Dick Cahill Memorial Scholarship - Finance Conference: 5 – 7 December 2022

Report by Kaitlin Salzke, Chief Financial Officer, Murrumbidgee Council
Recipient of the ‘Small Council Member’ category

How did you find the 2022 Finance Conference overall?

I thoroughly enjoyed the 2022 Finance Conference and got a lot out of it. As someone new to local government, I learnt a lot from the speakers and panel discussions and gained valuable insights from speaking with the sponsors between sessions. Above all, though, it was an excellent opportunity to meet and connect with other finance professionals across the sector: it was great to be reminded that we face similar challenges and have a chance to share knowledge and ideas across the state. I believe those relationships will persist as a support network beyond the conference as we all move ahead in our day-to-day work.

What was your favourite session at the conference?

It’s difficult to pick just one, as there was a great variety of sessions, from the technically driven pre-conference workshop to the inspiring presentation from Nadine Champion, who encouraged us to find just “ten seconds of courage” in life and work. I enjoyed it all!

What is a key learning from the conference that you will take back to your role at council?

A very concrete takeaway was from the discussions about asset valuation and the changes to the accounting standards. That is very relevant for us at Murrumbidgee Council this year as we seek to revalue most of our asset base. This will inform our discussions with our consultants and establish a path for us going forward.

Did you attend the networking dinners, how did you find them?

I attended the Tuesday night conference dinner at Bartholomews, and it was a great evening. The venue was incredible, and it was wonderful to see everybody having fun and getting dressed up in their costumes for the event.

What would you say to a member who is thinking about applying for the Dick Cahill Memorial Scholarship in 2023?

Go for it – you have nothing to lose, and the application process is straightforward! The conference itself is well worth attending, and I think it’s vital that those categories that comprise the Dick Cahill Memorial Scholarships be represented. There can be a tendency sometimes for the
conversation to be dominated by larger metropolitan councils, but (as someone who falls within all of the scholarship categories - small council, rural council, and under-35), I think others also have a lot we can contribute.

What do you enjoy most about your membership with LG Professionals, NSW?

I only moved into the local government sector in May 2022 and joined in October, so I’m a relatively new member of LG Professionals NSW. I think, though, that the main benefit is the opportunity to meet and connect with other professionals across the state and draw on their ideas, knowledge, and experience.