On-demand 

Political Wellbeing Summit 2025

The Summit united innovators from Australia and beyond who're ready to take positive action to support the wellbeing of our elected leaders. Be part of the change.

  • Format

    Online

  • Inclusions

    Bonus resources and offers

  • Speakers

    15+ speakers

  • On-demand

    7+ hours content
    Locale Learning - Candidate information session

    The mental wellbeing of our elected leaders matters

    Did you know that a recent global study revealed politicians rate their mental wellbeing lower than emergency workers? Even more alarming, 40% had considered not interacting with their constituents. These statistics should shock us all.

    They are a wake-up call that the people we elect to lead us are struggling. The numbers are likely to be the tip of the iceberg as stigma remains high for politicians to speak out and there is a widespread view that our political leaders should have thicker skin.

    We know that politics is high-pressure, high-stakes job. But what is the impact when one of our elected leaders is straining under the pressure? And who is responsible for tending to their mental wellbeing? 

    We believe healthier elected leaders means healthier communities for us all. And that we a collective responsibility to take action now. 

    Be a part of the change

    Envision the future

    Unlock pathways forward to better address the mental wellbeing and performance of elected leaders both at an individual and structural level. 

    Be a culture-maker

    Learn practical and actionable strategies that you can implement to bolster the impact and performance of our elected leaders across the eight elements in our framework.

    Thought-leadership

    Understand the different dimensions that can influence the wellbeing of our political leaders and how this impacts our communities. 

    Be informed

    Hear from Australian and international experts, former and current elected leaders who will share their knowledge, research and lived experiences. 

    Be seen & heard

    See yourself in the personal stories of elected leaders and their experience of the pressures of politics. Hear the practical strategies that have helped them.

    Connection 

    Connect with others who deeply care about wellbeing of our elected leaders and who are committed rehumanising our political leaders. 

    Why we care

    Being a local councillor is a tough gig with unique stressors. We hear from many elected leaders who are feeling the mental strain from the demands of the job. There is also emerging evidence that these demands and combative nature of the role are deterring potential leaders from standing for election.

    Political wellbeing is not about mindfulness, green smoothies and day spas. It is about our elected leaders having the mental fitness to make the decisions that matter for their communities.

    We're part of a growing global movement who see the urgent need to take action. It is our mission to bring this conversation out into the open and be an instigator for change.

    A new way of thinking

    The Summit was the official launch of our thought-leading Political Wellbeing Framework to support the mental wellbeing of local councillors in Australia. Our Framework identifies eight key elements that impact a councillor’s wellbeing and leadership. It is a practical resource to prevent burnout of our elected leaders, support their personal sustainability and ensure better outcomes for our communities.


    Meet your hosts

    We’re passionate about helping elected leaders lead ethically, mindfully, and effectively for their communities. Over the past three years, we’ve explored in depth what local government councillors need to stay well and lead with impact. We're excited to bring together like-minded leaders and experts to share insights and support on political wellbeing.

    Emma Broomfield

    Emma is our founder & lead facilitator who deeply believes in the power of local leaders to transform local communities. Over her 20 years experience in the local government industry, she has keenly observed the impacts of its adversarial nature on our elected leaders and knows how tough the job can be to lead and govern in today's complex world.

    She created Locale Learning with the express intent to support the whole human behind the official title and to provide a new way of supporting those that we elect to lead us.

    Emma is a trained lawyer, mediator, conflict coach and engagement specialist. She bridges the gaps between communities, councils and councillors. She has worked in over 40 LGAs and with hundreds of councillors as a trainer, coach, facilitator, legal advisor and Code of Conduct reviewer.

    Anna Miley

    Anna Miley is our resident mindset and political wellbeing coach. Anna has a deep understanding of the impact of stress on the mind and body and loves to share both the science and the art of being mentally fit.

    As an accredited exercise physiologist, mindset coach and yoga therapist, with a strong background in entrepreneurship and small business, Anna brings a wealth of knowledge to Locale Learning.

    Since joining the Locale team in 2021, Anna has tailored her mindset & wellbeing coaching to help local government leaders build the mindset and self-care practices they need to support their brilliance. Anna’s professional mission is to educate on the power of self-leadership for better community leadership.

    Summit access pass

     7+ hours on-demand content
     15+ speakers
      12 months access

    $150(+GST) for individuals | Group discount available

    Meet the speakers

    Our speakers are experts in the field and former or current elected leaders. They all share a common desire to elevate the mental wellbeing of our elected leaders across the globe. 
    Kimberly McArthur
    Chief Operating Officer
    Apolitical Foundation
    Kimberly McArthur is the COO of the Apolitical Foundation, which is on a mission to update representative political leadership for the 21st century. Kimberly has spent the last decade in Germany, Burundi and Haiti helping to found multiple social impact organizations, all dedicated to training and education. She has extensive experience designing programs that bring together governments, policy makers and civil society around some of our most complex policy issues. She is a co-founder of the Leadership Excellence in Politics initiative. She is a co-author of the ground-breaking report, Mere Mortals, The state of politicians' mental wellbeing and why it matters. (She/her/hers)
    Skippy Mesirow
    Co-founder
    Elected Leaders Collective
    Skippy Mesirow is a certified master coach and founder of the Elected Leaders Collective (ELC) P.B.C + Foundation. ELC leads the US in mental health and wellbeing training for public servants. Skippy's extensive public service spans federal, state, and local levels as a campaign manager, staffer, activist, organiser, and Aspen City Councilperson. Drawing from his own mental health journey, he founded ELC to emphasize that healing politics begins with the human in the mirror. Skippy is the host of the Healing Our Politics podcast. 
    Jordan Simmons
    CEO and Founder
    Nominee

