2026 Summit Program

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All times are AEST and are approximate. 

Thursday 14 May 2026

PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney

Please note: This event won’t be livestreamed, but presentations (excluding Chris Helder) will be recorded and videos available to all registrants for a limited time.

FRONTIER 1: ADAPTABILITY

AI is no longer the future, it’s the now - in your inbox, in your strategies and no doubt in use by people across your Council.

For council communicators, generative AI means both overwhelming opportunity and high-stakes responsibility.

This session will leave you in no doubt about the double-edged sword of AI for councils; jaw-dropping trends, what’s coming next and how you can take the lead while protecting your Council’s reputation.

You’ll walk away with brand new knowledge, time-saving tools to consider and clear governance principles to ensure your Council continues to build trust in your community, even in an AI-powered world. 

In short, you’ll discover how to be strategic, safe and smart when it comes to AI.

  • Strategic: AI is a communication issue, not just a tech one. Get equipped to help your Council find its way in the AI age.

  • Safe: Practical guardrails to protect credibility and manage key risks

  • Smart: Top AI tools for saving precious time, without losing your equally precious human touch

Dr Neryl East - Summit Convenor and local government communication specialist

9:00 am – The AI-volution: Tools, trends and trust in local government communication

10 am – The PFAS challenge: Adapting when external changes throw your comms into turmoil

CASE STUDY

We’re putting the finishing touches on this highly relevant case study from a Council that’s learned practical lessons in staying adaptable under pressure, ensuring you’re credible, clear and connected even when external change throws everything off course.

Stay tuned for more detail!

10.30 am – Morning break

FRONTIER 2: CREDIBILITY

Local government pages are regularly hit with frustration, misinformation and the occasional all-out pile on. This session is about giving comms teams control back.

It’s practical, blunt and grounded in lived experience.

Online expert Felicity Cull will build on her sensational session at last year’s Melbourne Summit to unpack how toxic dynamics work, why certain posts spiral - and the small daily adjustments that make a huge difference.

You’ll take away insights and tools to take back to your desk and use straight away, whether you’re in the front line of the online battle or part of the broader comms team feeling the daily brunt of digital dirt. Takeaways include:

  • How to set expectations early

  • The keys to reducing the emotional toll on your team

  • How to create a recognisable community voice that helps shape behaviour before things escalate

  • Tools to steer high-risk threads

  • Techniques to guide conversations without inflaming them

  • A clear pathway for building a safer, more constructive online environment for your community

Felicity Cull - Head of Digital Content, Pesel & Carr

10.50 am - Owning your space in toxic online environments

11.50 am - Reclaiming credibility in the face of relentless negative issues

CASE STUDY

2025 was a very bumpy ride for this Council and we’re looking forward to the insightful lessons they’ll share - including how their communication team had to perform with new levels of agility and collaboration to manage misinformation, counter sovereign citizen narratives and address inaccurate local reporting in a high-pressure environment.

More details soon!

12.30 pm – NETWORKING Lunch

FRONTIER 3: VISIBILITY

Your community faces increasing bombardment with fake information, polarising content driven from hidden agendas and digital overwhelm

As a local government communication professional, you hold one of the most powerful levers for rebuilding community trust: Credible, clear and engaging content that reflects the real needs of your residents.

But it’s a big challenge. With budgets low and resources tight, how do you keep up a drumbeat of consistent, positive information that gets diverse audiences to sit up, take notice and act?

This session will reinvigorate you with fresh, practical and actionable takeaways so your content truly resonates for communities living in confusion and uncertainty.

You’ll discover: 

  • Proven engagement tactics for councils across social and digital platforms

  • Mini case studies showing measurable impact

  • Smart ways to close the loop using audience feedback to build lasting trust

  • Workflow hacks and content tools to save your team time and stress

  • Real-world examples of responsible and creative use of AI for content ideation and optimisation, within the rulwa

Expect down-to-earth talk, shared experiences and time to swap ideas with local government peers who know exactly what it’s like on the inside.

Marcie Cheers - Content specialist, The Creative Collective

1:15 pm - Creating engaging content that builds stronger community relationships

2.15 PM - Driving change: Inside AlburyCity’s website transformation journey

CASE STUDY

If your Council’s website still reflects yesterday’s priorities, you’re not alone. After 14 years without a major overhaul, AlburyCity faced the mammoth task of transforming its website into a modern, accessible, community user-focused platform including a new corporate website and microsites.

This case study will share how the Communications team led the charge on strategy, content and culture - all while bringing 90+ internal content owners along for the ride.

You’ll learn plenty from the stages of Albury’s journey, including:

  • -Stakeholder Engagement: Content owners engaged in reviewing and prioritising their content.

  • -Clear Selection Criteria: Identifying the top 500 to 600 pages based on traffic, legislative requirements and community relevance.

  • -Custom Content Review Tool: Built in-house to simplify the process for content owners and reduce overwhelm.

With a CMS upgrade on the horizon and hundreds of pages under the microscope, this case study will equip you with real-world tactics to lead digital transformation, even in a complex council environment. It will provide valuable lessons in managing complexity, driving engagement and building a sustainable content strategy.

Sue Falkner - Project Manager - AlburyCity Website Project

2.45 pm - Afternoon break

3.00 pm - Creative campaigns on a tight budget

CASE STUDY

Struggling to meet expectations from inside your Council while operating on the smell of an oily rag?

