ICMA Annual Conference Global Sessions and Events Guide

For 110 years, the ICMA Annual Conference is where thousands of local government management professionals have gathered to share new ideas, strategies, resources, and solutions for managing local governments. With four and a half days of learning, inspiration, and connection, attendees leave equipped with the tools and support they need to make their communities better places to live, work, and play.

In line with ICMA's commitment to being the home for local government professionals worldwide, we have curated 23 unique sessions and other events geared toward global knowledge sharing and one-of-a-kind networking opportunities with attendees from around the world. These events include education sessions, meetings, discussions, receptions, and a post-conference study tour, to provide a unique learning and networking experience to fit every attendee. Help us celebrate 100 years of ICMA's international engagement by adding some of the following conference experiences to your schedule this year!

Education Sessions

Even though the 500,000+ local governments around the world operate under different systems and structures, the issues they are facing have common threads. No matter where you are from, we have developed education sessions that are designed to spark ideas for new solutions to old problems, glean helpful insights from colleagues around the world, and expand your knowledge network by adopting a more global mindset.

Tibetan Settlements in India: Can They Thrive as Exclaves or Do They Need Integration with the Local Indian Settlements?

Tibetan settlements in India have very intricate dynamics, which begs the pivotal question of whether these settlements can thrive as exclaves or if integration with local Indian settlements is imperative. This session covers GIS mapping of Tibetan settlements in India, particularly diving into the spatial relationships, distribution, and physical characteristics of these communities, while considering the importance of involving residents of Tibetan settlements in decision-making processes and understanding successful models of community-led planning. Furthermore, this session will provide insight into Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) database management and its role in strengthening the government in exile.

Transformation of a Parks and Leisure Department into an Award-Winning, Industry-Leading Operation Within the United Kingdom

In the face of the UK's cost of living crisis, the parks and leisure department industry is grappling with membership losses and service cutbacks. This engaging master class-style session will dive into the mechanics of achieving exponential growth in leisure and parks departments, forging high-performing teams, and revolutionizing operations with residents in mind to secure continued growth and engagement for years to come.

Local Government Engagement with Our First Nations People: An International Perspective from Australia, New Zealand and Canada

Local government engagement with Indigenous and First Nations peoples entails an array of outcomes from partnerships, successes, challenges, and lessons learned. This panel-style session employs an international perspective in engaging with First Nations peoples, where panelists describe the different paths they have taken to try to achieve deep and meaningful relationships with their respective indigenous partners, some of the pitfalls to avoid, what true reconciliation looks like, and how the current political climate influences the direction your community may choose to take.

Supporting Veteran Reintegration in the United States and Ukraine

Ukrainian municipalities are actively navigating the reintegration of veterans into their communities during this time of war. This session will cover case studies from the U.S. about supporting veterans, ICMA's work with the Association of Amalgamated Communities and local governments in Ukraine to prepare them for returning veterans, as well as the context of how Ukrainian communities are delivering select services during the war.

Leadership in the Shifting Sands

Valuable insights can always be gleaned from navigating challenging situations and adapting organizations for the future. This session, presented by UK local government association Solace, will cover the factors that increase the risk of corporate failure impacting your local authority, key drivers that pull organizations away from failure and toward a more sustainable footing, and how to create a blueprint to improve your organization and reduce the risk of unforeseen problems.

Training and Retaining the Best Employees: Global Local Government Training Plans

Local government professionals have varied career experiences, and the most effective and efficient local governments have leaders and staff who are continually learning new skills. This instructional session compares global approaches to training and development for local government leaders and staff, teaches how different professional bodies coordinate to develop comprehensive programs, and shows how these programs are improving quality of life for residents of local communities.

International and National Perspectives in Accessibility - What Works for Municipalities?

Whether it's a small green space or a large theme park, parks are required by law to be accessible, offering recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities. This innovative session outlines how to make the many varieties of parks and trails compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), gives modification options for playgrounds to make them accessible, and uncovers little-known ways to incorporate all of the senses into outdoor experiences in order to make them accessible and enjoyable for individuals with different types of disabilities.

What Can Coastal Cities in India Learn from the Climate Action Plan for Chennai?

Chennai's meticulous approach to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions calculation and the implementation of its Climate Action Plan (CAP) stand as a beacon for other coastal cities in India who are grappling with the impacts of climate change. This thought-provoking session highlights the importance of conducting a comprehensive GHG emissions assessment across city and state departments, Chennai's success in community engagement and stakeholder involvement throughout the CAP formulation, and Chennai's innovative solutions focusing on green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and sustainable urban planning.

Ethics in Local Government: Lessons from the Global Stage

The year 2024 marks 100 years of the ICMA Code of Ethics and 100 years of ICMA's international engagement. In celebration of both of these momentous and interconnected anniversaries, a unique panel is gathering to dive into the benefits and challenges of promoting ethical local government management around the world. Panelists from Mexico, Belgium, New Zealand, and the United States will discuss how codes of ethics and conduct are applied in their respective countries, the strengthening of local government institutions due to the establishment of codes of ethics and professional standards, different types of ethical dilemmas, and how local government professionals can solve problems while maintaining ethical standards.

Improve Service Delivery and Citizen Engagement Using Tools Developed by ICMA's Global Programs

Tools developed and used by ICMA on its Clean Cities Blue Ocean (CCBO) and Cities for Enhanced Governance and Engagement (CHANGE) programs have drawn upon ICMA's widely used Municipal Development Index to create unique, customized indices for performance management in specific areas. This informational session will dive into the stages and successful use cases of two impactful tools: the Local Government Solid Waste Capacity Index (SCIL - pronounced "skill") tool for local governments to assess their capacity to create and sustain an economically and environmentally sound solid waste management system, as well as the Local Governance Process Democratization Continuum (LGPDC) tool that describes the process changes needed for cities to reach a level of governance that reflects the principles of transparency, participation, and accountability.

Meetings