Executive Master of Public Administration
Developing leaders who will champion lasting change.
The Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) is a rigorous, accredited two-year postgraduate degree for experienced public sector leaders preparing for greater executive responsibility. Through applied, cross-jurisdictional learning grounded in the realities of government, students strengthen the judgement, perspective and relationships needed to navigate complexity and deliver lasting public value.
Recognised and accredited. Gain an AQF and NZQF accredited qualification delivered in partnership with leading universities.
Designed for public leadership. Develop strategic capability for the distinctive realities of government and Westminster systems.
Grounded in real practice. Learn through live cases, place-based immersions, system challenges and a capstone Work-Based Project.
Connected across jurisdictions. Build trusted relationships with experienced public leaders across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
For organisations, the EMPA is a substantive investment in senior leadership capability. Throughout the program, students progressively bring stronger judgement, a whole-of-government perspective and insights from cross-jurisdictional learning to their professional practice.
2027 Fee Subsidy
In recognition of the fiscal pressures facing the public sector, a 10% subsidy is available for students commencing the EMPA in 2027.
Contact us to discuss eligibility and participation.
Who It's For
For experienced public leaders preparing for greater executive responsibility.
The EMPA is designed for experienced public sector professionals at EL2+ level (or equivalent) with substantial responsibility for people, policy, programs, services or organisational outcomes, who are preparing to lead at a broader organisational or system level.
The EMPA may be particularly relevant for:
Branch Managers, Directors, Senior Directors and equivalent senior leaders
Assistant Secretaries and equivalent senior executives
senior policy, program, regulatory, service delivery and enabling-function leaders
experienced public sector professionals preparing for broader organisational or system-level responsibility
For organisations, the EMPA supports leadership pipelines by developing experienced leaders who are ready for broader executive responsibility, able to exercise judgement in complex environments and work effectively across organisational and jurisdictional boundaries.
Learning Outcomes
Develop the capability to lead complex public systems with impact.
The EMPA is designed to build the insight, judgement and confidence required to lead in increasingly complex public environments. Through a combination of academic rigour, real-world application and cross-jurisdictional learning, students develop the capability to influence systems, navigate complexity and deliver meaningful public value.
By completing the EMPA, students will be able to:
Apply learning to real organisational challenges
Translate theory into practice through applied learning and the capstone Work-Based Project. Students work with complex public sector issues, strengthening their ability to lead change and contribute practical insights in real-world settings.
Exercise sophisticated judgement under uncertainty
Strengthen the ability to evaluate evidence, balance competing priorities and make defensible decisions in environments characterised by ambiguity, political complexity and resource constraints. Students develop the judgement expected of senior public sector leaders responsible for significant decisions and organisational outcomes.
Lead strategically at a system level
Move beyond managing teams to shaping organisations, influencing systems and driving long-term public value. Students build the strategic perspective, political astuteness and leadership capability required to navigate complex authorising environments and lead across institutional boundaries.
Build influence across boundaries
Develop the capability to build and sustain coalitions across agencies, jurisdictions, sectors and communities. Learn how to engage with diverse stakeholders, negotiate competing interests and create the conditions for collaboration on complex public challenges.
Deliver public value through evidence-informed leadership
Build a deeper understanding of how governments create value for communities, and strengthen the ability to connect policy, governance, implementation and outcomes. Students learn to apply evidence, research and public administration frameworks to improve decision-making and organisational performance.
Lead with cultural intelligence and broader perspectives
Develop knowledge of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori perspectives, and strengthen the ability to lead in culturally diverse environments. Through place-based learning and engagement with different contexts, students broaden their understanding of leadership, relationships and public service responsibility.
Build a trusted network of senior public leaders
Learn alongside experienced peers from across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, creating opportunities to challenge assumptions, share insights and develop professional relationships that extend well beyond the program. These networks become an ongoing source of support, collaboration and learning throughout students' careers.
Learning Experience
Learning designed for balance, focus and connection.
The EMPA combines academic rigour with practical application, creating a learning experience that helps experienced public leaders build capability while continuing to work in demanding roles. Through a blend of online learning, immersive residentials, applied projects and peer collaboration, students strengthen their ability to lead complex public systems and deliver public value.
Flexible online and immersive face-to-face learning
The EMPA combines the flexibility of online study with immersive residential intensives delivered across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. This blended format allows students to balance professional responsibilities with study while benefiting from meaningful face-to-face engagement with peers, faculty and practitioners.
