
latrobe city council
executive leadership team and senior management team
leadership program
Latrobe City Council is a key regional local government authority located in the Gippsland region of Victoria. It serves a diverse and dynamic community across major towns including Morwell, Traralgon, Moe/Newborough, and Churchill, as well as numerous smaller communities. As the economic and service hub of the region, Latrobe City plays a pivotal role in supporting local industry, energy transition, education, health, and innovation.
The Council is committed to delivering high-quality services, driving sustainable economic growth, and fostering liveable, resilient communities. With a strong focus on collaboration, strategic planning, and community engagement, Latrobe City Council continues to lead transformative initiatives that reflect the evolving needs and aspirations of its residents.
OrganisationAL Profile
Latrobe City Council
Team Leaders Leadership Program
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Latrobe City Council engaged the Australian Leadership Academy (ALA) to design and deliver a bespoke executive leadership and high-performing team program for its Executive Leadership Team and Senior Management Team. The program aimed to strengthen collective leadership capability, build cohesive and values-aligned leadership practices, and set the tone for a high-performance culture across the organisation.
The program leveraged ALA’s distinctive agenda-setting process, which enabled participants to identify and address the most complex and pressing adaptive leadership challenges facing the organisation. This co-created learning journey ensured the program was deeply relevant to the current organisational context and aligned to the Latrobe City Council Leadership Competency Framework.
Emphasis was placed on enhancing collective leadership through trust, clarity of roles, shared commitment, and a unified vision. The program supported leaders to strengthen collaboration across portfolios, lead with strategic intent, and model the behaviours needed to drive performance and innovation at all levels of the organisation.
executive Leadership team
and
senior management team
Program Feedback (c)
ALA’s leadership program was motivational and challenging?
93% strongly Agree
ALA’s approach supported the needs of the executive and senior leaders?
91% strongly Agree
The executive and senior leaders actively participated in the program?
93% strongly Agree
ALA’s leadership facilitator was
credible and effective?
97% strongly Agree
“this is the best professional development i have ever done.”
Scott Templeman
Manager, Business and Industry Development

To what extent would you recommend the Australian Leadership Academy?
94% STRONGLY AGREE (C)
Program outcomes
Leading Self with Strategic Impact
Executive and senior managers strengthened their self-awareness and reflected on how their leadership mindset, behaviours, and presence shape culture, performance, and strategic outcomes. There was a renewed commitment to role modelling the organisation’s values, demonstrating emotional intelligence, and leveraging feedback to continually evolve as leaders in complex and demanding environments.
Communicating with Influence
The program enhanced leaders’ ability to communicate with clarity, influence, and purpose. Participants refined their skills in active listening, asking powerful questions, and adapting their communication style to suit different audiences.
Enabling High-Performing Teams
Leaders explored the essential conditions for high-performing teams—trust, healthy conflict, commitment, and mutual accountability. They reflected on their leadership role in shaping a values-driven culture, enabling cross-functional collaboration, and empowering teams to take ownership of outcomes.
Coaching for Capability and Growth
The program supported leaders to adopt a coaching mindset as a core leadership capability. They identified opportunities to embed developmental conversations into daily leadership practice—promoting greater accountability, engagement, and empowerment across teams. This approach positions leaders to grow capability across the organisation while fostering a culture of trust and continuous learning.
Embedding Practice for Organisational Impact
Executive and senior managers applied new insights through peer collaboration, reflection, and real-time leadership challenges. They began integrating new behaviours into their leadership practice, contributing to stronger alignment, more cohesive teams, and enhanced organisational performance.
“great program”
Erin Murnane
Manager, People & Culture
“great stories
that resonate
and embed the theory.”
James Rouse
General Manager
Community Health and Wellbeing (Acting)
“great work”
Steven Piasente
Chief Executive Officer
“great use of practical examples to expalin the theort and how to apply it.”
Tim Ellis
General Manager
Regional City Strategy and Transition
“great sessions,
i love how it all ties in and also assists in retaining the langauge and tools.”
Kate Kerslake
Manager, Family Services
“i was engaged for the program. concepts provided with clarity”
Josh Wilson
Manger, City Assets
“working with our agenda, building stronger relationships, working together for team success .”
Ronda Rathejen
Manger, Safe Communities
“commiting to build relationships, providing support and feedback .”
Bruce Connolly
Manager, Investment and Transition