Closing out the 2026 LGP Annual Conference
October saw us wrap up our 2026 LGP Annual Conference at Doltone House, Darling Island, and it was great to see so many familiar faces, new connections and conversations happening across the sector.
This year's theme, Driving Value for Local Communities, was at the heart of the program, with sessions exploring how procurement continues to evolve and the opportunities to deliver better outcomes for councils and the communities they serve.
From artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to modern slavery, governance, supplier relationships and sustainable procurement, there was plenty to get people thinking. Council case studies offered practical insights into projects making a difference on the ground, while discussions around procurement capability, collaboration and innovation reinforced just how much value can be created when the sector shares knowledge and experiences.
And of course, the conference was about more than what happened on stage. Networking breaks, exhibitor conversations, the welcome reception and our annual conference dinner all provided opportunities to catch up, make new connections and continue conversations well beyond the sessions.
Celebrating this year's award winners
One of the highlights of the conference was the opportunity to recognise some of the outstanding people, projects and organisations contributing to local government procurement across NSW.
Our 2026 LGP Award winners:
Council Awards
- New Procurement Professional of the Year: Amity Clarke, Dubbo Regional Council
- Outstanding Procurement Professional of the Year: Vanessa Di Pietro, City of Ryde
- Procurement Project of the Year: Woollahra Municipal Council – Woollahra Sustainable Procurement Initiative
LGP Approved Contractor Award
- LGP Approved Contractor of the Year: Vestone Capital
These awards recognise the achievements, innovation and commitment that help drive procurement forward across the sector. Congratulations to all our winners, and thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate and celebrate their colleagues and peers.
A big thank you
Events like this don't come together without a lot of people behind the scenes.
Thank you to everyone who attended, presented, sponsored, exhibited or helped make this year's conference possible. Our speakers brought valuable perspectives and practical experience to the program, while our sponsors and exhibitors played an important role in supporting the event and connecting with councils across NSW.
Most importantly, thank you to everyone who joined us. The conversations, shared experiences and connections are what make the LGP Annual Conference such an important event for the local government procurement community.
Already looking ahead to 2027
It's never easy to wrap up a conference without immediately thinking about what's next.
We're already looking forward to bringing everyone together again in 2027, building on this year's success and taking things even further.
We'll have more to share in the coming months, so keep a close eye out. If 2026 was anything to go by, there's plenty to look forward to!