Noosa Council's team, Strategic by Nature, has taken out first place in the 2026 Queensland LGMA Australasian Management Challenge, outperforming five other Councils in a series of leadership, problem-solving and written tasks.
CEO Larry Sengstock said this is Noosa's first win in the challenge, demonstrating the strong leadership and professionalism of Council's emerging leaders.
"This is regarded as the premier professional development program for local government professionals across Australia and New Zealand," he said.
"It's an intensive and rewarding experience that helps build the next generation of leaders and we are extremely proud of our team," he said.
The team brought together six employees from across different departments to tackle a suite of complex tasks that reflected the day-to-day realities of local government. The team proudly showcased exceptional teamwork, strategy, and resilience to claim the 2026 title.
"Our first ever win is a massive achievement and a credit to our six members and their two mentors," Mr Sengstock said.
"We have some of the brightest minds in local government and this team achieved an outstanding overall score, which is true testament to the depth of talent and teamwork we have at Noosa Council."
As Queensland winners, Noosa Council will now represent Queensland at the Australasian finals in Tasmania in August 2026, competing against top-performing teams from across Australia and New Zealand.
*Image caption (left to right): Melissa Shepherd, Corinne Aiken, Kaitlin Stephens, Dale Richardson, Kelly Shaw, Tara Norley, Rachel Lawrence and Missing: Marina Viana
