Strategic Leadership in the Public Sector
Overview
Move beyond delivery. Operate at system level.
Strategic Leadership in the Public Sector (SLPS) is a practical, capstone-led accelerator for established public sector leaders moving from operational delivery into strategic, system-level leadership.
Over 10 weeks, you will work on a live challenge from your own context while developing the judgement, influence and strategic capability needed to shape direction, navigate complexity and drive progress across systems. From week one, you will apply each module to a live workplace challenge from your own agency, progressively building a Strategic Intervention Plan grounded in your organisation's priorities.
You will participate in weekly live online sessions, complete self-paced learning between workshops and apply new ideas directly to a live workplace challenge.
You'll test your thinking with peers, receive feedback from faculty and progressively develop a ready-to-use plan. By the end of the program, you'll have a practical output that demonstrates your strategic judgement and delivers immediate value to your organisation.
The program builds capability to:
Diagnose complexity across systems, stakeholders, pressures and accountabilities.
Define strategic problems and identify priorities when demands are competing and information is incomplete.
Make and communicate defensible decisions under pressure.
Influence and mobilise action across teams, stakeholders and systems without relying on formal authority.
Apply learning directly to a live workplace challenge through a Strategic Intervention Plan.
Progress complex work with greater confidence, credibility and strategic judgement.
Key People
Faculty & Presenters
Dr Chris Sarra
Dr Chris Sarra is a Gurang Gurang / Taribelang Bunda man and is the Stronger Smarter Institute’s founder and CEO. His career spans more than 30 years in positive education reform for Indigenous students based on the Stronger Smarter Philosophy.
Who It's For
Experienced, accountable, strategic.
Strategic Leadership in the Public Sector is designed primarily for EL2 (or equivalent) leaders, and for high‑performing EL1 (or equivalent) leaders preparing to step into EL2‑level (or equivalent) responsibilities.
Leaders are typically moving beyond operational delivery and are required to influence across portfolios, navigate ambiguity and risk, and contribute to system‑level outcomes without relying on formal authority.
Move beyond delivery; position yourself for system‑level leadership.
What you will gain:
Map systems, stakeholders and competing pressures to identify what is driving outcomes.
Assess trade-offs, exercise sound judgement and communicate decisions confidently in complex, uncertain environments.
Influence across teams, agencies and stakeholders to drive alignment without formal authority.
Apply every module to a live workplace challenge, culminating in an executive-ready Strategic Intervention Plan.
Strengthen the judgement, confidence and strategic perspective needed to lead complex, high-stakes work.
Program highlights
Program Structure
Where learning turns into leadership.
Leading with authority in the public sector
Leaders build the capability to exercise calm, credible authority in high‑stakes environments while fostering psychological safety. The program strengthens presence and judgement, enabling leaders to shape relational environments and support accountability across systems where authority is shared.
Strategic judgement in complex, uncertain environments
Leaders develop the ability to diagnose systemic patterns, interpret emerging signals and make ethical, public‑value‑aligned decisions. They apply pro‑social governance principles – including practical AI‑risk guardrails – to strengthen confidence and capability in navigating uncertainty, risk and technological disruption.
Leading across systems and boundaries
Leaders learn to move work forward across organisational, jurisdictional and cultural boundaries. They build the capability to align actors with differing priorities and approaches to risk, and develop trust‑based partnerships – including with First Nations and Māori communities – to mobilise public value without relying on formal authority.
Session times and key dates
Tuesday, 6 October, 10:00am–12:00pm AEDT
Tuesday, 13 October, 10:00am–12:00pm AEDT
Tuesday, 20 October, 10:00am–12:00pm AEDT
Tuesday, 27 October, 10:00am–12:00pm AEDT
Wednesday, 4 November, 10:00am–12:00pm AEDT
Tuesday, 10 November, 10:00am–12:00pm AEDT
Tuesday, 17 November, 10:00am–12:00pm AEDT
Tuesday, 24 November, 10:00am–12:00pm AEDT
Tuesday, 1 December, 10:00am–12:00pm AEDT
Tuesday, 8 December, 10:00am–12:00pm AEDT
Learning Approach
Shaping public leaders. Strengthening public systems.
Decision practice with peers
Learners engage in structured peer learning focused on live agency challenges. Through facilitated decision practice, peers test assumptions, compare approaches and sharpen system‑level judgement in environments where authority is distributed and trade‑offs are real.
Practitioner‑led insight
Learners learn directly from former Deputy Secretaries and senior system leaders who have navigated complex reforms under political and public scrutiny. These insights translate real‑world strategic challenges into practical leadership approaches aligned to system‑level expectations.
Coaching‑style development
Coaching‑style touchpoints strengthen the strategic identity, presence and emotional intelligence required for executive‑level leadership. Learners build self‑awareness and the ability to match their leadership stance and judgement to the demands of complex, contested settings.
Applied system learning
Learners apply frameworks to their organisational and system context through AI governance sessions that focus on pro‑social risk guardrails. Learning is grounded in contemporary practice, enabling learners to convert insight into actionable interventions for their agencies.
How to Apply
Ready to join the program?
Your leadership journey starts with one step.
If you’re interested in joining the 2026 program, apply now.
Prefer to start with a conversation?
Talk directly with our Learner Services team about the Strategic Leadership in the Public Sector Program experience, learning outcomes, and how it fits your career or organisational needs.