About the NGAA

Our Vision

The NGAA works with, and on behalf of, our Councils to achieve our vision for Australian cities where residents have equitable access to housing, jobs, education, health services, cultural activities and the physical and community infrastructure that support these outcomes – no matter where they live. 

Our Role

NGAA is the peak body for local governments in Australia’s outer metropolitan growth areas and advocates to state and federal governments on growth area challenges and opportunities. Together, we represent more than five million people living in Australia’s fast-growing suburbs and are united by shared experiences of population growth rates at double the national average and long-term under-investment in vital infrastructure. 

NGAA Members Lunch at ALGA, June 2023

We take an evidence-based approach, with a Policy Platform built on the foundations of our comprehensive research strategy. We also help to develop Alliance Councils' capacity to deliver good growth through best practice case studies, policy discussions, officer-level networks and our program of events bringing the best and latest speakers on growth issues.

Our Alliance

The NGAA is funded by membership fees to represent the interests of our Partner Councils. In recognition of the different stages of growth of eligible Councils, our membership fees are on a sliding scale to be affordable for all Councils regardless of size. you can read our Membership Prospectus here. Our membership categories are:

Partner Councils - Outer Metropolitan Growth Councils whose cities, suburbs and towns are in established, emerging or future population growth areas on the outskirts of capital cities (within metropolitan boundaries). Population growth rates are, have been or are projected to be at least 2% pa.

Supporters - Councils located outside NGAA geographic areas who are also experiencing rapid population growth and wish to participate in research, policy development and professional capacity building.

Partners - organisations with an interest in growth areas, including State and Federal Government and research organisations, and other Local Government groups.

For more information about eligibility and fees, contact Bronwen Clark, Chief Executive Officer.

Our Governance

NGAA is governed by a Strategic Advisory Committee of Mayors and Councillors from across Australia. A Chair and Deputy Chair is elected from within the Committee. See the NGAA Governance Manual for more details. 

An additional management committee of local government senior executives guides the day to day work of the NGAA Secretariat. Our small Secretariat includes Research and Policy and Communications specialists.

The Strategic Advisory Committee members elected by NGAA Member Councils:

  • Cr Matthew Deeth, Shire of Wollondilly (Chair)
  • Mayor Terresa Lynes, City of Gosnells (Deputy Chair)
  • Cr Todd Carney, Penrith City Council
  • Mayor David Leach, Mount Barker District Council
  • Mayor Glenn Docherty, City of Playford
  • Cr Joseph Haweil, Hume City Council
  • Cr Stephanie Davies, Cardinia Shire Council
  • Cr Peter Maynard, Wyndham City Council
  • Cr Tom Widenbar, Deputy Mayor, City of Cockburn

 

 

NGAA Team

Councillor Matthew Deeth

NGAA Chair, Deputy Mayor, Wollondilly Shire Council

Cr Matthew Deeth has been Chair of the National Growth Areas Alliance since 2019, representing fast-growing local governments in outer metropolitan areas of Australia’s capital cities, where 5.3 million people live.

Matt is the Deputy Mayor at Wollondilly Shire Council in Sydney’s outer south-west. He was first elected to Council in 2016 and served as Mayor in 2018/20. He has lived in Wollondilly all his life and is raising two young children there with his wife.

Matt is passionate about the opportunities offered by fast-growing communities which are too often hampered by incremental, ad-hoc and uncoordinated planning decisions which leave a substantial cost for local government now and into the future.

Matt is proud to take forward policy priorities of NGAA Member Councils from outer urban areas of Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. He believes that as a united collective with a strong voice, backed by sound evidence, shared experiences and expertise, the NGAA is best placed to show how Governments can better invest in and plan thriving and vibrant new communities.

Bronwen Clark

CEO

Bronwen was appointed CEO of the National Growth Areas Alliance in 2018 and is recognised as a national expert on the issues facing the 5.3 million residents of outer urban growth areas across Australia. She has led a revitalisation of the organisation’s impact through a stronger focus on governance, research and policy development.

Bronwen was appointed to the Urban Policy Forum by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, The Hon. Catherine King MP in May 2023 and was previously appointed to the Cities Reference Group under the Coalition government.

Leading a small, focussed team and a highly engaged national membership, Bronwen brings a strategic skillset to the Alliance, particularly advocacy, policy and government relations. She has consulted extensively to local government, small business and not-for-profits, and has worked with the Federal Government on multilateral trade negotiations, including representing Australia at the World Trade Organisation.

Bronwen holds a Master of Business Administration from Melbourne Business School, as well as Bachelor of Arts and a Graduate Diploma in Public Relations. She is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, has held Ministerial-appointed Non-Executive Director roles with Victorian Government and currently volunteers as the Chair of the state peak body Volunteering Victoria.

Dr Caroline Speed

National Policy and Research Lead

Caroline is a planning and housing policy and research specialist with a detailed understanding of the tiers of policy, regulation, and market forces impacting on the delivery of new communities and housing.

Passionate about developing liveable cities, her PhD research investigated the human experience of house, home, place and sustainability, and the ways in which the relationships between these influence sustainable behaviour.

Caroline’s professional experience spans both the public and private sector and underpins a pragmatic approach to urban development issues, including consideration of the implementation processes and potential unintended adverse implications of policy. She seeks to build bonds between different stakeholder groups to find common ground and facilitate a pathway forward.

She has been involved in a range of long-term policy reform and implementation processes, including cabinet-level housing and planning policy development and implementation in the Victorian Government, and as the policy lead for peak bodies representing the residential development industry. Caroline is an experienced statutory and strategic planner and a full professional member of the Planning Institute of Australia.

Katherine Sorrell

Member Support

Katherine Sorrell provides administrative, event planning and member support at National Growth Areas Alliance. She additionally provides administration support to City of Whittlesea’s Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement team and the Northern Councils Alliance. Katherine has extensive experience in the federal public service and primary school teaching.

Katherine holds a Bachelor of Business from Swinburne University of Technology and a Graduate Diploma of Primary Teaching from RMIT.

In her spare time, she enjoys visiting new restaurants with her family, going to the cinemas and taking her greyhound, Joey, for long walks.

Michelle Jack

National Communications Coordinator

With a passion for the art of communication, Michelle takes pride in being the voice that raises the profile of NGAA, connecting with key media to shed light on the challenges faced by growth areas and keeping members well-informed about the latest developments.

Boasting over 12 years of experience in marketing, Michelle brings a wealth of expertise in strategic communication campaigns, brand management, and product development. Armed with a Bachelor of Business and Commerce in Marketing from the University of Western Sydney, Michelle is well-versed in the nuances of crafting messages that are not only relevant but also meaningful to diverse audiences.

As the National Communications Coordinator, Michelle strives to make a positive impact on communities and create awareness of growth area challenges, ensuring that the NGAA's mission resonates far and wide. Through effective communication strategies, she aims to foster understanding, engagement, and positive change within communities.

 

Strategic Plan

NGAA is implementing its 2020-2023 Strategic Plan which was developed after a member workshop at the 2019 NGAA Congress.

 

Strategic Partners