Abu Dhabi Department of Municipal Affairs senior executive team to visit Australia

The briefings and discussions will familiarize DMA senior executives with the roles and functions of Australian government departments and municipal entities while providing an opportunity for the Undersecretary and DMA executives to establish a close working relationship with their Queensland counterparts.

Final arrangements for a meeting with the Queensland Premier, Anna Maria Bligh is being coordinated for the delegation. Some additional tour highlights with top Queensland government officials include: meeting and luncheon with Lord Mayor Cr Campbell Newman of Brisbane, Ms. Jude Munro, CEO of Brisbane City Council, meeting with Mayor Ron Clarke MBE of Gold Coast, along with an afternoon visit and tour to Bond University School of Sustainable Development.

This will be the most significant senior executive municipal delegation to visit Australia. The trip will span over six days and run from Brisbane to the national capital of Canberra. The tour will provide a very good opportunity for the senior team to be briefed on relevant government processes and programs in these jurisdictions.

The Department of Municipal Affairs, which was established in May 2007 to replace the Department of Municipalities and Agriculture, is the focal point of all municipal planning activities, in addition to overseeing public works projects in the Emirate. The Queensland Government's functional organization of its municipal system was 'benchmarked highly' and contributed to the organizational structure of the DMA along with its' clear regulatory mandates.

Commenting at the need to continue to actively participate in such tours H.E. Eng. Ahmed Shareef, Undersecretary of the Department of Municipal Affairs, said:

"it is important to know that the integrated and responsive government system that is evolving in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, came by the extensive review of such government structures like Australia's and others. We are committed to observing what is identified globally as good governance and applying those same applicable principles or structures into the fabric of our own developing system."

He added, "The Municipality is committed to continued 'active learnings' and collaboration with similar foreign entities which is based on the direct focus with governance in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and its' concerted effort to ensure our government organizations communicate well and are responsive to the needs of our population now and into the future."