The countdown is on for one of the biggest gatherings of procurement professionals on the New South Wales local government calendar, with the 2025 Local Government Procurement Annual Conference set to return to Sydney this October.
For two days, procurement leaders, council officers, and suppliers will converge at Doltone House, Darling Island, for a Local Government Procurement Annual Conference program squarely focused on the future.
This year’s theme, Future Focused: 2026 and Beyond, signals a deliberate step towards preparing councils for the shifting forces that will shape procurement over the next decade.
It is not only about emerging technologies, but also about the social, environmental, and economic pressures reshaping how councils engage with markets, suppliers, and communities.
What sets the 2025 program apart is its willingness to stretch beyond compliance and cost efficiency.
Sessions will explore the role of artificial intelligence in government, the influence of global procurement trends, and the cultural benefits of building more empathetic workplaces. Case studies will be presented to bring these issues down to earth, showing how strategies can be applied in real-world settings.
The scope of issues is notably broad.
“The topics at this year’s conference have been carefully designed to address current challenges and opportunities for councils,” said Trish Nichitean, Local Government Procurement’s Head of Marketing & Communications.
“Content goes beyond theory, focusing on real-world applications and solutions for people working within local government.”
The keynote speaker this year is Kirsty McGrath, the Founder of the Microsoft 365 Adoption User Groups and an eight-time awarded Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP). Kirsty is a highly experienced adoption specialist, having worked alongside both Technical Partners and Microsoft with their top 200 clients, leading businesses through small to large and complex transformation projects. Kirsty will be speaking about artificial intelligence (AI) tool Microsoft Copilot and its capabilities, the art of prompting and how councils can adopt AI into their business.
“The conference is designed to ensure participants will leave with actionable insights, strategies, and tools that can be applied immediately within their business,” Nichitean said.
Procurement teams will also hear about the challenges of modern slavery in supply chains, the continuing focus on sustainability measures, and other issues on a global scale. For many councils, these are not abstract concepts but pressing, day-to-day realities that demand practical solutions. The program is designed to equip attendees with both insight and action points to take back to their organisations.
While the conference is firmly future-oriented, it remains grounded in the network of relationships that sustain local government procurement.
Structured opportunities to connect are woven throughout the agenda, from morning teas and lunches to the busy exhibition space.
A standout is the return of the Round Robin Networking format, designed to ensure every exhibitor speaks with every delegate. For councils, this means an efficient way to discover options; for exhibitors, it guarantees visibility and conversation.
Recognition is also a central feature of the event.
On the opening night, the Local Government Procurement Annual Awards will spotlight individuals, teams, and organisations delivering exceptional outcomes across the sector.
Winners will be announced at the conference dinner, giving the sector a chance to celebrate excellence alongside the learning and networking.
Telstra returns as Platinum Sponsor, while Council Magazine is once again the official media partner.
The alignment highlights the cross-sector importance of procurement and the role of technology, innovation, and communication in shaping its future direction.
Councils are being asked to navigate competing demands: tighter budgets, increasing compliance obligations, supply chain vulnerabilities, and community expectations for sustainable and inclusive practices.
The 2025 Local Government Procurement Annual Conference positions itself as a forum to confront these challenges head-on, while providing the tools, contacts, and inspiration to respond effectively.
Crucially, delegates will leave with more than notes and reflections. Speaker slide decks will be made available after the event, ensuring the knowledge gained can be transferred to colleagues back at council.
The focus is on equipping not just individual attendees, but entire teams with the insights required to adapt and lead.
With artificial intelligence, sustainability, cultural inclusion, and global pressures reshaping the landscape, councils cannot afford to operate on old assumptions.
The conference is set to be help on 21-22 October. For more details, visit lgp.org.au/annual-conference
