Leading Change: ANZSOG Unveils New and Enhanced Leadership Programs for 2026

Public sector leadership is evolving – and so is ANZSOG’s program portfolio. 

We’re launching a refreshed and expanded suite of offerings in 2026, including  three new programs for early, mid-career and senior leaders, and an updated Executive Fellows Program (EFP) for senior leaders led by Professor Karise Hutchinson and Jason Ardler PSM – with more announcements coming soon. 

These changes build on over 20 years of delivering transformative public sector leadership programs and better align our portfolio with the contemporary needs of public servants, equipping leaders at every level with the skills, insights and networks to thrive in their current roles and over the course of their careers. 

ANZSOG Dean and CEO Caron Beaton-Wells said that ANZSOG is continually adapting its portfolio in consultation with our member governments across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. 

“The challenges that public sector leaders face are changing faster than ever, and there is a need for a culture of ongoing learning in public services, as they work to develop governance that people trust,” she said. 

“The modern public sector is looking for shorter, more intensive leadership programs that put public sector leadership in a broader context, as well as programs that accelerate learning and focus on skills and practical capabilities.” 

“In-person delivery will continue for our core programs, but we’ll be focused on further lifting the quality of our online delivery of existing programs, and developing new courses and programs that take advantage of the strengths of online learning.” 

New Programs for Emerging Leaders and those leading change

Governments are telling us that the pace of change is accelerating, and that public servants are stepping into leadership roles earlier in their careers and carrying greater responsibility. In response, we’re launching three exciting new programs. 

• Foundations of Public Leadership: Tailored for senior officers and early-stage executives, this immersive program, led by Dr Paul Atkins, combines a three-day residential intensive with high-quality online learning, delivering leadership strategies and practical toolkits to accelerate growth and impact. 
• Strategic Leadership in the Public Sector: Designed to shift managers and emerging executives from a delivery-orientation to forward-thinking, strategically focused leaders, this transformative program is delivered through a series of weekly interactive online sprints, equipping learners to lead with greater clarity, resilience and purpose. 
• Leading Exponential Change: Equips senior executives with the critical skills and strategic foresight needed to lead systemic change. This high-level, intensive program combines a four-day residential with enriched online learning, to develop the capability and confidence to create and execute future-proofed strategies for broad ranging impact.  

To fit into busy work schedules, all three programs  will provide an intensive learning experience that accelerates the development of key leadership competencies, with learners taking away frameworks and practical insights to address the most pressing challenges facing today’s public sector leaders. 

Renewed Executive Fellows Program

Since 2003, the Executive Fellows Program (EFP) has helped senior leaders reflect and reimagine their leadership. In 2026, the program will feature: 

• A five-day residential intensive 
• Three online sessions to support peer engagement and long-term learning 
• Connection to world-class experts and thought leaders 
• A focus on systems leadership, change management and ethical decision-making. 

The renewed EFP will continue to be an immersive and transformative program for senior public sector leaders. It offers exposure to new ideas and global expertise and creates a space for action learning, reflective practice, and deeper understanding of a diverse range of leadership frameworks. 

Expanded Short Courses for specific capabilities

ANZSOG’s Professional Learning Programs will also expand in 2026, with four new offerings building on our existing range of capability-enhancing, intensive progams aimed at supporting public servants at all levels. The new programs are: 

• AI Tools and Ethical Practice: Gain the skills to use AI safely and effectively, and go beyond the hype to understand its threats and opportunities. 
• Data Ethics and Privacy: Navigate the complex intersection of data, ethics and privacy, and build public trust through safe and effective use of data.
• Delivering Strategic Policy: Build sharper policy skills that leave you ready to lead across the policy implementation cycle, and ensure successful execution.
• Fiscal Resilience and Optimisation: Learn practical tools and actionable insights that increase your financial acumen and enable you to do more with less. 

They will join the returning Developing Policy Acumen, Data and Storytelling in Policy, New Managers, The Modern Regulator, Working with First Nations: Delivering on the Priority Reforms, and the Public Leadership Masterclass series 

All professional learning progams offer high-impact learning experiences that deliver contemporary thinking and practical skills for immediate application. 

EMPA 2026 open for applications

Our flagship program, the Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA), will continue as a two-year part-time accredited program delivered in partnership with leading Australian and New Zealand universities. 

The EMPA delivers a unique blend of academic rigour with practitioner insight, a focus on place-based learning, and a strong cohort experience that becomes a lifelong professional network. 

Applications to commence in early 2026 are closing soon. 

Want to learn more?

Download the 2026 program calendar, or contact us via email on engage@anzsog.edu.au or by calling 1300 269 764.

2026 Leadership Programs at a Glance