After months of planning and organising it was with a very nervous step I approached the podium to welcome everyone to our Regional Leadership Summit. I was heartened by the already active buzz in the room as we commenced the Elegant Welcome hosted by Lauren Andrews, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank. The delegates certainly made Lauren’s job as our networking MC easy, at times it was difficult to stop the chatter, which was a great sign of things to come.

 

As the 17 August dawned I awoke with a spring in my step and made my way to the venue bright and early, Georgia our Event Manager was already at the helm ensuring everything was ready to go.

 

The emotional high continued as Nigel Collin, author of the Game of Inches, stepped up to the podium. Wow, we were all blown away by his energy, enthusiasm and his wonderful stories of regional Australians making positive changes to their lives by finding gaps and implementing them. Nigel charged us all with doing one (1) thing and that was to find 1 gap and implement it. Lauren Andrews wrote a fabulous article on her reflections of Nigel’s keynote session. Read here

All too soon it was time for the final panel session and by now I thought everyone would be exhausted but I was wrong there was still a great buzz in the room and the panellists provided fabulous insights into how we can all prepare for changing communities.

Angela Connor, Inspire HQ wrote her reflections on her top 10 take home tips

 

It is our aim to make the VRCLP Regional Leadership Summit an annual signature event for all Victorians. An event that is regionally based, affordable and able to bring together the best minds in community and stakeholder engagement from across the country and Internationally.

 

First of all, THANK YOU to the 150 delegates, trade exhibitors and speakers for making the event successful. You all rock!!

Thanks again to our Summit Partners:

• Community Leadership Loddon Murray – Host Partner
• Bendigo and Adelaide Bank – Elegant Welcome
• La Trobe University – Innovative Stream
• Regional Development Victoria – Responsive Stream
• The Hugh Williamson Foundation – Collaborative Stream
• City of Greater Bendigo – Break Partner
• All Seasons Hotel – Accommodation Partner
• Nigel Collin, Innovative Resources and Telstra – Gift Partners

Thanks to our trade exhibitors for making yourselves available to interact with the delegates:

ACRE, Flexor, Innovative Resources, Why, What How, Australian Institute of Company Directors, Parliament of Victoria, Regional Development Victoria, Think Digital, Bendigo Bank and out 10 member programs.

 

If you have yet to receive an invitation to participate in our feedback survey, please click here.

We appreciate your feedback as it will aide us in reaching our aim.

 

Finally, a big thank you to Georgia Odgers for making sure everything went to plan before, during and after the Summit.