On 14-15 December the director was among a group of international experts who came together in Sydney for an international roundtable on metropolitan governance. This was a joint project between the Sydney-based Centre of Excellence for Local Government the Canada-based Forum of Federations and the Major Cities Unit of Infrastructure Australia.

The Roundtable formed part of preparations for next year's World Urban Forum in Brazil. The Forum of Federations is working with the Brazilian organisers to arrange a session on the governance of fragmented metropolitan regions, in particular institutions and processes for intergovernmental coordination and delivery of services. Australia was approached to assist by bringing together local and international experts to identify key issues.
International speakers came from Canada, the USA, India, South Africa and New Zealand. Australian participants included senior federal, state/territory and local government representatives, together with other leading practitioners and academics.

The Roundtable offered an opportunity to compare recent experience in metropolitan governance and planning across Australia, and with international developments. For New Zealand, it was an opportunity to share observations on the experience of the Auckland restructuring and gain insights from colleagues with a wealth of experience at a practical level in metropolitan restructuring internationally.

Presentations to the Roundtable are available below. A more comprehensive report on discussions will be compiled and posted on this website in early March 2010.
Presentations:

• Dorte Ekelund, Executive Director of the Major Cities Unit at Infrastructure Australia. Download
• Mike Reid, Manager-Governance with Local Government New Zealand (the national association). Download
• Peter McKinlay, director, Local Government Centre, Institute of Public Policy, AUT University Download
• Dalbir Singh, National Secretary of the Indian National Congress. Download
• Enid Slack, Director of the Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance at University of Toronto. Download
• Ron Vogel, Professor of Political Science and Urban and Public Affairs at the University of Louisville, Kentucky. Download