Naracoorte Lucindale Council Mayor Erika Vickery OAM has been elected as the new LGA President.
Mayor Vickery, who has chaired the LGA’s South Australian Regional Organisation of Councils (SAROC) Committee since 2015, will succeed City of Charles Sturt Mayor Angela Evans in the role for the next two-year term.
“I am honoured to be elected president of the Local Government Association of South Australia by our state’s councils,” Mayor Vickery said.
“The LGA is a strong membership-based organisation that does significant advocacy and policy work on behalf of the local government sector in SA, and I look forward to serving our member councils throughout this term.
“The strength of the association is its members and I intend to further build on this by continuing to improve our communication and service delivery with all of our 68 councils, with the support of the LGA Board and our regional and metro committees.
“As LGA President, I will also seek to nurture existing relationships with our state and federal partners, develop new connections and carry on the important advocacy work the association is already doing on a range of issues to ensure we maximise support from all tiers of government and stakeholders.
“I have always been very involved with my local community through school councils, sporting clubs and as a volunteer, and these passions encouraged me to seek election to Naracoorte Lucindale Council in 2000, which I was successful in achieving.
“After 10 years as a councillor – which gave me the opportunity to further my contribution to our community in many ways – I was elected Mayor of the council in 2010 and have held this role since.
“I greatly look forward to undertaking this exciting new challenge and opportunity as LGA President for the next two years.”
Mayor Evans will remain on the LGA Board of Directors as the immediate past president.
LGA Chief Executive Clinton Jury praised Mayor Evans for serving with distinction during her presidency and welcomed her incoming successor, Mayor Vickery.
“Angela has been an exemplary advocate for local government while representing the LGA,” Mr Jury said.
“During her tenure, Angela has overseen significant legislative change such as reforms to the Local Government Act 1999 and the revision of LGA Training Standards which have positioned the sector to meet the high standards our communities expect of local government representatives.
“Erika has demonstrated excellent leadership in chairing the LGA’s SAROC Committee and I look forward to working closely with her as president.”
Mayor Evans thanked the LGA Secretariat for the support she received during her term and cited the local government reforms and regional visits as some of the most rewarding highlights.
“I’m particularly proud of the work done to create the Behaviour Management Framework, which will take effect at the completion of the November council elections,” Mayor Evans said.
“This new framework, which includes the establishment of the Behavioural Standards Panel, ensures our elected members continue to develop leadership skills, build effective working relationships, communication and influencing skills, and manage and resolve conflict, which are all essential to a council performing well.
“Another part of the presidency I have greatly enjoyed is visiting our regional councils, which has given me invaluable insight into their strengths and challenges and a greater appreciation of the work they do for their communities.”
Mayor Vickery said she looked forward to succeeding Mayor Evans as president and continuing the LGA’s important advocacy work on behalf of the sector.
“I congratulate Angela on the wonderful job she has done as president and thank our South Australian councils for supporting and electing me to the role for the next term,” Mayor Vickery said.
“It’s an honour to serve as president and I welcome the opportunity to further represent our sector.”
Mayor Vickery officially assumed the role of president following the LGA Annual General Meeting on Friday 28 October.
