New Leading Strategic Projects program a highlight of ANZSOG’s 2027 Program Calendar
How do public servants turn strategic intent into adopted and sustained change? It’s one of the most difficult challenges faced by those at the manager or director level and one that ANZSOG is directly addressing as part of its 2027 program offering through the new Leading Strategic Projects (LSP) program.
LSP is designed around the complexities project managers face while delivering change and navigating their authorising environment to deliver major public sector projects that meet sponsor and stakeholder expectations.
2027 learning with ANZSOG – shaped by the public sector
Introducing LSP is one of the ways we are renewing our commitment as a career-long learning partner in 2027 - listening to what public sectors need and bringing together flexible ways to learn, connect with peers and experts, and build capability for the realities of public service.
Our 2027 program calendar brings together accredited education, intensive leadership and executive programs, short courses, online and blended learning, tailored offerings and practical masterclasses.
By offering a more diverse mix of programs and delivery modes, we are making it easier for individuals, jurisdictions and agencies to invest in learning that fits different roles, priorities and operating environments.
Wherever and however, you learn with ANZSOG, the experience is consistent: evidence-based learning delivered through trusted relationships, meaningful connection with peers and experts, practical application in government context and impact for participants, teams and public governance.
Addressing capability needs where it counts through Leading Strategic Projects.
LSP is led by academic and former senior public servant Dr Tracey Dodd, who says that the essence of understanding strategic projects is knowing that they are about change and managing people.
“You’ll learn why you need a clear ‘why’ for the project, how to craft a sound business case and how to manage the people side of a complex project,” she said.
“I don’t believe that public sector projects are any more complicated than other projects – every major project is difficult. Public sector projects have the unique advantage of a strong ‘why’, either from a political mandate or pressing social issue or crisis. Bringing people together to deliver on this ‘why’ is the key role of project managers within a public sector context."
She said that project leaders needed to understand their role.
“You do not have to own the problems. Your job, as a project manager, is to ensure a clear and compelling scope and to identify, communicate and escalate the problems that might hinder the delivery of this scope. Often as a project manager, you can feel solely responsible. This course will help to give you the skills to identify that your role is to coordinate, not own all the challenges,” she said.
She says that all LSP participants will work towards developing a work-ready Project Management Plan over the program’s six sessions, that will allow them to apply the concepts they are learning back into their workplace during and after the program.
Balancing time, quality and resources
Dr Dodd says that successful projects need a sound business case and strong guardrails.
“We can be given a project, but some of the things we're working on have no end date, or there are no resources attached and it's not clear what they're achieving. The first thing for participants to think about is a really clear understanding of what constitutes a project and then the key ingredients of what makes a project successful.”
“You need to know when to move one of three parameters - time, quality and resources. Sometimes it might be in your interest to move the date if it's going to impact the quality or your budget. If your aim was too high, maybe you need to bring down the scope of your deliverables to allow you to do it in time and budget.
“Most importantly, every project needs a sponsor and you need to make sure that sponsor is senior enough that they can make those calls and understanding what's most important .”
“Projects are also essentially about people. There are many projects that were on time, on budget, delivered their specifications, but they weren't successful because the people involved, the stakeholders, didn't support it or they didn't perceive the project as a success. We will focus a lot on the people side of project management,” she said.
Building capabilities and confidence
This is not a generic project management course – it focuses on the judgement, alignment and partnership building, risk management, governance and adaptation required to move complex public sector strategic work from intent to adopted outcomes.
Participants will leave the program with a new understanding of how successful public sector projects work, and their own Project Management Plan addressing a specific challenge in their work.
Dr Dodd will bring over 20 years of her own project experience to the program, facilitating the conversation and learning:
“The knowledge is in the room, and my role is to ask the right questions that prompt great discussion. I’m willing to share some of the challenges that I've had throughout my career and hopefully that provides a safe space for others to do the same.
Find out more about ANZSOG’s upcoming and 2027 programs through our program calendar.
A calendar launch and information session for L&D professionals will be held on 21 October.
Leading Strategic Projects at a Glance
Who it’s for
Leading Strategic Projects (LSP) is a 6-week online accelerator designed primarily for EL1 and equivalent public sector leaders responsible for delivering complex reform and implementation work, and new or acting EL2s who need a more structured approach to complex delivery.
Delivery
Leading Strategic Projects is delivered 100% online, combining live facilitated sessions with self-paced learning activities. The six live sessions will be delivered between 6 April – 10 May, 2027
Convert high-level priorities into clear objectives, success measures and delivery outcomes that create public value.
Gain practical tools to establish governance arrangements and decision structures that support effective delivery in complex environments.
Strengthen your ability to bring together stakeholders across organisational and jurisdictional boundaries to achieve shared goals.
Develop robust execution plans that account for dependencies, resourcing, risk and the realities of implementation
How to register
Expressions of interest in Leading Strategic Projects are now open, and applications will close on 12 March 2027. For more information visit our website, contact us on engage@anzsog.edu.au or book a one-on-one consultation