Students benefit from:
online learning designed to fit around demanding professional schedules
residential modules that deepen learning through immersive experiences
a two-year part-time structure that supports sustained capability development
opportunities to engage with diverse jurisdictions and public sector contexts
only four days or equivalent of contact time per subject, making it easier to balance study with professional commitments
Turning theory into practice for real outcomes
Learning is grounded in the realities of public administration. Students apply concepts, frameworks and evidence to contemporary public sector challenges, helping them connect theory with judgement, implementation and delivery in practice.
Students will:
apply learning to real public sector challenges and organisational priorities
work through practical cases and collaborative problem-solving activities
connect theory with implementation and delivery challenges
complete a Work-Based Project focused on a significant real-world public sector challenge
Learning alongside diverse regional public leaders
The EMPA brings together experienced leaders from across jurisdictions, agencies and sectors throughout Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The diversity of perspectives creates a rich learning environment that challenges assumptions and broadens understanding of public leadership.
Students will:
learn alongside senior peers facing similar leadership challenges
gain exposure to different policy, regulatory and service delivery contexts
build trusted relationships across agencies, jurisdictions and sectors
develop a professional network that extends beyond graduation
Academics and practitioners guiding effective leadership
The EMPA is delivered by leading academics and senior practitioners who combine research excellence with extensive public sector experience. This ensures students benefit from both contemporary thinking and practical insights that can be applied immediately.
Students will:
engage with internationally recognised experts in public administration
learn from senior practitioners with lived leadership experience
explore evidence-based approaches to public sector leadership
build capability through a combination of theory, reflection and practice
Informed by trans-Tasman realities and perspectives
The EMPA reflects the diversity of Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, incorporating First Nations and Māori perspectives alongside global best practice. This approach helps students develop culturally informed leadership capability and a broader understanding of contemporary public sector challenges.
Students will:
explore First Nations and Māori perspectives throughout the program
engage with place-based learning and regional contexts
strengthen cultural capability and systems understanding
develop leadership approaches that are relevant to contemporary public governance
Our Learning Promise
Connecting participants, enabling trust, and prioritising practice.
ANZSOG learning is designed for the realities of public service. Every program brings together evidence, expertise and experience to help participants think differently, connect with others and put learning to practice.
Our Learning Promise is built around four interconnected elements: Trust, Connection, Practice and Impact. Together, they shape a learning journey that begins with open dialogue, grows through shared insight and leads to action in each participant's context.
Learning Approach
Grounded in expertise, built for performance.
Course Subjects
Key People
Faculty & Presenters.
Associate Professor Kim Moloney
Associate Professor Kim Moloney is ANZSOG’s Academic Director of Programs, leading the design and delivery of learning that supports public sector leaders across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
She brings extensive international experience, having held senior academic roles in Australia, the United States and South Korea, and most recently at Hamad Bin Khalifa University. There, she led its Master of Public Policy through European and American accreditation, working closely with students, faculty, employers and alumni.
An internationally recognised scholar, her work sits at the intersection of public administration, comparative administration, and social equity, with a focus on emerging policy challenges.
A former ANZSOG Academic Fellow, she brings a strong connection to ANZSOG’s mission and community.
She is co-editor of the Australian Journal of Public Administration and holds associate editor roles across leading journals in the field. Her publications include Who Matters at the World Bank (Oxford University Press, 2022) and co-edited volumes with Oxford and Routledge.
Success Stories
What participants say.
The EMPA program helped to cement my future in the public service by giving me the tools and frameworks to understand how I might navigate the public service and deliver with more impact.Hoani LambertDeputy Secretary for Partnerships and Commissions, Department of Internal Affairs / Te Tari Taiwhenua
For Organisations
Develop confident, capable and decisive leaders for the future.
The EMPA provides agencies with a rigorous, accredited pathway for developing experienced leaders who can navigate complexity, influence systems and deliver public value. Designed specifically for the realities of government, the program strengthens strategic judgement, builds system-wide perspective and develops leaders who are equipped to respond to increasingly complex policy, service delivery and organisational challenges.
Throughout the program, students apply learning directly to contemporary public sector issues, ensuring capability development translates into meaningful organisational outcomes.
Make defensible decisions under uncertainty
Critically assess evidence, balance competing priorities and exercise sound judgement in politically complex and resource-constrained environments.
