Online summit

Political wellbeing summit 2025

Join thought-leaders across Australia and the globe in deep conversation on the mental wellbeing of our elected representatives and it’s impact on our communities and democracies.

  • Format

    Online

  • Inclusions

    Bonus resources and offers

  • Recording

    Available post event

  • 26- 28th Feb 2025

    3 live sessions over 3 days
    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. 

    Why join the Summit?

    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 are a 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 remove the stigma.

    A new way of thinking

    The Summit will be the official launch of our thought-leading Political Wellbeing Framework to support the mental wellbeing of local councillors in Australia. This is a practical resource to prevent burnout of our elected leaders, support their personal sustainability and ensure better outcomes for our communities.

    We have identified eight key elements that directly influence a councillor’s wellbeing (either positively or negatively) and therefore, their leadership performance and impact. The Summit will unpack each of these areas of influence with an expert speaker or former or current elected leader.

    Meet your hosts

    We care passionately about our elected leaders leading ethically, mindfully and effectively to gain the best outcomes for their communities. Over the past three years, we've worked intently to learn as much as we can about the mental wellbeing of our local government politicians and what they need to lead well and stay well. We are excited to host this Summit and bring like-minded leaders and experts together.

    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.

    Secure your seat now

    Three days of live sessions | 10+ speakers | 12 months access
    $240 (+gst) 

    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. More speakers announced soon!
    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.

    Overview of the summit

    Join us live online over three days for an Australian first conversation!

    01

    Welcome & international panel event

    Exploring the global picture on the wellbeing our elected leaders + launch of our wellbeing framework for Australian local government councillors + discussions on link between individual and community wellbeing
    Wednesday
    26 February 2025
    6:00pm - 8.00pm AEDT (UTC +11)

    02

    Exploring four elements of our framework

    Four x 45 minute live sessions on four elements in our wellbeing framework:
    > Motivation and attitude
    > Time and capacity
    > Relationships and conflict
    > Ethical action
    Thursday
    27 FEB 2025
    12:00pm - 3:30pm AEDT (UTC +11)

    03

    Exploring four elements of our framework

    Four x 45 minute live sessions on four elements in our wellbeing framework:
    > Technical know-how
    > Digital safety
    > Social connection
    > Physical and mental health
    Friday
    28 FEB 2025
    12:00pm - 3:30pm AEDT (UTC +11)

    Join us at the table

    Three days of live sessions | 10+ speakers | 12 months access
    $240(+gst)

    Frequently asked questions

    Below are some of most commonly asked questions about joining the Summit.

    Who will be there?

    All sorts! We welcome people who want to know more about how to support the wellbeing of elected leaders. We will particularly focus on local government in Australia and how to support local government councillors. We are calling to current and former councillors, council staff and those that work in supporting our elected leaders.

    Our guest speakers are both former or current elected leaders from Australia and beyond. We will also hear from experts in the field of political wellbeing and political leadership.

    What happens once I register?

    You will be prompted to create an account in our e-learning platform when you enroll in the Summit.  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!).
    The Summit will be accessed through the e-learning platform.

    Can I make a group booking?

    Absolutely! You can book for the whole elected Council and we encourage you to rally a group of 8 (or more!). We have a group rate which you can access by emailing us at contact@localelearning.com.au

    How do I join the Summit?

    On enrolling in the Summit you will create an account on our e-learning platform. Inside your account you will be able to access all the live sessions, bonus content and network within the Summit's community.

    What if I can't make the live events?

    The recordings of each of live event will be available after the Summit has closed. The recordings will be found inside your e-learning platform account and will be accessible for 12-months.

    What time zone is the Summit?

    The Summit is being hosted from the East Coast of Australia. In February this falls into the Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) which is Coordinated Universal Time +11 (UTC+11).

    What tech do I need to join?

    You need an internet connection, Zoom on your device or accessible through web browser and high-quality speaker/headphones.

    What language will be spoken?

    English.

    Will I be able to meet the speakers or other participants?

    The Summit schedule will allow for some pre-submitted questions. Within the e-learning platform you will be able to network with other participants.

    Can you help me with further questions?

    Yes! Please email us at contact@localelearning.com.au

    Who we are and why we care

    At Locale Learning, we believe in humanising the political experience and supporting local 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 have recently 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 will bring together innovators from Australia and beyond who are ready to share their insights with you. You will know how to encourage improved mental wellbeing for our elected leaders and have resources to action change. By attending live, you will have opportunity to ask questions and receive bonus content.

    Three days of live sessions | 10+ speakers | 12 months access
    $240(+gst)

    Stay connected

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

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