governance, offering lessons and insights councils can apply today and into the future.

Bronwyn Challis

Bronwyn Challis

Head of Business Development, Local Government Procurement

Session: The Procurement Opportunity: Building Trust for Contracting Success

Bronwyn has extensive experience in public sector procurement across state government and metropolitan and regional councils. She has led transformation projects that saved millions of dollars and thousands of hours, and is passionate about helping councils reimagine procurement as a strategic function that delivers both savings and compliance.

In this session, Bronwyn will explore the critical role of trust in contracting success. Drawing on fresh research into relational contracting, she shares practical strategies to build stronger partnerships between principals and contractors, avoid common pitfalls, and set contracts up for success from the outset. Attendees will leave with actionable insights on how trust can become the most powerful tool in their procurement toolkit.

Kate Russel (1)

Kate Russell

CEO, Supply Nation

Session: Impact of Economic Inclusion on First Nations Businesses

Kate Russell, a proud Awabakal woman, is the CEO of Supply Nation, Australia’s premier authority on Indigenous supplier diversity. Drawing on her background in government, economic development, and policy, Kate brings an intersectional, culturally informed leadership style to advancing economic inclusion for First Nations businesses.

In the landmark report The Sleeping Giant Rises, recently released by Supply Nation, the findings show that Indigenous businesses generate an estimated $42.6 billion in social value annually, delivering $3.66 in economic and social returns for every dollar of revenue.

Looking ahead, Kate will explore how local government can unlock future opportunities to advance Closing the Gap targets in wellbeing, culture, employment, and community resilience—shaping stronger outcomes for generations to come.

Why Attend or Exhibit?
  • Hear from local government leaders and procurement experts

  • Network with councils from across the state

  • Get face-to-face time with key decision-makers

  • Be part of the conversations shaping the future of public sector procurement

Round Robin Networking

One of the most requested parts of our conference is back by popular demand! Our Round Robin Networking sessions are a structured way to make sure every exhibitor gets heard, and every delegate gets value.

Here’s how it works:

  • Delegates are grouped into small teams of 3 or 4
  • A staff member guides each group around the exhibitor booths
  • Exhibitors give a short 3-minute pitch to each group
  • Everyone gets the same chance to connect – no awkward standing around, no missed opportunities

For sponsors and exhibitors, it’s a guaranteed way to speak directly with all attendees.
For delegates, it’s an efficient and relaxed way to meet suppliers and discover what’s out there.

LGP Annual Conference Sponsors

Gold Sponsor

Silver Sponsor

Dinner Sponsor

Drinks Sponsor

Coffee Cart Sponsor

Name Badge Sponsor

Lanyard Sponsor

Sponsor & Exhibition Opportunities

Put your brand in front of a highly engaged audience and highlight your products and services to key local government staff.

You’ll find all the details including pricing, benefits, and how to apply, in the attached 2025 Sponsorship & Exhibition Prospectus.

Please note: to apply as a sponsor or exhibitor, you must complete the registration form linked on the last page of the prospectus.
Applications sent via email will not be accepted.

Attend the 2025 LGP Conference

Join procurement professionals and local government peers from across NSW for two days of insight, connection, and practical learning.

The full conference program and speaker lineup will be announced soon, with a strong mix of strategic sessions, sector updates, and real-world case studies already taking shape.

Secure your spot today to take advantage of our limited-time discounted rate.