Our Communities, Our Future is the theme of the 2023 National General Assembly of Local Government (NGA) now less than a month away in Canberra.
Held 13-16 June in Canberra, the event will also incorporate the Regional Cooperation and Development Forum.
This year’s NGA is expected to be the biggest yet and the program is being developed to feature a wide range of high profile and engaging speakers, leaders and presenters.
The 2023 Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG) will also be held at the National Convention Centre in Canberra on Friday 16 June, immediately following the 2023 NGA.
Leading the dignitaries this year will be His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.
The Governor General will give the opening address as part of the Opening Ceremony and welcome to country on Wednesday 14 June from 9am.
His Excellency General the Honourable David John Hurley AC DSC (Retd) was sworn in as the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 July 2019.
David Hurley joined the Australian Army in January 1972, graduating from the Royal Military College, Duntroon into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. In a long and distinguished 42-year military career, his service culminated with his appointment as Chief of the Defence Force.
He commanded the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment during Operation SOLACE in Somalia in 1993, receiving the Distinguished Service Cross. Following promotion to Colonel, he was appointed Chief of Staff, Headquarters 1st Division in June 1994, attending the U.S. Army War College in 1996 and 1997. He commanded the 1st Brigade from 1999-2000 in Darwin, supporting Australian-led operations in East Timor. He was appointed the inaugural Chief of Capability Development Group from 2003-07, Chief of Joint Operations Command in October 2007, and Vice Chief of the Defence Force in July 2008. Promoted to General, he succeeded Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston as Chief of the Defence Force on 4 July 2011 until his retirement on 30 June 2014. In 2010, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to the Australian Defence Force.
Prior to being sworn in as Governor-General, David Hurley served as the 38th Governor of New South Wales from October 2014 – May 2019.
The opening ceremony will be followed by the Minister’s address by Federal Member for Ballarat, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government The Hon Catherine King MP.
Catherine King was born in Melbourne. She holds a Degree in Social Work and a Masters in Public Policy from the Australian National University and has recently completed a law degree from Deakin University.
First elected to Federal Parliament in 2001 to represent the electorate of Ballarat, Catherine has been re-elected as member at each subsequent Federal Election.
Following the 2019 election, Catherine was appointed to the role of Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development in the Shadow Cabinet led by the Hon. Anthony Albanese.
Prior to entering Parliament, Catherine worked in the social welfare sector in Ballarat and later in the public sector in Canberra, as a director for the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care and as a senior manager at KPMG’s Health Consulting Practice.
Other guest speakers include The Hon Kristy McBain MP, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories; Hon Darren Chester MP, Member for Gippsland, Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Shadow Minister for Local Government and Territories and Shadow Minister for Regional Education; Susi Tegen – CEO, National Rural Health Alliance; David Williams – Former CEO, Planning Institute of Australia; Liz Ritchie – CEO, Regional Australia Institute; Lord Mayor Sally Capp – City of Melbourne; Dr Jonathan Carr-West – CEO, Local Government Information Unit UK; Tahlia Azaria – Director, Young Mayors; Jennifer Michelmore – Chief Executive – Studio THI; Brendan Moon AM – Coordinator-General, National Emergency Management Authority; Nathan Dal Bon – CEO, National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation; Wendy Hayhurst – CEO, Community Housing Industry Association; and Stephanie Crowe – First Assistant Director General, Cyber Security Resilience, Australian Cyber Security Centre, Australian Signals Directorate.
