IPSWICH Mayor Teresa Harding will travel to Los Angeles in February 2027 as part of a major Olympic and business delegation, with councillors unanimously approving the trip during Thursday’s Council Meeting.
Mayor Harding will now join civic and business leaders from across South East Queensland from February 19 to 26 next year, to pursue international investment, trade partnerships and opportunities ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“I am honoured to have the support of my fellow councillors to participate in the Council of Mayors’ (SEQ) 2027 delegation to Los Angeles,” she said.
“The Council of Mayors has a long and successful history of engaging with likeminded cities and regions to learn how they are tackling problems like ours such as rapid growth, transport, waste and climate resilience.
“This has led directly to some incredible outcomes for Ipswich such as the Material Recovery Facility we built with Logan and Redland city councils.”
Councillor Jacob Madsen used the debate to call for greater financial transparency from the Council of Mayors South East Queensland (COMSEQ), arguing ratepayers deserved to know how much of their council’s annual membership contributions were being spent on overseas delegations.
Ipswich City Council currently contributes $169,273 annually, towards COMSEQ, with Mayor Harding’s participation largely funded through the regional organisation’s existing membership arrangements.
Mayor Harding defended the visit, arguing it would provide valuable opportunities to promote Ipswich’s rapidly expanding manufacturing and industrial economy while learning from Los Angeles ahead of its 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
She confirmed at least seven other councils had already agreed to send their mayors, including Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Logan, Redland, Somerset, Sunshine Coast and Noosa.
The Los Angeles visit will be the Mayor’s second international Council of Mayors delegation during her six-and-a-half-year tenure, following a February 2025 visit to Singapore, Manchester and Paris involving 11 South East Queensland mayors.
During Thursday’s meeting, Councillor Andrew Antoniolli also sought assurances about the involvement of Ipswich businesses and whether council staff would accompany the Mayor.
“There will be no other staff. It will just be myself,” Cr Harding said.
The delegation comes as Ipswich continues to push for a greater role in Brisbane 2032.
The motion was carried unanimously to approve the Mayor’s participation.
