An exclusive online leadership series for the public sector leaders of the future working in today’s volatile and uncertain times
ANZSOG’s Future public sector leaders’ series will inspire and educate the public sector leaders of the future, providing hard-working, passionate public sector leaders with an opportunity for self-reflection and professional growth in short, ‘choose-your-own adventure’ sessions designed to minimise the impact on work/life commitments.
Public sector leaders have always needed to think creatively to solve complex problems and deliver public value to their communities. Now, as governments work through the many impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, it is even more important for you as an emerging public sector leader to have the knowledge, creativity and confidence required to provide informed and timely advice, and lead others through change. To do this, you need to understand the broader context of the environment you are working in and be prepared to think strategically about the future.
ANZSOG has purpose-built the Future public sector leaders' series to create an inspiring online experience that will help you strengthen your capacity to tackle problems in an increasingly complex and ambiguous environment.
ANZSOG has assembled a group of leading domestic and international thinkers on public management and leadership, including faculty from ANZSOG’s Executive Master of Public Administration and other leading ANZSOG programs, to provide you with the inspiration and practical tools to succeed through these volatile and uncertain times.
You will have the chance to learn from current and former CEOs and senior public administrators, premiers, politicians and academics, who will help you become the leader you want to be – talented, creative and prepared to innovate.
Short and engaging online masterclasses, designed to fit around your busy workday, will provide a forum to discuss the future challenges of the public service and how they affect your role, your agency and the communities you serve. These include topics such as: leading through disruption, digital transformation, policy implementation, authentic and adaptive leadership, political astuteness, government innovation, systems thinking, and evidence-based policy design.
The Future public sector leaders' series will help you reimagine your role in the public sector, legitimising your position as an inspiring, innovative public servant prepared for the challenges of today with an eye on the problems of tomorrow.
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Frequently asked questions
Future public sector leaders' series participants will be able to immediately apply what they learn to their day-to-day work. By selecting the Gold leadership package, you will learn to:
You will also explore themes relating to:
The series has been tailor-made for emerging public sector leaders working in Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand and will also benefit experienced leaders working through the challenges of the constantly and rapidly changing environment.
The ideal participant will be an emerging public sector leader, with strong leadership aspirations and long-term career plans, who is new to management or has been identified as a future leader within their agency. For example, Tier 3-4 leaders in Aotearoa-New Zealand, SES 1, EL 1-2 in the APS and VPS 5-6 and E03 will find the masterclass series particularly beneficial. It will also suit established leaders seeking inspiration and wanting to upskill and engage in thought-provoking discussion on topics with a contemporary focus.
You will be interested in big picture leadership, strategy and systems thinking, managing change, innovating, working with stakeholders, developing people and improving your emotional intelligence and resilience.
Masterclass numbers are strictly limited to foster an intimate and highly interactive environment, which focuses specifically on challenges of direct relevance to public servants in Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand today and into the future. We encourage registrations from Māori and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Challenge yourself to grapple with new concepts and learn approaches that you will be able to apply right away to problems in your everyday work.
The series has been designed to provide you with the flexibility to choose which masterclasses you attend and to ensure you get the most out of your ANZSOG experience, while minimising the impact on your work/life balance. Select a package, then choose the masterclasses which will help you strengthen the areas of most relevance to you. The masterclasses are limited to two hours, including half an hour of breakout room discussions, to provide the opportunity for an engaging discussion while reducing the impact on your busy workday. In addition to the masterclasses, you will also gain access to exclusive keynote presentations, featuring thought-provoking panel discussions on the issues that matter to you. Find out more in the ‘How much does it cost?’ section below.
When selecting this series, it’s important to remember that ANZSOG is not just any education provider. We are owned by and work for the governments of Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand, and develop our programs in close consultation with our government owners and university partners. Everything we do is aimed at strengthening and enriching public sector leadership, and inspiring and connecting public sector leaders.
The Future public sector leaders' series, like all ANZSOG programs, will put you in the (virtual) room with other colleagues from across agencies and jurisdictions, strengthening your network and broadening your horizons. You can expect to learn as much from other participants as you will from our expert faculty leads, in an engaging online environment.
The Future public sector leaders' series begins in November 2020 and features 12 masterclasses, three keynotes broken into three overarching themes, and a final capstone presentation delivered in March 2021.
Participants can pick any masterclass from any theme to complete a package.
