High achievers from ANZSOG’s 2015 and 2016 Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) cohorts have been recognised at a ceremony in Sydney.
The award ceremony, held in conjunction with the 2018 Paterson Oration, given by ANZSOG Board Chair and NZ State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes, reunited EMPA alumni from across Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Hughes’s oration on the importance of creating and maintaining a “spirit of service” in the public sector captured the mood of prize winners, who praised the EMPA for its focus on increasing their ability to deliver for their communities.
The 2016 Dean’s Award winner, Shaun Whitmarsh, from WA’s Department of Finance, spoke on behalf of the group and said the EMPA program had given him skills and confidence, turning him into a ‘lean, mean public sector fighting machine’.
The 2015 Winner, Jane Gibbs, from the NSW office of Environment and Heritage, spoke about the EMPA program’s unique shared experience which had challenged participants to think more broadly and creatively about their work. She asked whether public services were ready for this ‘emboldened army with their finely-honed public sector craft skills’.
Full list of winners:
2016 EMPA
Dean’s Award: Shaun Whitmarsh, WA Department of Finance.
Delivering Public Value: Geraldine Goswell, VIC, Department of Education and Training.
Governing in a Market Economy: Shaun Whitmarsh.
Designing Public Policy and Programs Team Award: Paula Adams, VIC, Department of Justice and Regulation; Matt Clarke, FED, Department of Human Services; Lisa Hind, FED, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science; Andrew MacGregor, VIC, Department of Health and Human Services; Megan McCoy, Ministry of Social Development.
Decision-Making Under Uncertainty: Heather Moore, NSW, Department of Justice.
Governing by the Rules: Scott Bloodworth, FED, Department of Social Services.
Leading Public Sector Change: Shaun Whitmarsh.
Managing Public Sector Organisations: Beth Delaney, FED, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Work-Based Project: Peter Banson, FED, Department of the House of Representatives, Shane Dexter, NT, Department of the Chief Minister; Isabel King, VIC, Department of Education and Training; Matt McMahon, FED, Department of Home Affairs; Gabriel Solorzano, VIC, Department of Education and Training; Giorgina Strangio, FED, Department of the Environment and Energy.
2015 EMPA
Dean’s Award: Jane Gibbs, NSW, Office for Environment and Heritage.
Delivering Public Value: Gene Reardon, VIC, Department of Education and Training.
Governing in a Market Economy: Luke Auton, FED, Department of Defence; Jonathan Norton, VIC, Forensicare.
Designing Public Policy and Programs Team Award: Natalie D’Morias, NSW, Transport for NSW; Tony Houhlias, NSW, Sydney Olympic Park Authority; Grant Pollard, NZ, Ministry of Health; Jocelyn Taylor, FED, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science; Lisa Hema, VIC, Department of Health and Human Services.
Decision-Making Under Uncertainty: Jeremy Wood, NZ Police; Jane Gibbs.
Governing by the Rules: Laura Andrew, VIC, Department of Health and Human Services.
Leading Public Sector Change: Melissa Trapani, VIC, Melbourne Metro Rail Authority.
Managing Public Sector Organisations: Stephanie Vickers, NSW, Department of Industry.
Work-Based Project: Sue Haertsch, NSW, Senior Manager Urban Planning Transport; Nathan Edwards, Qld, Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning; Tom Kearney, NSW, Department of Finance, Services and Innovation; Darren Youngs, Anglicare; Vanessa Coli, VIC, Department of Health and Human Services, Will Kerr, NSW, Roads and Maritime Services, NSW.