Becoming a Councillor

Becoming a Councillor

This introductory session covers all the foundations of becoming a Councillor. Candidates will learn about  their legal and regulatory obligations, participatory decision making, the importance of Codes of Conduct and essential community leadership skills that promote and model good governance.

Facilitator Bio 

Rhys Thomas
Head of Local Government Programs and Policy, Victorian Local Governance Association 

With a career spanning 30 years in local government, Rhys has held roles in corporate planning, economic development, social research, media, communications, and community development. Rhys has held senior management roles in governance at three different Councils and is the VLGA’s Head of Local Government Programs and Policy.

Holding a planning degree from RMIT and a law degree from Monash University, Rhys is recognised as a leading thinker and problem solver in local government circles. He is often called upon to provide advice and to act as a sounding board for governance practitioners across the sector and enjoys sharing and applying what he has learned to support councils and elected representatives - councillors - to deliver positive outcomes for their local communities through high performance leadership and effective governance.

Rhys is a trusted voice on all things governance, whether it is technical interpretation of rules, policy and legislation or the strategic long-term direction of the sector itself.