Fraser Coast crowned Qld Management Challenge Champions

Fraser Coast Regional Council has claimed victory in the 2025 Queensland Australasian Management Challenge, outperforming 12 teams in a series of leadership and problem-solving tasks.

CEO Ken Diehm said the Australasian Management Challenge is regarded as the premier professional development program for local government professionals across Australia and New Zealand.

“It’s an intensive and rewarding experience that helps build the next generation of leaders by testing real-world skills like communication, critical thinking and collaboration in a dynamic, team-based environment,” he said.

Fraser Coast’s team, ‘Fast and Fraser’, brought together six staff from across different departments, including Community and Development, Economic Development, Water and Waste Services, Governance, Infrastructure Services and Planning.

The team worked together under pressure to tackle a suite of complex tasks that reflected the day-to-day realities of local government.

“This is a massive achievement as the Challenge has been running for more than 30 years and attracts some of the brightest minds in local government,” Mr Diehm said.

“Our team achieved an outstanding overall score of 95%, which is a true testament to the depth of talent and teamwork we have at Fraser Coast Regional Council.”

Participant Jarrod Delahunty said the experience was both challenging and incredibly rewarding.

“It pushed us out of our comfort zones and gave us a chance to grow professionally while having a lot of fun,” he said.

“The scenarios were intense, but they gave me the chance to collaborate with other departments and gain a deeper understanding of how we all contribute to delivering great outcomes for our community.”

As Queensland winners, the Fraser Coast team will now represent the state at the Australasian finals in Perth in August 2025, competing against top-performing teams from across Australia and New Zealand.

“This result reflects our commitment to professional development and ultimately benefits our community by helping us deliver smarter, more effective local services,” Mr Diehm said.