Building a Shared Future: Modern Governance, Leadership and Community Engagement

Munro J¹*; Jamieson P¹ and Nugent M¹

1. Brisbane City Council, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Leading a successful, modern, public service organisation has many challenges. Communities are demanding service delivery that provides value for money but is also responsive to individual needs and priorities. Open and accountable decision making is demanded.

A further challenge for Brisbane City, is the planning and management of the implications of significant population growth – a 50% increase is projected for south-east Queensland by the year 2026. This will put increasing pressure on the City’s infrastructure, natural resources and potentially residents’ quality of life.

This paper explores the critical contribution of community engagement in meeting the challenges faced by modern government organisations. In particular, it considers the questions:

• How can community understanding and involvement enable governments to effectively lead and plan for change?
• What is the role of governments in building a spirit of and capacity for citizenship?
• How can a culture of community orientation be achieved and sustained within government organisations?