Lead beyond organisational boundaries
Build and sustain productive relationships across agencies, jurisdictions, sectors and communities to address challenges that no single organisation can solve alone.
Lead at a system level
Understand how policies, institutions, stakeholders and communities interact, enabling them to shape systems, influence outcomes and drive improvement beyond their immediate area of responsibility.
Apply learning to real organisational challenges
Use the Work-Based Project and subject learning to examine a significant real-world public sector challenge, generating practical insights that can strengthen judgement, implementation and organisational learning.
Strengthen organisational capability and succession planning
Develop the confidence, credibility and leadership capability required for greater executive responsibility, helping organisations build stronger leadership pipelines and prepare for future workforce needs.
Deliver public value with integrity
Apply evidence-informed practice, ethical judgement and a deep understanding of public sector governance to improve outcomes for communities and strengthen trust in public institutions.
A return on leadership investment
For agencies investing in leadership development, the EMPA develops leaders who can think strategically, work across boundaries, navigate uncertainty and contribute to stronger organisational performance. Through a combination of academic rigour, practical application and cross-jurisdictional learning, students return to their organisations better equipped to lead change, influence systems and deliver lasting public value.
In response to the intense fiscal pressures currently facing the public sector, we’re pleased to be providing a 10% subsidy for all commencing students enrolling in the 2027 EMPA.
This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to strengthening public sector capability across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand and will form part of our upcoming celebrations marking 25 years of ANZSOG.
To discuss participation and secure this subsidised rate, we encourage you to contact us early on 1300 ANZSOG (1300 269 764) or engage@anzsog.edu.au.
The only executive-level public administration degree designed specifically for public sector leaders across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
70+ graduates have progressed to Secretary or CEO-equivalent roles
Learn alongside senior public leaders from across jurisdictions and systems
Delivered through ANZSOG's government-owned, university-partnered model
How to Apply
Everything you need to know.
Ideal for experienced senior public servants at EL2+ level (or equivalent), with at least five years of relevant experience.
What are the entry requirements for the EMPA?
The EMPA is designed for established public sector leaders seeking to strengthen their strategic judgement, engage with academic and public sector rigour, and develop the systems leadership required to address complex public sector challenges. Participants are typically at EL2 level or higher in Australia, or in comparable senior roles in Aotearoa New Zealand or other jurisdictions.
Applicants are generally expected to demonstrate:
at least five years of relevant work experience
leadership potential and the capacity to contribute at a senior executive level
a strong commitment to professional development and public service.
Applicants must also meet the admission requirements of their chosen conferring university. Alternative entry pathways may be available for applicants who do not hold an undergraduate degree.
Can I apply if I do not have an undergraduate degree?
Yes. Applicants without an undergraduate degree may still be eligible through an approved university pathway.
For Australian applicants, Monash University offers a pathway through the Graduate Certificate in Public Policy. Students complete three university electives and the EMPA foundation subject, Delivering Public Value. These subjects meet the requirements of the Graduate Certificate and provide a pathway into the EMPA. Students who continue into the EMPA can complete both qualifications without taking additional subjects.
For applicants in Aotearoa New Zealand, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington may consider applicants without an undergraduate degree. Admission is based on the university's assessment of professional experience and other eligibility requirements.
Admission is not automatic. ANZSOG can provide guidance on the available pathway options and admission requirements.
Can I apply if I am not an Australian or New Zealand citizen?
Yes, provided you meet the eligibility and admission requirements of the EMPA and your chosen conferring university.
Applicants who are not Australian or New Zealand citizens must provide evidence of Permanent Residency as part of their application. Additional admission requirements may apply depending on individual circumstances and university requirements.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact ANZSOG before applying to discuss their eligibility and documentation requirements.
How does the application and admission process work?
Applications are submitted by prospective applicants through the ANZSOG website. As part of the application process, applicants nominate their preferred conferring university and provide supporting documentation, which may include:
Identity documentation (passport or birth certificate)
Academic transcripts
Curriculum vitae
Referee documentation
Sponsorship documentation
Residency documentation where required.
ANZSOG assesses applications and recommends suitable candidates for admission. Recommended applicants are then considered by their nominated university, which makes the final admission decision.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact ANZSOG before applying to discuss eligibility, university options and agency sponsorship requirements. ANZSOG can also provide guidance and resources to help prospective applicants build a sponsorship case, secure organisational support and understand the documentation required for their intake.