    Jordan is an adviser and consultant to elected officials and political organisations in areas including campaign strategy, crisis communications, stakeholder relations and public engagement, supporting his work to encourage and empower more people, particularly from underrepresented and marginalized communities, to run for office. He founded Nominee - an award-winning learning platform and peer-to-peer network focused on leadership development and capacity building in government and politics based in Canada and the US. An active volunteer in his community, Jordan currently sits on the board of directors of the Immigrant Services Society of BC, one of the largest immigrant and refugee-serving agencies in Canada.

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    Roger Christie
    Digital Reputation & LinkedIn Specialist 

    Roger is the founder of advisory firm Propel. He specialises in LinkedIn for leaders who know the value of a strong digital reputation. For more than 15 years, he has helped government, corporate and NGO leaders and their teams to use social media with impact. He is an active industry thought leader having presented at TEDx, run multiple training programs for the Australian Institute of Company Directors and AGSM, and facilitated training and education programs for more than 50 Federal, State and Local Government agencies.

    Tony Judge
    Local government councillor, City of Coffs Harbour
    Tony is a local councillor for the City of Coffs Harbour, having been elected for the first time in 2021. After retiring from a long career in a variety of roles in the Federal Government, he now dedicates his time to civic office. Tony is a former ambassador for Lifeline North Coast, has a strong commitment to social justice and a passion for greater openness and transparency in government. In his spare time, Tony is a keen cyclist, an avid reader and an occasional body boarder. 
    Nicole Turnbull
    Psychosocial Safety Consultant & Local Government Councillor

    Nicole is the Founder and Chief Courage Officer at Neon Shed, which brings light to the dark sides of work. Nicole helps prevent and manage psychosocial hazards and ignite courage in leaders and teams by giving them the tools and options to know how to have a psychologically safe workplace. Nicole is the host of the podcast Under the Rug at Work and is a Councillor for the MidCoast Council, which is on Worimi Country, having been elected for the first time in 2024. 

    Craig Swift-McNair (he/him)
    General Manager, Woollahra Council, NSW Australia

    Craig is the General Manager at Woollahra Council in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, a role he commenced in July 2020. Prior to this, Craig was the General Manager of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council on the mid north coast of NSW, from 2014 to 2020. Craig is dedicated to giving back to the local government sector and as part of this, he is currently the Vice President of Local Government Professionals Australia, NSW and has been on the Board since 2018. Craig is focused on building a strengths-based & values-based organisation that delivers on its purpose and that provides its people with opportunities to grow in their roles and as individuals.

    Chloë Spackman 
    Chief Executive Officer, Next25
    Before becoming Next25’s inaugural CEO, Chloë was Next25’s Director of Programs and Engagement for six years, managing the programs team and overseeing our “think” (research) and “do” (initiatives) work. During this period, she led the development of Leadership, Improving Democracy: Transforming Parliament for Women and 21st Century Service, a suite of training courses specialising in building culture and capability within the public service. She brings over a decade of experience in program design, delivery, communications, and evaluation, focusing on leadership and global citizenship, innovation, and social impact. She has extensive experience in the international and higher education and not-for-profit sectors and is the Board President of an Australia-based international charity. She is an accredited Facilitator of Illuminate: Facilitating Deep Transformation.
    Kinne Ring (She/her/hers)
    Mayor, Kempsey Shire Council & Director Country University Centres

    Kinne was elected Mayor in September 2024, prior to serving a term as councillor from 2022-2024. Kinne is passionate about creating positive social impact in the regions and works across domains of education, health and local government. As the Director of Country Universities Centre for the Macleay Valley, Kinne is passionate about equity in Higher Education and improving educational outcomes for regional, rural and remote communities. 