To view the details of the masterclasses and keynotes, please click on the sliders below:
Led by: Professor Glyn Davis AC (CEO of Ramsay Foundation, Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Crawford School of Public Policy, Chair ANZSOG Research Committee and former Vice-Chancellor of Griffith University and University of Melbourne)
With:
Details: One-hour panel discussion
Summary: Pandemics are unpredictable by definition, sudden disruptions to community and economy. The task ahead for government is how to safeguard citizens until – or if – a vaccine becomes available, restart battered economies, and deal with the huge economic and social dislocation inflicted by the virus and the global recession it has triggered. In this opening session of the Future public sector leaders' series, we begin a six month journey thinking about leadership, strategy, structures and priorities for the public sector. We know the world after a pandemic will be irreversibly different, so what skills are required, how should governments operate, and are our existing assumptions about public service values and operating procedures valid for post-COVID world? Join Professor Glyn Davis in conversation with public service commissioners to find out:
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Led by: Laureate Professor Emeritus Cheryl Saunders AO
Details: 90-minute masterclass with an additional 30 minutes for Q&A, zoom breakout rooms and networking
Summary:
A recent resurgence in community trust in government during the COVID-19 crisis bucks a 20-year trend of steadily deteriorating relationships between governments and their citizens. While the crisis has presented significant challenges to governments and citizens alike, it also affords opportunities to reinvigorate Australian federal democracy.
Led by Laureate Professor Cheryl Saunders, and underpinned by work completed by ANZSOG during the Thodey Review, this masterclass will explore how federal, state, territorial (and local) governments can work together to develop policies that are responsive to the circumstances, preferences and needs of their people.
Outcomes:
You will learn to:
Led by:Associate Professor Zeger van der Wal (Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore)
Summary: Public sector leaders are increasingly operating in a VUCA world – characterised by Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. The COVID-19 pandemic is a significant example of a VUCA event which has created many challenges but also immense opportunities for innovation and reform.
Associate Professor Zeger van der Wal – a public leadership expert, specialising in ethics and good governance and the author of The 21st Century Public Manager, will lead this interactive, engaging masterclass which will provide you with strategies to help you turn challenges into opportunities, as well as provide you with tools, classic and recent cases, and best practice examples of leadership in the 21st century.
Discussions will link evidence-based research and scholarly insights with the challenging work of leaders who aspire to create public value.
Outcomes
Led by:Martin Stewart-Weeks and Simon Cooper (digital transformation specialists and authors of Are We There Yet? The Digital Transformation of Government and the Public Service in Australia)
Summary: Digital transformation is changing the way government and the public sector works and the work they do. That’s true around the world and it’s certainly true across Australia. Almost a year now of responding to major crises, from floods to fires and especially to the COVID-19 pandemic has given that process a very substantial boost.
But there are still big questions about what the process of change and innovation, which is often characterised by intense investment and activity, is achieving. The challenge often is to link that activity to a clear sense of purpose and intent that speaks to larger questions about the changing role of government itself. In this interactive masterclass, Martin Stewart-Weeks and Simon Cooper will challenge you to re-think why digital transformation is so important and how it is changing the culture, practice and performance of public sector work, using a range of activities, including small breakout discussions, to help you learn and share ideas, insights and knowledge.
The masterclass will also explore where digital transformation process is heading.
Led by: Professor Anne Tiernan (Professor of Politics and Dean of Engagement for the Griffith Business School, Griffith University)
Summary: Policy implementation remains a stubborn problem for governments around the world. A litany of reviews and inquiries has revealed that too often, there is a gap: between promise and delivery, expectations and impact; and policy intent and practical realities. Policy failure can undermine public confidence and trust, as has been revealed during the COVID-19 crisis. In Australia and New Zealand, the pandemic has highlighted the imperative to draw on information, expertise, skills and resources across government, industry and community networks, and to mobilise them towards a shared purpose. It has also exposed the interdependencies at the heart of the public service and the urgent need to strengthen the nexus between policy, implementation and delivery. Join Professor Anne Tiernan as she draws on concepts, cases and lessons learned through practical experience in different policy settings, to bridge the implementation gap. You will consider implementation and opportunities the pandemic presents to systemically reimagine the work of policy and to build sustained connections to knowledge and insights to inform policy design, at the local service system and place level.
Outcomes: You will learn:
Led by: Professor Paul ‘t Hart (Professor of Public Administration, Utrecht University and Associate Dean, Netherlands School of Public Administration in The Hague)
Summary: Professor Paul ‘t Hart will discuss how the COVID-19 experience is forcing governments to rethink many of their taken for granted conceptions of crisis preparedness, response and recovery, and what this means for crisis leadership capabilities.
This keynote will set the scene for the Leading under pressure: the COVID-19 story masterclasses, drawing on the lessons delivered through ANZSOG’s popular Leading in a crisis series, and considering the capabilities needed by leaders as we move forward into 2021, particularly in the Australian and New Zealand regional context.
