The role of a public sector Deputy Secretary has shifted decisively in recent years. Scale, complexity and consequence have all intensified. Deputies are expected to lead through persistent geopolitical uncertainty, declining trust in institutions and constrained resources, while combining stewardship with delivering ministerial priorities in a highly politicised environment.
Deputies have the potential for significant impact, often exercised through judgement, relationships and influence. That impact now demands a broader skillset and a deeper understanding of leadership than ever before.
Since 2021, ANZSOG’s Deputies Leadership Program (DLP) has provided a unique space for earlyc areer Deputies (and equivalents) to step back from the day to day, reflect on their role, make sense of their operating environment and engage in frank conversations with peers, academic experts and senior practitioners.
This is genuinely the best development opportunity I’ve had in 30 years in the public service.2025 Deputies Leadership Program Participant
The program returns in 2026 under the codirection of Kathryn Anderson, Partner at Cube Group and former Deputy Secretary in the Victorian Public Service, and ANZSOG’s Martin Stewart-Weeks, a former ministerial chief of staff and public servant.
Kathryn says the program is designed to equip Deputies to perform the full suite of responsibilities that come with the role.
“The dimensions of the role really broaden out. There’s a focus on delivering their business, whatever that might be, and that inevitably involves a system of stakeholders within and outside their organisation. There’s also a very particular role in supporting their Secretary. Then there’s their crucial and increasingly important stewardship role that could involve community sector or industry players as well,” she said.
Martin says the environment Deputies operate in is becoming more intense each year, and that creates an even stronger case for dedicated time to reflect.
“We offer Deputies a moment to step back a bit, connect, and think more deeply about who they are, what they’re trying to do, how they stay alive and then how they thrive,” he said.
Intensive sessions and applied leadership work
DLP 2026 will be delivered through two intensive, inperson 2.5day modules, supported by two targeted online sessions, all featuring expert contributors and high-level current and former public sector practitioners.
The program opens with a wideangle view of the forces reshaping public leadership: geopolitical, social, technological and institutional, before progressively focusing in on the Deputy’s role, authority and personal leadership practice. It culminates in applied leadership work, with participants testing how they can exercise meaningful influence on a real systemlevel challenge.
The program brings together a cohort of around 30 Deputies from across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, enabling participants to build trusted networks with peers in other jurisdictions who are grappling with similar challenges.
Program structure
DLP 2026 comprises four modules, each focused on a core aspect of the Deputy role:
Modules are expected to cover the contemporary authorising environment, the turbulent context that Deputies are operating in, including volatility, fragmentation and contested authority, the role of Deputies in the Digital State and the role of risk, opportunity and ethical judgment in the age of AI, and the importance of personal authority, resilience and sustainable performance.
Four leadership imperatives shape DLP 2026 and are threaded throughout the program:
Leading in radical uncertainty - navigating ambiguity, volatility and contested priorities with confidence and clarity.
Reimagining public value and trust - understanding the interaction between delivery, legitimacy, trust and the lived experience of citizens.
Transformational and systems leadership - leading change across portfolios, sectors and jurisdictions, not just within agencies.
Personal leadership resilience - sustaining effectiveness, integrity and wellbeing at the Deputy level over time.
A very elevated program, focused on the real issues facing Deputies.2025 Deputies Leadership Program Participant
Creating space for conversation and reflection
A defining feature of the DLP is its emphasis on reflection and peer to peer engagement. Martin Stewart-Weeks says the program is not about teaching or training in the traditional sense.
“What we offer is a series of conversations and spaces in which Deputies can learn without necessarily being taught, using the experiences of people either currently or recently at senior levels of the public service.”.
He notes that stepping into the Deputy role often brings heightened visibility and scrutiny.
“Deputies often say that the transition into the role comes with a realisation that, more than ever, everyone is looking at what they’re doing. They really are up there as exemplars — people listen to what they do, not just what they say. For many Deputies, that’s quite confronting.”
Kathryn says the program is deliberately designed as a safe environment where participants can be open about the realities of the role.
“We’re all here to support participants’ success, and that’s clear in the conversations they have with senior practitioners. They acknowledge the challenges of the role, but also focus on the incredible opportunities people at this level have to make things happen, lead big changes and influence positive outcomes,” she said.
The 2026 ANZSOG Deputies Leadership Program is designed for Deputies with up to two years’ experience in the role and impact, and will be delivered in September-October 2026, with two online sessions and two 2.5 day intensives in Sydney. To apply, or to book a one-on-one consultation with ANZSOG staff about the program, click here.