The future of South East Queensland's communities was in the spotlight on 18 September 2026, as Mayors, Councillors and CEOs from across the region gathered at the 2026 Council of Mayors (SEQ) Local Government Forum to explore how innovation and digital transformation will shape the region.
The forum's program included an industry showcase, keynote address and panel discussion exploring how digital transformation, automation and AI are reshaping housing, transport and telecommunications, and what these changes mean for local communities.
South East Queensland is projected to be one of Australia's fastest-growing regions over the next 20 years. It is already home to around 75 per cent of Queensland's population and generates around two-thirds of the state's economic output. By 2046, the region will need almost 900,000 new homes and close to one million new jobs.
With the region's population set to grow significantly over the next two decades, local governments are looking at how technology and innovation can help deliver the homes, jobs and infrastructure the region needs while maintaining SEQ's enviable lifestyle.
Deputy Premier of Queensland and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, and Minister for Industrial Relations, the Hon. Jarrod Bleijie, highlighted the State's focus on housing delivery and upcoming SEQ Regional Plan.
Keynote speaker and CEO of Future Government Institute, The Hon. Victor Dominello, shared his take on what it means for a region to be future ready, and the technologies already reshaping how governments and communities operate, from the local level to the global stage.
An industry showcase explored what is changing across telecommunications, housing and transport, what the big developments around the corner could mean for cities and communities, and what local government leaders can expect to see over the next decade.
The session featured Channa Seneviratne, Executive for Technology Engagement & Advancement at Telstra; Prof. Chris Knapp, Research Director at Building 4.0 CRC; Bec Turner, Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google Australia and New Zealand; and Scott Smith, CEO of Council of Mayors (SEQ).
The panel explored how AI, automation and emerging technology could shape housing, transport and connectivity over the next decade, and the initiatives already being rolled out globally.
The Forum also featured a Digital Innovation Showcase, giving local government leaders the opportunity to see practical examples of technology already being used, and developed, to help build the cities and communities of the future.
The showcase demonstrated how AI can make planning and development assessment faster and more efficient, how digital twins and spatial intelligence can help councils understand how places are changing and test the impact of planning decisions, and how real-time water and environmental monitoring can help councils spot risks earlier and respond faster.
Council of Mayors (SEQ) is already putting innovation into practice through regional initiatives including the SEQ Digital Plan, which will help guide how the region grows over the next two decades; Resilient Rivers, which is working to improve the health of SEQ's waterways; and early work on emerging opportunities such as Advanced Air Mobility and a stronger regional food system.
Established in 2005, the Council of Mayors (SEQ) brings together the region's local governments with a shared vision to think, plan and advocate as one, driving transformation across South East Queensland.
