Annual State Town Team Movement conference coming to Port Hedland in August

Port Hedland is set to host a slew of high-profile guests as part of an annual conference aimed to improve the identity and co-operation of communities.

The 2022 State Town Team conference will be held in Port Hedland on August 18 and 19 and will feature Local Government Minister John Carey as the keynote speaker.

He will be joined by Krista Nightengale from the United States Better Block Foundation and Creative Communities director David Engwicht to talk about how communities can be inspired through their own town teams.

The not-for-profit organisation Town Team Movement aims to strengthen networks between towns and communities with a collaborative approach to leadership, cultural empowerment and development to create economically vibrant, sustainable and resilient places.

The two-day conference will cover a range of topics include kickstarting community-led leadership, building community resilience and place management.

Other topics include creative engagement techniques, collaboration and the future role of government, and business activation to grow and thrive in the wake of COVID-19.

Mr Carey said Town Teams are an innovative and creative way to bring communities together to work towards a collective and positive vision hand in hand with local governments.

“This applies across the State but I see particular benefit for our State’s economic centre, the Pilbara,” he said.

“I have direct experience of the fantastic outcomes the collective influence and positive impact Town Teams have on our places. I encourage anyone with an interest in their local community to get involved.”

Town Team co-founder Jimmy Murphy said response to the announcement of the Pilbara conference at Port Hedland had been exceptional.

Last year’s State conference was held in Bunbury, the first time it had been held outside of Perth.

Conference co-ordinator Lisa O’Neill said at the time the event went off without a hitch.

“It was a huge success — we had about 200 visitors from local governments, businesses, sponsors and volunteers in attendance,” she said.