Led by: David Bartlett (Former Premier of Tasmania)
Summary: It has been said that just as organisational culture constrains strategy, so too politics constrains good public policy. Over the last two decades we have seen increasing complexity in the authorising environment, including:
These complexities challenge the public sector role of system stewardship and potentially curtail our ability to deliver frank and fearless advice.
In this engaging and highly interactive masterclass, former Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett will explore what impacts these trends will have in the short and medium-term and offer some antidotes and insights to help you overcome them.
Led by: Robin Ryde (Co-Director ANZSOG’s Executive Fellows Program, leadership and organisational development expert)
Summary: How do you lead in uncertain times - when driving adaptation in your team and across your agency is vital? This masterclass will focus on the mindset and capabilities needed to confidently adapt your leadership for the modern operating environment; one that is characterised by unpredictability, ambiguity and rapid change – a vital skill for any effective public manager, but of particular importance as we grapple with the shifting environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Led by: Professor Dana Born (Public Policy lecturer, Center for Public Leadership, Harvard Kennedy School)
Summary: As a public leader, it is important to define your values and your ethical principles and recognise the significant role they play in driving your leadership style, particularly as you experience the pressures of leading during the COVID-19 crisis amongst the usual tension of work-life integration. Harvard University’s Professor Dana Born will lead this engaging masterclass which will encompass deep reflection on your life-story, personal values, work styles and workplace context, to help optimise your unique leadership strengths and identify opportunities for your personal and professional development and influence.
Led by: Professor Yehudi Blacher (Professorial Fellow, The University of Melbourne, former Secretary in the Victorian Public Service) and featuring panel discussions with Professor Margaret Gardner (President and Vice-Chancellor of Monash University), Jim Betts (Secretary of NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment) and Peter Harris AO (CEO of National COVID-19 Commission) and Anna Bligh (CEO, Australian Banking Association - 16 February session only).
Details
Political astuteness is required to navigate issues, relationships and situations with sensitivity to the political context and priorities.
Public servants operate in a dynamic and complex authorising environment, affecting the ways in which they deploy the human and financial resources which they have available to achieve policy outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic has made this environment more complex than ever.
Navigating this unique context requires political astuteness – the application of skills and capabilities often involving numerous and sometimes competing interests in order to achieve the desired outcome.
This masterclass led by Professor Yehudi Blacher (former Secretary in the Victorian Public Service 2002-11) and featuring current and former public sector and private sector leaders, focuses on the intersection between politics and public management/administration and will provide an opportunity to hear from current and former senior public servants and senior leaders in the private sector who are currently or have previously been involved in managing crises and recovery, and undertaking major system reforms.
You will learn:
Led by: Beth Noveck (Director, The Governance Lab)/ Professor Rod Glover (Monash Sustainable Development Institute)
Summary
Summary: While Australia’s public sector is generally well-functioning, it faces a “creeping crisis” of effectiveness and legitimacy. Australian public servants are eager to join the world’s most informed effective public administrations and adopt new ways of developing policy and services. In this keynote, Professor Noveck and Professor Glover will explore how we must change the way people in government work to meet the challenges facing Australia today.
This keynote will build on and explore key findings from Professor Noveck’s and Professor Glover’s research, Today’s Problems, Yesterday’s Toolkit, and provide an overview of the methods, tools and frameworks that underpin the public sector entrepreneurship and innovation mindset that is critical to effect public sector-problem solving.
Led by: Dr Nick Fleming (Director, Innergise)
Summary: This interactive masterclass uses real-world examples from the public and private sectors to provide insights into the crucial role of systems thinking in tackling real-world public problems and setting up agencies, their programs and leaders for success. Specifically, it will cover:
Dr Fleming will reveal some of the big traps and blindspots contributing to persistence of public problems which will be of particular benefit to those responsible for public policy formulation and implementation.
Led by: Dr Jo Cribb (former Chief Executive, NZ Ministry for Women and former Deputy Children's Commissioner and leader of the Commissioner's Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty)
Summary: As public sector leaders, we are motivated to make a positive impact for those we serve. But how do we learn what will be most effective when the citizens and communities we serve are increasingly diverse? Traditional approaches to consultation where public leaders develop options and test their thinking with those who will be the recipients are increasingly being questioned, as citizens seek meaningful engagement and involvement in decision making. Dr Jo Cribb, one of the youngest Chief Executives ever appointed in the New Zealand Public Service and former Chief Executive of the Ministry for Women, will share her experience of using co-design to create social impact, in an engaging session exploring the potential applications for co-design methodologies in policy and service design.
