Faculty of Facilitators
Skilled and Experienced Local Government Professionals
The VLGA’s Faculty of Facilitators is a team of highly skilled and experienced local government professionals. They are subject matter experts with experience in local government and administration. They know the local government sector intimately and understand the needs of councillors.
The Faculty will work with you to customise a program that responds directly to the unique professional development needs of your council, delivered in a way which suits you.
The VLGA is here to do the thinking and planning for you. Leave the hard work to us and let our Faculty design and deliver a Year 2 CPD program that directly aligns with your council’s needs.
Aileen Hiskins
Aileen Hiskins is a leadership consultant, facilitator and executive coach with over 20 years’ experience across local government, corporate and industry sectors. She partners with CEOs, directors and senior leadership teams to strengthen governance, strategic clarity and leadership effectiveness in complex environments.
Known for her practical approach and calm, trusted presence, Aileen has worked extensively within Victorian local government for more than a decade, supporting executive leaders to navigate competing priorities and stakeholder pressures. She also designed an internationally recognised mentoring program in the Hire and Rental industry and developed a mentoring framework for National Australia Bank. Aileen is passionate about building strong leadership, sound judgement and effective relationships.
Anne Marie Cade
Anne-Marie Cade is an award-winning lawyer, mediator and certified conflict coach, with experience as a Councillor, Mayor and Deputy Mayor at the City of Glen Eira. A Churchill Fellow and Pathways to Politics graduate, her work focuses on conflict management and reducing polarisation. She serves on the AMDRAS board and holds advanced qualifications in mediation, negotiation, coaching and applied neuroscience.
Anne-Marie delivers training across Australia on managing incivility, negotiation and leadership under pressure, working with organisations including VLGA. Recognised as Australian Mediator and Conflict Coach of the Year (2024), her book ‘Civility’ – moving conflict to a culture of civility in local government will be released in 2026.
Anne Wickham
Anne is an award-winning stakeholder engagement and communication strategist who has advised more than 100 clients across corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors. Known as a trusted adviser to executives and boards, she brings a practical, insight-driven approach grounded in behavioural economics, including study at Yale.
Her work spans financial transactions, major launches, transformations, issues management and executive communication. In government, she has led over 50 projects across agencies and regulators, supporting initiatives such as e-waste, conservation and financial crime. Anne is also an experienced facilitator, delivering coaching and training in media, crisis management, stakeholder engagement and effective communication to senior leaders.
Cazz Redding
The VLGA’s Faculty of Facilitators is a team of highly skilled and experienced local government professionals. They are subject matter experts with experience in local government and administration. They know the local government sector intimately and understand the needs of councillors.
The Faculty will work with you to customise a program that responds directly to the unique professional development needs of your council, delivered in a way which suits you.
The VLGA is here to do the thinking and planning for you. Leave the hard work to us and let our Faculty design and deliver a Year 2 CPD program that directly aligns with your council’s needs.
Daniel Meade
Daniel brings extensive experience in governance, leadership and stakeholder engagement across local government, agriculture and regional development including two terms as a councillor at Moyne Shire Council, serving as Mayor of Moyne Shire and as an agricultural industry board member. Much of his work has involved supporting and developing leaders in complex environments – strengthening governance, decision-making and stakeholder relationships.
A Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Daniel brings a strong governance mindset grounded in accountability and ethical leadership, alongside lived experience of political and community pressures.
David Imber
David Imber is a corporate affairs and communications professional with 25 years’ experience across policy, politics and media. He advises leaders and organisations on reputation management, specialising in issues management, crisis response and strategic communications, as well as media relations and training.
Working across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, David draws on his background as a public servant and political strategist to support engagement with regulatory and policy environments in Victoria, nationally and globally. He has extensive experience working with local government, advising CEOs and officers on issues and media management, as well as providing strategic advice on intra-councillor disputes.