    Dr. Priyanka Naidu (She/her/hers)
    Wellbeing designer, BPsych(Hons), PhD in Psychology
    Dr Priyanka Naidu combines her experience as a researcher in psychology with her passion for supporting evidence-based practices to support health and wellbeing. She believes mental health education should be accessible to everyone, and actively seeks opportunities to create engaging wellbeing resources and tools through her work at Mettlesome and The Wellbeing Designer. She is currently leading the development of a mental wellbeing app, Dala Health to help reach as many people as possible that might not have access to wellbeing support. Driven by her own experiences with social anxiety and chronic insomnia, she is driven to provide the support she wished she had earlier.
    Todd Hopwood
    Manager Customer + Business Integrity, Wollongong City Council
    Todd has over 25 years’ experience in the local government sector and is a Director of Local Government Professionals NSW and CivicRisk Mutual. Todd is a mental health and men’s health advocate who has a passion for fostering healthier work environments that focus on individuals. Todd currently serves on the Executive Committee of Healthier Illawarra Men, a Wollongong based charity aimed at improved health outcomes for men and a reduction in gender based, domestic and family violence, and has previously chaired a mental health charity. Todd has an extensive corporate background in governance, council meetings and councillor support, risk management, ethical conduct and customer experience developed primarily in the local government sector and is currently studying a Bachelor of Psychological Sciences.
    Annemarie Cade
    Lawyer, Conflict Resolution coach & former Mayor
     Anne-Marie Cade is a former Mayor and local government councillor as well as an award-winning lawyer & Nationally Accredited Mediator, a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, Conflict Resolution Specialist, speaker and trainer.  Anne-Marie has lived political experience as a Councillor for over 6 years. She now runs her own consultancy LG Conflict Management where she helps Mayors, Councillors and local government leaders to build their conflict intelligence so they can have constructive conversations, foster collaboration and improve civility.
    Monica Kelly
    Principal Lawyer, Prevention Partners NSW
     Monica has a wealth of experience spanning decades. While she has primarily work alongside various councils of NSW she has also worked with not-for-profit organisations, specifically in relation to improving corporate governance and avoiding risk. With a Bachelor of Communication (Writing), Bachelor of Laws, and a Master of Administrative Law and Policy Monica has developed a myriad of skills that complement each other. Her thesis 'ICAC: a taxing, toothless tiger?' asks some tough questions of the corruption watch dog and delivers insight into its effectiveness. Monica has recently been awarded Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia in recognition of her knowledge and experience in assisting clients avoid corporate risk.
    Dr Geoffrey Woolcock (MAICD)
    Senior Research Fellow, University of Southern Queensland’s Institute for Resilient Regions
    Geoff's long-standing work with the public, private and not-for-profit sectors concentrates on developing qualitative and quantitative measures of progress and community wellbeing, closely collaborating with local communities in place-based, early intervention/prevention initiatives. Geoff is an experienced social researcher with considerable expertise in social and community service planning and evaluation, including social and ESG impact assessment and project evaluation, social capital, collective impact and community capacity building. He holds numerous Board positions including the Australian National Development Index and is a Research Fellow of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance. He is a frequent public speaker and commentator about social and sustainable community development using a whole-of-community approach.  

    What others say about us

    "The Summit content was really impressive - both for its empathic tone and wise content."
    Summit attendee
    "Your framework is something to be really proud of – it is brilliant in my opinion, comprehensive and right on point."
    Michelle McFayden - Michelle McFayden Consulting
    "I believe the Summit was very worthwhile. I am sure this is just the beginning of a very long and much needed conversation that must be had now and into the future."
    Craig Swift-McNair - General Manager, Woollhra Municipal Council

    Anytime access

      7+ hours on-demand content 
     15+ speakers
     12 months access

    $150 (+GST) per individual | Group discounts available

    Summit content & inclusions

    Frequently asked questions

    Here are common questions about the Summit.

    Who should enrol?

    We welcome people who want to know more about how to support the wellbeing of elected leaders, particularly local councillors in Australia. The Summit content is ideal for current and former councillors, council staff and those working in the political leadership space. 

    What tech do I need to join?

    You need your device (computer or ipad) and a good internet connection.

    How do I gain access to the Summit content?

    Simply hit enrol, and you'll be taken to the check-out. If you don't have an account already, you'll need to create one on our e-learning platform. Inside your account you will be able to access all Summit content. 

    What language is spoken?

    English.

    What happens once I register?

    If you are new to our portal, when you register you will need to verify your account by responding to the verification email sent to the email address you provided when enrolling (check your junk mail!).

    More questions?

    Please email us at contact@localelearning.com.au or call Emma on 0421 180 881

    How do I enrol the whole elected Council?

    To access the Summit content for your elected Council, please contact us on 0421 180 881 or contact@localelearning.com.au to organise a group discount. We will issue you an invoice and manually enrol each councillor.

    Who we are and why we care

    At Locale Learning, we believe in humanising the political experience and supporting locally elected leaders to reach their leadership potential. 

    We are an Australian-based non-partisan political leadership accelerator working with local government councillors. Our mission is to build the capacity of impactful leaders for the communities they serve. 

    Trailblazing organisation

    We've been recognised by the Apolitical Foundation on a list of 26 global organisations for our work in actively supporting the mental wellbeing of local government councillors and other elected leaders. 

    Supporting the whole human and the wellbeing of our elected leaders is a core part of our philosophy. We do this by providing practical and science-backed learning opportunities and through our targeted one-to-one coaching services and professional development offerings.

    Be at the front of positive change

    The Summit united innovators from Australia and beyond who're ready to take positive action to support the wellbeing of our elected leaders.
    Be part of the change.

    7+ hours on-demand content | 15+ speakers | 12 months access
    $150(+gst) for an individual, with a discount available for group bookings

    Stay connected

    • contact@localelearning.com.au
    • 0421 180 881

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