You know better than most that local government operates on the razor-sharp edge of reputation and credibility; always under scrutiny, weathering tough decisions and winning few friends.

While it might feel like your Council is constantly operating in crisis, there’s still plenty we can learn from the highly public catastrophes some of Australia’s biggest brands have stormed through over the last 12 months.

The May webinar of the Local Government Communication Professionals Network will take you through ten principles to help safeguard your Council from turning every negative issue into a full-blown crisis.

You’ll get new ideas and practical tips – and most importantly, you’ll take away fresh ammunition and encouragement for advising your leaders in tricky situations.

In the past year alone, we’ve seen giant brands suffer major hits to their credibility. These aren’t isolated scandals. They’re symptoms of 2026’s tough environment where reputations are fragile, stakeholder expectations are sky-high and silence or spin are instantly punished.

What can local government communication professionals learn from some of these patterns?

By attending this complimentary session, you’ll walk away with:

1. A clear framework for responding when issues first erupt - so small fires don’t become major crises.

2. Practical strategies to strengthen your Council’s reputation capital before the next crunch-point hits.

3. The confidence to advise elected members and executives with clarity when the pressure is on.

Even if you’re a veteran of local government communication crises, you’ll be reinvigorated with new perspectives after this webinar.

Dr Neryl East - Local Government Communication Specialist

After an extensive media career, Neryl spent 15 years in senior local government communication roles.

As well as partnering with councils around Australia to elevate their communication skills, she now coaches and advises government leaders at the highest level on communicating high-stakes messages with clarity and connection.

Neryl has a PhD in Journalism and is the author of five books including an Amazon best-seller on media and reputation. She is a Certified Speaking Professional and Past National President of Professional Speakers Australia.