Most council comms teams face this as a daily reality.

This case study will spark new ideas as you hear how Victoria’s Surf Coast Shire Council has pulled together no-frills community campaigns with very little money or time.

We can’t make this issue disappear, but at least you’ll know you’re not alone - and you might get re-inspired in readiness for the next flurry of requests.

Sabrina Lunn - Digital Content Advisor, Surf Coast Shire Council

FRONTIER 4: CAPABILITY

3.40 pm - Re-ignition: The power of total radical responsibility and the five steps for igniting performance

Let’s face it – as council communicators we can sometimes feel flat, tired and uninspired. Councils, individuals and the whole local government sector are going through super-challenging times.

Whether it’s constant change and turnover, increasing demands and workload or not feeling valued in your Council, there are times when you and your team need a catalyst to help re-light your spark of enthusiasm, motivation and inspiration.

Enter international keynote speaker and best-selling author Chris Helder.

Through masterful storytelling, high energy and humour, Chris will guide you through the process of accepting circumstance, taking radical responsibility, gaining perspective, fostering engagement, and achieving clarity.

He’ll inspire and empower you to reignite your inner spark and thrive in the face of adversity.

You’ll take away:

  • How to immediately take charge of your current situation

  • How to take total radical responsibility in the face of challenges

  • Gaining perspective and clarity on your goals

  • Re-discovering your purpose and re-aligning with your ‘why’

Chris Helder - International speaker and best-selling author

4.40 pm – The last leg: Setting you up for success

How will you master the four frontiers - the key challenges facing local government communication professionals in 2026 and beyond?

One thing is clear: You’ll leave this event with renewed determination, equipped with specific actions and invaluable relationships.

We’ll end the day enjoying networking drinks - here’s to you and everything you achieve for your Council, every day!

5.00 pm – SUMMIT close

Summit Venue - PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney

150 Day Street, Sydney

Located in the heart of Sydney, PARKROYAL Darling Harbour offers modern comfort and convenience just moments from the city’s vibrant waterfront. The hotel features stylish rooms, state-of-the-art conference facilities and exceptional dining options. Its location offers easy access to Darling Harbour’s attractions, including restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues, making it the perfect base for conference attendees to explore Sydney.

Getting There:
PARKROYAL Darling Harbour is easily accessible by public transport and private car. From Town Hall Station, it’s a five-minute walk via Bathurst Street. Numerous bus routes also stop nearby along Druitt and Sussex Streets. For those driving, the hotel offers secure on-site parking (fees apply) and is located near the Western Distributor for easy access from major highways.

Meet your keynote speakers

Dr Neryl East

Neryl is Australia’s authority on local government communication. She has extensive experience in complex, high-stakes advisory and transformation projects for councils and works with local government leaders across the country.

As well as partnering with councils to elevate their communication performance, she coaches government leaders at the highest level on communicating high-stakes messages with credibility and connection.

Neryl has a PhD in Journalism and is the author of five books including an Amazon best-seller on media and reputation. She is a Past National President of Professional Speakers Australia and convenes the Local Government Communication Professionals Network.

Marcie Cheers

Marcie Cheers is an Account Manager and Content Specialist at The Creative Collective, a full-service marketing agency with hubs across regional Australia. With a background spanning social media strategy, long-form content, SEO, PR, and campaign planning, Marcie works at the intersection of creativity, data, and audience-first storytelling.

In her role, Marcie manages diverse client portfolios across health and mental health, not-for-profit, government, hospitality, professional services and B2B sectors. She is known for translating complex ideas into clear, engaging content that performs, whether that’s through social media, blogs, integrated campaigns, or thought leadership.

Marcie is particularly passionate about the evolving role of content in modern marketing, from the rise of saves and shares as key engagement metrics, to the growing overlap between social media and search, and the practical, ethical use of AI in everyday marketing workflows. She regularly delivers training and advisory sessions on social media strategy, content performance, and AI tools for businesses and organisations across Australia. She is committed to making marketing feel more accessible, human, and sustainable, especially for teams and organisations navigating rapid digital change.

Felicity Cull

Felicity Cull is a digital communications specialist with deep frontline experience in high pressure online environments.

She has managed some of the most intense comment spaces in Australia, including the Game of Thrones fandom, university communities during exam periods and statewide public health conversations during the early COVID response.

Her work on online safety and issues management has earned national and international recognition, including a Gold Quill Award for Issues and Crisis Management.

As co founder of FeBa and Head of Digital Content at Pesel & Carr, Felicity helps organisations build smarter moderation systems, stronger governance and safer online communities.

Chris Helder

Chris Helder is the most sought after keynote speaker in Australia when it comes to mastering the power of mindsets, genuine communication and influence.

Chris brings next-level energy, humour and flair to the stage, combining education and entertainment while also delivering a radical mindset shift for your team that impacts productivity, performance and purpose.

Chris is known for his expertise in the areas of communication, leadership and influence but it’s his ability to connect with an audience through humour and masterful storytelling, move them to rethink their own performance and possibility and inspire immediate action which makes Chris a favourite with diverse industry sectors.

He’s the author of several best-selling books, including Re-Ignition, Useful Belief, The Ultimate Book of Influence and The Simple Shift.