Overview
Move beyond delivery. Operate at system level.
Strategic Leadership in the Public Sector supports leaders progressing from operational leadership into roles that demand system‑level thinking, influence and judgement in politically exposed environments. The program builds capability to:
Progress system‑level work where agency priorities, pressures and accountabilities vary
Influence outcomes without formal authority
Make informed, leadership‑level decisions on AI governance and systemic risk
Navigate political friction, ambiguity and competing priorities with confidence
During the program, you will:
Develop a strategic intervention plan (Capstone) addressing a live agency challenge
Apply pro‑social, ethical and risk‑aware leadership principles to real AI and technology decisions
Draw practical insight from senior practitioners who have led complex public sector reforms
Who It's For
Experienced, accountable, strategic.
Strategic Leadership in the Public Sector is designed primarily for EL2 leaders, and for high‑performing EL1s preparing to step into EL2‑level 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.
You will gain:
Practical frameworks for operating and navigating risks in complex environments
Coaching-style support to build strategic skills and executive presence
Strategies for coalition building and influencing without authority
A Capstone intervention for a current workplace challenge you’re facing.
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.
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, please submit an expression of interest.
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.