Led by: Dr Zina O’Leary (Adjunct senior lecturer at UNSW and ANZSOG Senior Fellow)
Summary: In the information age, there is no shortage of data readily available to policy makers. Finding and assessing evidence is critical to developing evidence-informed policy, and policy makers must become highly adept at gaining knowledge of problems from a range of data and analytical approaches. In addition, a critical component of the evidence gathering process is evaluating existing policies and programs and utilising evaluative findings to create a process of continuous improvement.
While governments regularly acknowledge the usefulness of data during the development of policy and programs, there is crucial need to improve capabilities within government to effectively use and analyse data and generate the insights needed to develop quality evidence-informed policy. In this masterclass, Dr Zina O’Leary will draw on social and health policy scenarios to explore the ways in which data can be analysed and interpreted in order to develop insights and generate evidence for the development and evaluation of quality policy.
Led by: Maria Katsonis (Public Policy Fellow, The University of Melbourne, former senior public servant, Victorian Public Service), Dr Subho Banerjee (Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Research and Advisory, ANZSOG and former Deputy Secretary, Australian Public Service).
Summary: You have probably heard the phrase 'evidence-based policy' bandied about the office before but what does it actually mean in practice? And when it comes to crafting good public policy underpinned by robust evidence, howdo policymakers assemble an evidence base while under the pressure of looming deadlines? This masterclass, led by two former senior public servants, Dr Subho Banerjee (head of ANZSOG's research and advisory work)and Maria Katsonis (curator of ANZSOG's research translation series, The Bridge), will help you answer these questions while analysing different types and sources of evidence including qualitative, quantitative and practice-based. The session will also focus on how you can better use your judgement when utilising evidence to support decision-making, including how to maximise its value and impact.
Led by: Professor Glyn Davis AC (CEO of Ramsay Foundation, Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Crawford School of Public Policy, Chair ANZSOG Research Committee and former Vice-Chancellor of Griffith University and University of Melbourne). Guest speakers TBC
The Future public sector leaders' series has been designed to build the skills that every 21st-century public sector leader needs but we understand that it might not be possible to commit to too much time away from your desk and other personal commitments.
We’ve designed our masterclasses to be up to two hours in an exclusive online environment with an expert in public management and a group of like-minded public sector leaders from across Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand.
The keynotes and capstone will be one-hour panel discussions, featuring experts in public sector management exploring the topics of importance to you.
To provide you with the choice you need, we’ve designed four packages:
Cost: $AU 3295 incl. GST ($2995 excl.)
What you get: 12 x masterclasses, 3 x keynotes and 1 x capstone
The Gold leadership package is no longer available. Please see available packages below.
Cost: $AU 2595 incl. GST ($2359 excl.)
What you get: 7 x masterclasses, 3 x keynotes and 1 x capstone
Cost: $AU 1795 incl. GST ($1632 excl.)
What you get: 3 x masterclasses, 3 x keynotes and 1 x capstone
Cost: $AU 695 incl. GST ($632 excl.)
What you get: 1 x masterclass
Contact us if you are seeking help with a group booking. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Apply for the 15% ANZSOG alumni discount. Every person that completes ANZSOG’s Executive Master of Public Administration, Executive Fellows Program, Towards Strategic Leadership or an international program becomes part of our alumni. Find out more about our alumni community.
Registration is simple. Just follow the five steps below.
Registrants will receive a confirmation email upon finalising their registration.
Registrants will receive a Zoom link 24 hours before the masterclass or keynote.
Find out more about our Cancellation policy here.
The Future public sector leaders' series will be delivered via Zoom providing a platform for inspiring delivery, engaging breakout rooms and live polling.
Participants are encouraged to utilise a personal device if Zoom is unable to be accessed via work servers.
Now more than ever communities are turning to government for advice and leadership, and ongoing investment in public sector leadership is vital. Public sector leaders have been thrust into the spotlight, working tirelessly to deal with a fast-changing global crisis and making difficult decisions. ANZSOG is owned by, and works for, the Commonwealth, state and territory governments of Australia and the central government of Aotearoa-New Zealand. The Future public sector leaders' series has been specifically designed to strengthen your current and future leaders’ abilities to make decisions under pressure, build confidence in their leadership style and provide them with the practical tools they need to succeed. The series has purposefully been limited to short and sharp delivery options to ensure the impact on day-to-day operations is minimised. See the section below if you would like more information.
Owned by and working for the governments of Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand, ANZSOG creates and delivers education programs tailored to meet the needs of public sector leaders who are currently facing distinct challenges. Our programs are designed with significant government input, for government, and led by renowned academics and respected practitioners. For more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the Future public sector leaders’ series Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
