In this episode, we interview Amanda Stone, a Councillor at the City of Yarra Council, about deliberative democracy and how it can enhance the work of local government through engaging and connecting with community stakeholders.

About our guest speaker
Amanda Stone is a councillor at the City of Yarra. She was first voted on to the Council in 2008 and was immediately elected to the role of Mayor a position she again held in 2016-2017. Amanda began her professional life as a secondary school teacher specialising in the study of psychology in which she was also an assessor. She currently sits on the board of the Yarra Energy Foundation and is the independent chair of the Collingwood Headspace Consortium.   

Her passion for finding ways to bring the community together to develop recommendations to councils that will get widespread public support led to her successful application for a McArthur Fellowship.

Deliberative democracy in community engagement & local government decision-making

In this episode, we interview Noelene Duff, an experienced senior leader in both State and Local government management, about her reflection on public service, her professional career and her advice to young public servants.

About our guest speaker
Noelene Duff retired in 2019 after a career spanning almost 40 years most of which were spent in local government.  Her professional life started in 1981 when she commenced work as a Community Outreach Worker with the City of Collingwood. Rising through the ranks of local government she was appointed to the role of CEO of Whitehorse City Council in August 2000 a position she held for 19 years.

She was also appointed by different State Government ministers to a range of positions including being appointed an independent director to the Box Hill TAFE Institute, the Committee on Gender Equity and the Reference Group on Rate Capping. In the Australia Day Honors of 2020, Noelene was awarded a Public Service Medal for her work over a long period of time. 

Noelene is currently the Interim Administrator for the City of Casey after the council was sacked the Andrews Government in Victoria.

Reflections on learning, life and career in public service

In this episode, Allan Preiss talks with Glenn Patterson about how he has led the council through this period of turmoil and how they are planning to emerge into a post COVID-19 future. 

About our guest speaker
Glenn Patterson is the CEO of Casey Council located in the south eat of Melbourne.  It is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Victoria.  Prior to joining Casey Glenn was the long-serving CEO at Yarra Ranges Council.  

Casey Council has faced a number of significant challenges in the last 18 months including being the subject of a yet to be completed IBAC investigation into Council corruption, the sacking of the Council and appointment  of administrators and then the impact of COVID-19.