Fletcher Brings Lead with Civility to Australian leaders
Updated: 16 minutes ago
Daniel Fletcher knows that healthy communities begin with healthy leadership. A seasoned Australian executive with more than 15 years of public- and private-sector experience, Fletcher has held senior local government positions, including council CEO, and championed people-centred leadership in regional communities.
Today, he serves as General Manager of Community & Liveability at Western Downs Regional Council and President of Local Government Managers Australia Queensland (LGMA Queensland).
A contributing guest essayist to Diane Kalen-Sukra's Lead with Civility: A Handbook for Uncivil Times and a Lead with Civility Ambassador, Fletcher recently brought the book's principles to a leadership forum for supervisors and coordinators across his division.
His presentation challenged participants to consider two fundamental questions: What kind of leader do I aspire to be? And what kind of workplace culture am I helping to create?
Western Downs Regional Council serves approximately 35,000 residents across Queensland, encompassing six major towns—Dalby, Chinchilla, Miles, Tara, Jandowae and Wandoan—and numerous smaller rural communities. The council was formed in 2008 through the amalgamation of five former councils and part of a sixth local government area.
Fletcher's leadership extends beyond Western Downs. As President of LGMA Queensland, he helps guide a professional association serving local government managers across a state with 77 councils, approximately 42,000 local government employees and a territory nearly five times the size of Germany.
Building a Culture of Principled Leadership
Twice each year, Fletcher convenes supervisors and coordinators from across Community & Liveability for dedicated leadership-development forums.
These interactive gatherings give current and emerging leaders an opportunity to step away from daily operations, exchange experiences, tackle real-world challenges and reflect on their leadership practices.
A valued feature is the opportunity for candid conversations with Fletcher, during which participants are encouraged to ask difficult questions, test ideas and discuss complex workplace situations openly.
At the latest forum, Fletcher used Lead with Civility to explore how leaders influence workplace culture through their everyday conduct.
The presentation prompted meaningful discussion about respect, professionalism, empathy and accountability, particularly during times of pressure, change and disagreement.
Fletcher emphasized the responsibility leaders have to create environments where people feel respected, valued and safe to contribute.
Leadership Begins with Self-Examination
Central to Lead with Civility is the ancient Delphic injunction "Know Thyself", famously embraced by Socrates: the understanding that leading others well begins with examining our own character, conduct and use of power.
This principle also finds expression in the longstanding tradition of mirrors for princes (specula principum)—works of counsel that invited rulers to examine their virtues, responsibilities and obligations to those they governed.
Diane Kalen-Sukra's Lead with Civility, an Amazon #1 bestseller in Government & Politics, brings that tradition into modern civic leadership.
Its Roadmap to Renewing Civic Culture begins with self-leadership, inviting leaders to ask difficult questions: Do we listen when challenged? Welcome disagreement? Model the respect and accountability we expect from others?
The book's message is that leaders are culture shapers whose character and conduct influence the organizations and communities they serve.
Civility begins not with demanding better behaviour from others, but with demonstrating it ourselves.
By inviting supervisors and coordinators to reflect on their own leadership and the workplace cultures they create, Fletcher brought this central principle of Lead with Civility into the everyday practice of local government.
Hear the author explore this ancient wisdom: Know Thyself: A Leader's First Task — an author's reading from Lead with Civility.
Beyond the Bottom Line
Fletcher explores the connection between leadership, organizational culture and human well-being in his guest essay, “Beyond the Bottom Line: Making Well-Being the Core of Local Leadership,” which begins on page 130 of Lead with Civility.
He challenges civic leaders to look beyond conventional measures of financial and operational performance to consider the well-being of employees and the communities they serve.
As Fletcher writes:
“Budgets are moral documents.”
What governments measure, prioritize and fund reveals what they value.
His argument is that well-being cannot remain an aspiration in a strategic plan. It must be reflected in leadership behaviour, organizational culture, budgets and everyday decisions.
His recent presentation offers a practical example of that philosophy: investing in the people whose leadership shapes both the workplace and the quality of public service.
Helping Grow the Civility Movement
Fletcher has long championed Diane Kalen-Sukra's work in civic leadership development and civic renewal. At the time of the launch of the 5th Anniversary edition of her groundbreaking bestseller Save Your City: How Toxic Culture Kills Community & What To
Do About It, Fletcher wrote a review calling the book a:
"must-read manifesto for meaningful, grassroots change...a revolution in local civic culture."
Read Fletcher's review of Save Your City here.
He also featured the book in his widely read 2024 white paper on the challenges facing local government, and was instrumental, together with local government executive and broadcaster Chris Eddy of the VLGA's Local Government News Roundup, in bringing Kalen-Sukra's international civility tour to Australia.
Kalen-Sukra's efforts were recognized earlier this year by the U.K.'s leading civic policy institute, the Local Government Information Unit, which named her a global Top Thinker in Local Government for her "catalysing a movement to renew civility and trust in public life."
Today, as a Lead with Civility Ambassador, Fletcher continues to carry the movement forward.
Kalen Academy's Lead with Civility Ambassador initiative brings together civic leaders across Canada, the United States, Australia and beyond, equipping them with presentation materials, discussion guides and the five-part Roadmap to Renewing Civic Culture.
Fletcher's leadership forum demonstrates the initiative's purpose: bringing the principles of civility into leadership development, where they can shape organizational culture and influence current and emerging civic leaders.
Kalen Academy congratulates Daniel Fletcher and the leadership team at Western Downs Regional Council on this initiative and thanks Daniel for his continuing contribution to the international civility movement.
Civic renewal begins with leaders willing to lead themselves—and to cultivate in others the character, habits, and vision that healthy communities require.
Hear More from Daniel Fletcher
Discover Daniel Fletcher's reflections on civic leadership, culture and community well-being in short videos from Kalen Academy.
Coming October 29: Skills for Leading in Uncivil Times
Join Lead with Civility Ambassador Anne-Marie Cade for a Complimentary Online Session
How can civic leaders navigate difficult conversations, manage conflict constructively and preserve relationships when disagreement becomes challenging?
Kalen Academy invites civic and community leaders around the world to join Lead with Civility Ambassador Anne-Marie Cade—Australia's civility expert, former Mayor of Glen Eira, award-winning lawyer, nationally accredited mediator, certified conflict coach and specialist in conflict resolution and leadership development.
A contributing guest essayist to Lead with Civility, Cade brings firsthand experience from the council chamber together with professional expertise in mediation, dispute resolution and helping leaders navigate difficult relationships. She is also the author of the forthcoming book Civility.
Tune in to Local Government News Roundup, Australia's #1 Local Government Podcast hosted by the renowned Chris Eddy. Anne-Marie Cade joins Chris to preview this upcoming online session. Duration: 8 minutes (23:30 - 31:05).
In this complimentary, interactive session, she will share practical strategies to help leaders de-escalate conflict, rebuild strained working relationships and navigate disagreement without undermining trust. Participants will also explore how to apply the Roadmap to Renewing Civic Culture in their own councils, organizations and communities.
Thursday, October 29, 2026 | Online
7:00–8:00 p.m. Melbourne/Sydney (AEDT)
Bring Lead with Civility to Your Community
Inspired by these examples?
The Lead with Civility Ambassador initiative provides civic and community leaders with complimentary presentation materials, discussion guides, handouts and the Roadmap to Renewing Civic Culture for use in councils, organizations and community gatherings.
Explore the Lead with Civility Ambassador Initiative.
Hear what civic leaders have to say about Lead with Civility. Watch this 3 minute video.
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