ANZSOG assembles experts to give senior public sector leaders a unique understanding of leadership in the Digital Age

The Digital Age is not just adding new technology to the way governments already do things – it is dramatically and irreversibly changing the way the public sector operates. 

For senior public sector leaders to understand this new environment, and become comfortable with its risks and opportunities, they require a broad understanding of tools, concepts and mindsets that may be unfamiliar. 

ANZSOG’s new Public Leadership in the Digital Age (PLDA) program will bring together a unique group of experts, practitioners and educators to provide an ‘essentials’ program of learning knowledge and practice. 

The PLDA program is being directed by ANZSOG Practice Fellow Martin Stewart-Weeks who says the program invites participants to think about government and public leadership in a fundamentally different way. 

“What it means to be a public leader, including a leader in government and the public sector, has been dramatically and irreversibly changed by the digital age and its impact across society and the economy.  While there are some fundamental values and practices of good public leadership that don’t change, so much else about good public leadership needs to be thought of and practiced quite differently,” he said. 

“The ability to confidently, safely and ethically harness the power and potential of the tools, platforms and culture of the digital age, is an intrinsic part of public sector leadership. 

“The program will invite participants to answer for themselves the question “what is effective public leadership for the digital age?”  

Because leading in the digital age touches on so many areas, ANZSOG has brought together a unique group of experts, practitioners, and educators to help design and deliver PLDA. Joining Mr Stewart-Weeks and participants in Canberra this year to share their expertise and perspectives (either in-person or via video link) will be: 

• Janine O’Flynn, Director, Crawford School of Public Policy 
• Rick Shaw, Deloitte partner; Gamillaroi mathematician and actuary from Northern NSW 
• Andrea Siodmok, Dean, RMIT School of Design; former director, UK Cabinet Office Policy Lab 
• Jordan Hatch, New General Manager at Services Australia 
• Ian Oppermann, Co-founder ServiceGen and Former NSW Chief Data Scientist 
• Marek Rucinski, Deputy ATO Commissioner Data, AI and Analytics 
• Elizabeth Tydd, Australian Information Commissioner; former NSW Information Commissioner 
• Brenton Caffin, Exec Director Economic, Environment and Infrastructure SA Premier’s Dept; CEO States of Change 
• Kate Pounder, Independent consultant, Former CEO Technology Council of Australia 
• Nick Davis, Co-Director, Human Technology Institute 
• Aurelie Jacquet, Professor, RegNet School of Regulation and Global Governance 
• Frances Foster-Thorpe, Exec Director, Shaping Futures and Chef Data Office, NSW Cabinet Office 
• Scott Perugini-Kelly, Director of Strategic Foresight at the NSW Cabinet Office 
• Anthea Roberts, Professor, RegNet School of Regulation and Global Governance 
• Pia Andrews, Chief Data Officer, Federal Department of Home Affairs 
• Pradeep Philip, Lead partner, Deloitte Access Economics, Former Secretary Victoria Health 

The PLDA program will include sessions focused on data and AI, and their importance as tools of the digital age, but will also focus on broader issues around values and principles. The program will integrate a focus on First Nations frameworks and ways of thinking, the principles and practice of adaptive leadership and the concepts of public value. 

Each of the elements in the program will be tied to specific and actionable outcomes including assessing risk and opportunity, developing individual and team skills and developing some effective ‘rules of thumb’ to guide action and decisions as an integral part of their developing leadership practice. 

Mr Stewart-Weeks said that leaders who undertake the program would feel a ‘measurable shift from “fear” to “familiarity” about critical aspects of the public leadership role for a digital age.” 

“They will be able to think their way into the dilemmas and challenges of digital public leadership and feel more confident in their ability to take better decisions.” 

The inaugural Public Leadership in the Digital Age program will be delivered in October. The program will involve a mix of in-person, online and self-directed learning, over the course of 3-4 weeks, with two in-person modules in Canberra on 10-11 October and 31 October – 1 November: This program is aimed at Deputy Secretary, First Assistant Secretary and Executive Director levels, or their equivalents, in the Australian and State/Territory public services and in the public service in Aotearoa New Zealand. Places in the cohort will be limited to ensure a high-quality, interactive experience. More information including how to register is available here.