Overseas Exchange Program
Focus on your management skills and develop your career in local government through a two-week exchange with a partner manager in New Zealand.
Applications for the 2024/25 program open until May 5!
In partnership with Taituarā — Local Government Professionals Aotearoa, LGMA is now accepting applications for the 2024/25 program. This opportunity is open to LGMA regular members who have held membership for 2 or more years prior to the commencement of the exchange.
The exchange is an excellent opportunity for local government managers to focus on their management skills, competencies, and knowledge, as well as career development. Gain professional, personal, and cultural experience that can be applied back at your local government! Some key benefits of this exchange are:
- Spend two weeks in New Zealand visiting local governments
- Attend the Taituarā Annual Summit, September 11-13, 2024 in Auckland.
- Discuss and share ideas with your host manager on issues concerning local government and identify how they are being addressed.
- Share best practices and gain a deeper understanding of your own local government issues
- Host an exchange partner from New Zealand at the 2025 LGMA Annual Conference (June, exact dates and location TBA).
- Report back on your experience and educate your colleagues.
- Network and establish long-lasting relationships.
This program is one of a range of LGMA initiatives that provide leadership and development opportunities specifically tailored to the local government environment.
Submit your application form before Sunday, May 5th. Selection of the successful candidate will be made by a committee of the LGMA Board of Directors.
About the Program
This experience provides an opportunity for local government managers to focus on their management skills, competencies, and knowledge as well as their career development in local government through a two-week exchange with a partner manager in New Zealand.
The exchange visits are timed around the Annual Conference of each host association to allow both managers to attend these events. The successful LGMA manager will travel to New Zealand for two weeks to attend the Taituarā — Local Government Professionals Aotearoa Annual Summit and to visit local governments in that country; in return, the successful participant will host an exchange partner from New Zealand who will come to British Columbia for two weeks to attend the LGMA Conference and visit local governments in BC.
Exchange Manager Costs and Some General Conditions
The program covers the costs of a return economy airfare for one participant from his/her home in British Columbia to the hosting local government in New Zealand, and incidental overnight accommodation associated with that travel to a maximum of $5,000 CDN. It also provides for the participant's registration fees and accommodations for the Taituarā Summit. Any costs above this amount are the responsibility of the participant. Some conditions apply including that the selected manager: submit a post-exchange report focusing on the substantive management policies, technical and community lessons observed for potential application to British Columbia local government; identify specific opportunities to ensure those lessons are transmitted to the LGMA membership and local governments in BC; and may be asked to participate in a panel discussion on local government overseas or deliver a short presentation at the Taituarā Annual Summit.
Benefits of the Program
- an opportunity to discuss and share ideas with a manager from overseas on issues concerning local government and identify how they are being addressed;
- an awareness of "best practices" being employed by your host local government and deeper understanding of you own local government issues; and
- networking and establishing long-lasting relationships.
- "New ideas brought back to Council and our staff challenged our assumptions about how things 'must' be done."
- "The exchange, for me, has built a bridge within the global community of local government and inspired me to seek new solutions to old problems."
Past Exchanges
2023-24 Overseas Exchange Candidate
- Renée LaBoucane, Manager, Strategic Initiatives for Strathcona Regional District, was the successful representative and attended the Taituara Conference in November 2023. Renee will in turn host her partner, Sarah Matthews, General Manager Finance & Environment for Taupo District Council, in June 2024.
- Download the 2023 Manager Exchange Report
2019-20 Overseas Exchange Candidate
- Ramin Seifi , General Manager, Engineering and Community Development for the Township of Langley was the successful 2019-20 representative. Ramin attended the SOLGM Summit in September 2019, and in turn hosted Rex Capil, Group Manager Community & Futures, from Southland District Council for two weeks in June 2023.
- Download the 2019 Manager Exchange Report
2018-19 Overseas Exchange Candidate
- Matt Vader, Manager of Strategic & Support Services, District of Lake Country, was the successful 2018-19 LGMA representative. Matt attended the SOLGM Summit in September 2018, and in turn, will host Glenn Young, Utility Manager, Manawatu District Council, for two weeks in June 2019.
- Download the 2018 Manager Exchange Report
2017-18 Overseas Exchange Candidate
- Regina Sadilkova, Director of Development Services, Thompson-Nicola Regional District, was selected as the 2017-18 LGMA representative for the British Columbia-New Zealand Overseas Exchange Program. Regina traveled to New Zealand to attend the SOLGM Conference in September 2017, and in turn will host Liam Nolan, Head of Vertical Capital Delivery and Professional Services-City Services with Christchurch City Council, for two weeks in May 2018.
- Download the 2017 Manager Exchange Report and Appendices
2016-17 Overseas Exchange Candidate
- Rob Buchan, CAO, District of North Saanich, was selected as the 2016-17 LGMA representative for the British Columbia-New Zealand Overseas Exchange Program. Rob traveled to New Zealand to attend the SOLGM Conference in September 2016, and in turn will host Fiona McTavish, General Manager Strategy, Bay of Plenty Regional Council for two weeks in May 2017.
- Download the 2016 Manager Exchange Report
