Their Experiences

2009 Overseas Manager Exchanges

Many SOLGM members have benefited from the programme and through this professional, personal and cultural experience, most have gone back to their local authorities inspired and armed with a better perspective and increased knowledge of local government.

Here are the 2009 participants of the Overseas Manager Exchange:

• Politics has many similarities half a world away!
• Inspiring, challenging, educational
• Both the Council and myself benefited from this exchange

Politics has many similarities half a world away!

"Couldn’t have wished for a better experience – whilst there are differences in the span of activity (eg Police) there were many similarities. I found the approach to resource management interesting - and the inter-regional relationships very telling.

Politics has many similarities half a world away! Observing Thornton’s management culture was truly valuable – Ihave integrated some material into our HR approach. "

Clare Hadley
Chief Executive
Rangitikei District Council

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Inspiring, challenging, educational

"Awesome, inspiring, challenging, educational and just downright good fun are descriptions I would associate with my manager exchange to British Columbia in 2009.

This is an opportunity Iwould recommend to anyone. If you have a sense of adventure, want to get an inside view of local government in another country and get all the benefits associated with a cultural exchange then don’t procrastinate, go for it.

The exchange programme provides an experience that can’t be replicated with friendships and contacts made that will endure forever."

Andrew Feierabend
Manager Environmental Services
Hurunui District Council

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Both the Council and myself benefited from this exchange

"I was fortunate to being selected by SOLGM for the 2009 Queensland Managers Exchange. I had a most enjoyable fortnight in Australia visiting Queensland Councils and attending the LGMAQ conference. The Councils were very welcoming and every effort was made for me to meet senior staff, and elected representatives, including the very entertaining Mayor Bob Abbott, Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

For a relative newbie to Local Government, the exchange was an excellent way of learning and experiencing local government in another country. There were many similarities, but there are many new and different ways of looking at issues that could very well be applied in New Zealand.

I would certainly encourage other SOLGM members to put their name forward to this exchange; not only was I able to learn best practice ideas that can be applied to New Zealand as well as establish and develop networks overseas. Both Horowhenua District Council, and myself personally as a manager have benefited from this exchange."

David Clapperton
Strategic and Corporate Services Manager
Horowhenua District Council

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