Data, Judgement and Public Value
Overview
Reframing data to strengthen leadership practice.
This five-part masterclass series examines how data shapes – and is shaped by – public institutions, communities, and systems of accountability. Rather than treating “data” as a neutral or universal concept, the series invites participants to question assumptions, explore alternative framings (such as evidence, knowledge, and story), and understand the cultural, ethical and governance considerations that underpin public value in practice.
Participants will encounter perspectives spanning data ethics, evidence-informed policymaking, First Nations data sovereignty, organisational capability, and the relational nature of trust in public data use.
What Participants Say
Perspectives from public leaders across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Participants share how engaging with diverse leadership lenses has shaped their thinking, judgement and approach to leadership.
The masterclass has helped me identify gaps in my organisation, and given me additional scaffolding and information to help me improve how I work.2025 Public Leadership MasterclassParticipant
Key People
Faculty & Presenters
Dr Emma Blomkamp
Dr Emma Blomkamp is an internationally respected expert in co-design and public sector innovation, with a track record of delivering engaging and impactful capability building programs. Emma led several award-winning strategic design and social innovation projects with public purpose organisations in Australia and New Zealand before launching her own business to support others to build their capabilities.
Professor Brian Head FASSA
Professor Brian Head is a leading authority on public policy and governance, with extensive experience working across government, universities and the non-government sector. He is currently the President of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the UNESCO social sciences program and is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.
Professor Tahu Kukutai, PhD FRSNZ
Tahu Kukutai is Professor of Demography at Te Ngira Institute for Population Research and Co-Director of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Centre of Research Excellence. Tahu specialises in Māori and Indigenous demography and data sovereignty and has received a number of awards for her contribution to these fields.
Dr Stefaan Verhulst PHD
Dr. Stefaan G. Verhulst is Co-Founder of the Governance Laboratory (The GovLab), an action research center focused on transforming decision making using advances in science and technology - including data and collective intelligence. He is also the Co-Founder and Principal Scientific Advisor of The DataTank, based in Brussels, a do-and-think tank that focuses on how to re-use data differently to serve the common good.
Martin Stewart-Weeks
A strategic thinker, organisational consultant, policy analyst, facilitator and writer, Martin’s work draws on over 35 years’ experience spanning government, the “for purpose” or social sector and the corporate sector.
As well as his own advisory and research work, Martin has also been a senior advisor to Deloitte’s public sector team in Australia and with The Impact Assembly as part of PwC’s social impact practice. He is an ANZSOG Practice Fellow for Digital Government Strategy and Leadership and the founder and principal of Public Purpose Pty Ltd, working at the intersection of public policy, strategy, leadership and technology. He has led the development of new programs exploring the public leadership implications of digital, data and AI, including the role of ethics and ethical frameworks for public leaders.
Who It's For
Leaders shaping capability across the public sector.
For mid-senior managers working with data, evidence, analytics, policy, digital or service reform.
Expanding perspective to support better leadership decisions.
This series supports public servants to step back from day-to-day pressures and consider how different leadership lenses shape decision-making, relationships and outcomes in the public sector.
Learn from diverse thinkers and practitioners
Reflect on leadership practice in complex systems
Bring new perspective to your role and context
Program highlights
Program Structure
Learning designed for reflection, connection and perspective.
A five-part masterclass series
The program is delivered as a series of five online masterclasses, each exploring leadership through a distinct lens.
Expert-led sessions with diverse voices
Each session features thought leaders, practitioners and scholars who bring different perspectives on leadership in public sector contexts.
Interactive discussion and reflection
Sessions are designed to encourage dialogue, peer exchange and critical reflection on leadership practice.
Flexible access for busy professionals
Live participation is complemented by access to session recordings, supporting reflection and continued learning beyond each session.
Learning Approach
Smart. Grounded. Ready.
Learning that invites reflection
The series creates space for participants to pause, reflect and consider how different perspectives shape their leadership practice.
Shared insight through dialogue
Learning is shaped through discussion with peers and presenters, enabling diverse viewpoints to surface and deepen understanding.
Ideas connected to real contexts
Concepts and perspectives are explored in ways that connect directly to the realities of public sector leadership.
Valuing Knowledge with Dr Emma Blomkamp
Overview:
This opening masterclass broadens how public sector leaders understand “data” by expanding beyond quantitative metrics to include lived experience, qualitative insight, local knowledge and story. Participants will explore how implicit hierarchies of evidence shape policy, evaluation and reform — and how concepts such as inclusive rigour and good enough evidence can support sound judgement in complex environments.
The session introduces Māori and First Nations knowledge frameworks as distinct ways of knowing that challenge conventional approaches to measurement and evidence, setting the foundation for later discussions on data sovereignty, power and legitimacy.
Focus areas:
What counts as data and evidence in public institutions — and what is routinely excluded.
Inclusive rigour and appropriate standards of evidence in different contexts.
Navigating tensions between qualitative insights, community voices and statistical datasets.
Identifying whose knowledge is missing and why that matters for public value.
Wednesday 17 June, Online
12:00pm - 2:00pm (AEST)
10:00am - 12:00pm (AWST)
2:00pm - 4:00pm (NZST)
How to Register
Ready to join the program?
Register now and start your leadership learning journey today.