Doug Weller
Doug Weller is an Australian media training specialist with extensive experience across journalism and broadcasting, including roles as Bureau Chief, Executive Producer, Editor, Chief of Staff, National Reporter and Presenter, and ABC Washington and Canberra Correspondent. Since 1998, he has delivered tailored media and crisis media training, including programs designed for local government.
Drawing on decades of experience, Doug helps councillors understand complex media environments and build confidence in handling media interactions. He has worked with mayors, councillors, CEOs and senior officers across metropolitan, regional and rural councils, tailoring sessions to meet specific communication challenges and high-pressure situation
Gender Lens Australia
Tanja Kovac and Dr Maree Overall are the Co-CEOs and founders of Gender Lens Australia, specialising in gender equity and organisational change. They have supported a broad range of organisations across the private, public and community sectors to drive equity and performance.
In applying a gender lens they help councillors to identify gaps, risks and opportunities, enabling organisations to unlock potential and productivity. Their work includes gender audits, tailored action plans and practical strategies to address inequity. Focused on clear, accessible and sustainable solutions, they support organisations to understand gender impacts and implement meaningful change that delivers lasting results.
Georgie Ward
Georgie Ward is a principal lawyer who leads the governance team at Macquarie Local Government Lawyers. Having practised exclusively within the sector over the last 18 years, she is known for providing practical advice based on her specialist understanding of the complexities and challenges which face local government.
A key part of her practice is conducting professional development sessions with Councillors and Council staff on a range of matters that affect Council operations, with a focus on strengthening governance standards.
Jenny Scicluna
Jenny is an experienced leader in local government and community sectors, now working as a consultant focused on facilitation and supporting others to succeed. She is passionate about transparent governance, teamwork, and empowering leaders to excel in service.
Holding a Master of Human Resources Management and a Bachelor of Education, Jenny brings expertise in organisational development and capacity building. Her career spans executive roles in community and corporate services across Melbourne councils. She currently serves on the Board of the Eastern Community Legal Centre and was recognised among Victoria’s top 50 Public Sector Women in 2020 for her inspiring leadership and contributions.
Kendrea Pope
Kendrea, is a problem-solver and systems-thinker that applies strong analytical skills, political acumen and knowledge of government processes to reframe challenges and deliver efficient, evidence-based solutions. Highly outcomes-focused and pragmatic, she is passionate about achieving positive community impact.
With strong expertise in public governance, policy, strategy, and operational leadership, she has led across local government portfolios including land use planning, infrastructure, capital works, communications, and corporate services. A values-driven leader, she builds trusted-adviser relationships, upholds ethical standards and excels at harnessing team talent, fostering growth, while supporting individual and collective performance.
Kevin Leddin
Kevin holds a Bachelor of Business and has worked most of his career in local government, initially in finance roles and spent the last 12 years as Director of Corporate Services before semi-retirement. He has considerable experience in all aspects local government finance including Budgets, Long Term Financial Plans, Financial Sustainability and Financial Reporting.
He assists councils in understanding their strategic role, which is vital in assisting councillors who are challenged with matching community expectations for services and infrastructure with limited resources. Kevin continues his interest in governance via his role as an independent member on two Audit & Risk Committees as well as sitting on the Board of a Not for Profit organisation.
Mark Davies
Mark Davies is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years’ experience in both the private and public sectors. He initially worked with PWC holding a range of senior positions including Senior Audit Manager and Principal Consultant. Mark later joined Darebin City Council, where he held the positions of Chief Financial Officer and General Manager Corporate Services. His last major role in local government was Chief Executive Officer of the Surf Coast Shire Council.
Some of Mark’s more significant sector wide projects include development of the Local Government Performance Reporting Framework and key author of the financial provisions in the Local Government Act 2020. He was also a Commissioner on the Ararat Rural City commission of enquiry, Interim Administrator at Central Goldfields Shire and Municipal Monitor at the City of Greater Geelong.
