Fresh inspiration with ANZSOG Public Leadership Masterclass series

Public leaders have always needed to think creatively to solve complex problems and deliver public value to their communities. After two tough years ANZSOG’s Public Leadership Masterclass (PLM) series offers a chance to reset and challenge your thinking with new ideas that can be applied to practical problems. 

The series is designed to expose public leaders and emerging leaders to new thinking and create a context for self-reflection and professional growth. 

A global faculty from the public and private sectors and universities, including Harvard Law School, University College London, and the University of Virginia, will deliver two-hour virtual masterclasses on topics including adaptive leadership, smart collaboration, place-based approaches and the importance of political ‘nous’. 

ANZSOG Acting Deputy CEO (Thought Leadership) James Green said that now more than ever public leaders need to have the knowledge, creativity and confidence to provide timely advice, tackle problems creatively and lead others through change. 

“The skills required to be an effective public leader are changing rapidly. The Public Leadership Masterclass series is an opportunity to step away from work and consider fresh approaches to the challenges of public leadership. Understanding the broader environment you are working in is vital to strengthening your capacity to tackle complex problems and think strategically,” Mr Green said. 

“This series gives you direct engagement with public leaders, practitioners and advisers that few get to experience directly.” 

“We have curated a series of short and engaging online masterclasses to provide a forum to discuss the future challenges of public leadership, how they affect your role, your agency and the communities you serve. 

“ANZSOG is offering packages for agencies to send multiple staff, because in an environment where public services face immense competition for talent, providing high quality professional development opportunities is an important way to retain emerging leaders.” 

PLM extends ANZSOG’s successful Future Public Sector Leaders’ series, and will offer a broader range of presenters and topics aimed at all public leaders, not just those in the public service.  

The 2022/23 Public Leadership Masterclass series features 11 masterclasses: 

• Public leadership and political nous with Anna Bligh AC, Sir Bill English KNZM and Ken Smith AO 
• Strategic preparation for partnership with Lil Anderson 
• Applying Systems Thinking to Public Problems with Nick Fleming 
• Smart Collaboration with Heidi Gardner and Kim Vella 
• Ethical Leadership in the 21st Century with Vafa Ghazavi 
• Improving your negotiation effectiveness with Monica Giannone 
• Social and Political Imagination with Sir Geoff Mulgan CBE 
• Decision Making in a complex and uncertain world with Anthea Roberts 
• Design Thinking for Innovative Problem Solving with Jeanne Liedtka 
• Improving community outcomes through effective place-based approaches with Tim Reddel and Luke Craven 
• Adaptive Leadership with Robin Ryde 

Participants in ANZSOG’s previous Future Public Sector Leaders’ series consistently agreed (90%) that topics were contemporary and relevant to their work, and 85% agreed that the packages provided the flexibility they were looking for. 

Participants in FPSL said that: 

“The format works really well. So much better than structure classroom-style workshops. Being able to choose sessions of value and that fit in with scheduling is fantastic.” 

“I found the format and the teaching to be really engaging and appreciated the interactive nature that allowed for testing of ideas/raising practical queries.” 

Mr Green said that ANZSOG was committed to providing opportunities for public leaders to build their capability and creating spaces for reflection and integration into participants’ professional mindset and practice. 

“The landscape of public leadership is changing. ANZSOG is continually working to connect public leaders with the most recent thinking about their world, in formats that meet their needs.” 

ANZSOG’s Public Leadership Masterclass series for 2022/23 begins on 17 October 2022 and features 11 two-hour masterclasses. Many of these will feature Q&A, zoom breakout rooms and networking opportunities and interactive activities. You can pick any masterclass to complete a package. You can register for masterclasses even after the series begins. Full details of masterclasses and pricing packages are available here 

In addition, to give you a taste of PLM, we are offering a free one-hour masterclass, Leading with Cultural Intelligence, on 29 September delivered by Lil Anderson, ANZSOG Teaching and Leadership Fellow and Chief Executive of the Office for Māori Crown Relations/Te Arawhiti. Registrations are open here.