LGx

Day 1: Tuesday 25 August

8:00 - 8:30 Registration open

8:30 - 8:40
Acknowledgment of Country and Welcome to LGx 2026

8:40 - 9:00
COUNCIL COMMS SUCCESS STORIES: WIN WHEN YOU’RE SINGING
Ed Sheeran in Ipswich? Tones and I in Hinchinbrook? What does it take to land a superstar – and what do you do with them before, during and after they’re in town?

9:40 - 10:10
TAKING NOTICE: LESSONS FROM COUNCIL RATES ROLLOUTS
A facilitated Q&A on lessons learned from rates campaigns, from explaining difficult decisions and managing sentiment to creating clearer messages and stronger community understanding.

10:10 - 10:40 Morning Tea

10:40 - 11:30
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
 - For larger comms teams
 - For smaller comms teams

11:30 - 12:30
VITAL SIGNS: THE BASIS OF QUEENSLAND HEALTH’S MESSAGING MAGIC 
Great comms doesn’t start with content – it starts with understanding. Hear how behavioural science and audience insights can strengthen strategy, shape behaviour and deliver better outcomes, including practical approaches for achieving more in low- and no-cost environments.

12:30 - 1:35 Lunch

1:25 - 3:25
THE CAMPAIGN WORKSHOP 
Dynamic, hands-on and practical, this session will get you creating – not just listening. Work through a real brief, build an effective campaign and walk away with fresh ideas to spark creativity and drive stronger engagement.

3:15 - 3:45  AFTERNOON TEA

3:45 - 4:30
IMPACT VS EFFORT: WHERE AND HOW TO PLACE YOUR MARKETING FOR MAXIMUM RETURNS
Not all marketing is equal. Learn how to focus your time on the channels that deliver results, reach the right audience and drive stronger outcomes.

4:30 - 5:00
LGx AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS
- BEST SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN
- BEST COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN
- BEST USE OF VIDEO
- BEST COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS TEAM > 5 ppl
- BEST COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS TEAM < 5 ppl
- BEST COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL

4:55 - 5:00
A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR

5:00 - 7:00 NETWORKNG EVENT

Day 2: Wednesday 26 August

8:00 - 8:30  Registration opens, coffee and tea available

8:30 - 9:10
STOP THE SCROLL: ONE MAYOR’S GUIDE TO GOING VIRAL
Forget ‘corporate’ comms – Logan city Mayor Jon Raven’s fearless and effective posts turn council updates into can’t-miss content.

9:10 - 11:00
KEYBOARD WARRIORS Vs COUNCILS: WHO WINS THE COMMENTS SECTION?
Reports from councils in the digital trenches – and one having some success in taming the trolls.

10:00 - 10:30  MORNING TEA

10:30 -11:30
VITAL SIGNS: LESSONS FROM QUEENSLAND HEALTH’S SOCIAL MEDIA SUCCESS
From corporate and cautious to creative, confident and compelling. Hear how the team found its voice, evolved its processes and built social media into a stronger campaign and communications tool.

11:30 - 12:15
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
- For metro councils
- For rural/regional councils

12:10 - 12:30
THE LGAQ CAMPAIGN(S) UPDATE
The latest - and next steps - for the LGAQ's campaigns on your behalf.

12:30 - 1:35 LUNCH

1:25 - 1:50
COUNCIL COMMS SUCCESS STORY: BAPTISM OF… WATER 
Meet the new comms lead whose first day on the job at Isaac Regional Council was in the middle of a flood, with the Prime Minister visiting on the second.

1:50 - 2:15
THE AI UPDATE: WHAT’S CHANGED, WHAT’S NEXT AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 
The AI conversation continues to move quickly, so let’s cut through the noise to explore the tools, trends and practical applications most relevant to council comms teams – and what to keep an eye on next. 

2:15 - 2:45 AFTERNOON TEA

2:45 - 3:40
THE COUNCIL COMMS CONFESSIONAL  
A deep dive into the good, the bad and, yes, the ugly of council comms.

3:40 - 3:45
FEEDBACK AND FAREWELL