Melissa Scadden
Melissa Scadden is Managing Partner of an award-winning, employment and governance legal practice based in Melbourne. Justitia lawyers work with clients in the government, local government and private sectors, and offer the full array of advisory services, including training, mediation and investigations. She is known for her deep expertise helping clients navigate challenging misconduct and conflict scenarios.
Melissa adopts an empathetic and pragmatic approach when assisting councils to create work environments in which people can thrive. She has a keen interest in early intervention strategies for workplace conflict, along with building the capacity of individuals to effectively engage in difficult conversations and resolve conflict.
Moira Jenkins
Moira is currently the Mayor of the City of Victor Harbor and has been a councillor since 2018. Moira holds a PhD on workplace bullying, postgraduate qualifications in conflict management and dispute resolution, and accredited executive coaching credentials. As the Director of Aboto Psychology and Conflict Management Services, she specialises in dispute resolution, leadership development and executive coaching, focusing on conflict capability, respectful conduct and governance in local government.
She designs and delivers practical, evidence-informed training across South Australia and partners with Local Government Risk Services on councils experiencing behavioural risk or conflict. She also coaches mayors and elected members navigating complex decisions and public scrutiny.
Sally Clarke
Sally Clarke is a facilitator, speaker, and consultant specialising in leadership development, wellbeing and burnout prevention. An Amazon best-selling author of Protect Your Spark, she draws on personal experience recovering from burnout as a corporate finance lawyer in Europe. After two decades consulting internationally, she now brings world-class leadership and wellbeing programs to Australia, focusing on creating healthy work cultures where people can thrive, especially in regional and rural areas.
Sally co-authors the State of Workplace Burnout report, publishes on leadership and culture, coaches individuals, serves on global advisory boards, and co-hosts the Live+Work More Human podcast. She is based in Bellbrae, Victoria.
Shannon Davies
Shannon Davies is the Managing Director of SD Planning and has over 20 years’ experience in local government and consultancy, bringing practical and strategic expertise across metropolitan, peri-urban and rural planning.
Her strengths include statutory and strategic planning, governance and community engagement, supported by deep knowledge of the Victorian Planning Provisions. A Sessional Member of Planning Panels Victoria, Shannon offers current insight into formal processes. Shannon also delivers training and mentoring through the Planning Institute of Australia. Her engaging style supports councillors to build confidence when undertaking their planning roles.
Steve Segona
Steve brings over 30 years’ of local government experience across executive leadership, interim roles and consulting. He has held CEO and director positions spanning corporate, community, planning and infrastructure services. A qualified Town Planner, he combines strategic thinking with strong political and commercial acumen, and a proven ability to build high-performing teams and deliver long-term community outcomes.
His expertise includes governance, financial management and organisational strategy. Through his consulting practice, he has led strategic planning, secured major funding, managed complex projects, supported organisational improvement, and facilitated councillor workshops, executive retreats and community engagement processes.
Tony De Fazio
Tony has dedicated 45 years to local government, building a career focused on serving communities. He held roles with several councils, including the former Cities of Essendon, Hobsons Bay and Whitehorse, where he served as Executive Manager Governance and Customer Service. After retiring from local government in 2020, he continued contributing to the local government sector as an Inspector of Municipal Administration for several years.
Academically qualified in business, Tony is a Fellow and former National President of Local Government Professionals Australia and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Tony Raunic
Tony Raunic is a highly experienced local government adviser, with over 30 years in legal practice and more than 20 years advising councils on governance, statutory compliance and high-risk decision-making. A former councillor and mayor, he brings valuable firsthand insight into political accountability and public scrutiny.
Tony advises councils and statutory authorities on governance, property, commercial and integrity matters. As Managing Principal of Hunt & Hunt Victoria, he oversees council work to ensure consistent, high-quality outcomes. He is also a respected educator, delivering governance training, mentoring leaders, serving as a probity adviser, and contributing to sector organisations and publications.