Delegates at the IPAA SA stream of the _southstart event heard from line-up of insightful speakers as they explored new insights regarding entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation in government organisations.

The event was officially opened by the Hon Steven Marshall MP with the IPAA SA delegates first hearing from speakers on the ways public sector institutions can ignite an entrepreneurial and creative spirit.  Commissioner Erma Ranieri addressed the audience, outlining the aspirations of her office for assisting in developing a public sector that is outward looking, empowered and able to adapt. She was  followed by keynote speaker Professor Rod Glover as he outlined the main findings of his ANZSOG report ‘Today’s Problems,Yesterday’s Toolkit’. He also explored the opportunities for public sector institutions to re-invent themselves to become more orientated towards innovation and problem-solving and to build entrepreneurial competencies.

Clare Mockler also addressed delegates, discussing the Adelaide City Council’s aspirations for innovative and responsive services and policies for the City of Adelaide and the capacity building required to achieve them. Following this Dr Matthew Butlin highlighted the opportunities and challenges for improving public sector productivity and its risk appetite, as well as the imperative that there is a culture of entrepreneurialism to imagine the innovations that lead to those improvements. To conclude the first session Jim Whalley, as the SA Government’s Chief Entrepreneur, shared his thoughts on what the public sector and the private sector entrepreneurial experience can teach each other, as well as how his office and the Advisory Board can assist with public sector balance accountability with entrepreneurialism.

During the second half of the event we explored the experiences of those helping to transition from current public sector norms to an environment where public entrepreneurs can thrive. Charles Landry first spoke to delegates on the theme of ‘Creative Bureaucracy’ across a variety of international jurisdictions, sharing the common experiences and emerging trends that are arising from this work.  Doha Kahn, a year 12 student and activist then shared her first-hand experience on the subject, around the work and organisation of ‘School Strike 4 Climate’ movement. Following Ms Kahn, Craig Wilkins spoke to us from the perspective of the Conservation Council of SA, exploring the important role ‘social entrepreneurs’ have in promulgating and normalising the environmental policy agenda and opportunities for the public sector to appropriately engage with the aspirations of social movements and their entrepreneurs. In addition Kathryn Anderson outlined the imperative for both public sector and universities to building stronger ties in unlocking research knowleddge to inform public policy and reflect upon the role, skills and aptitudes required of public/social entrepreneurs in Universities and civil services to realise opportunities. Finally we were addressed by Greg Mackie OAM from the History Trust of SA where he drew upon current and previous roles with the Government of SA and his commercial (retail) and social entrepreneurial (Festival of Ideas) ventures,to reflect upon the importance of a vibrant public discourse in shaping the imagination, aspirations and behaviours of an effective and responsive public sector.

Each session was concluded with a panel style interview, where speakers were moderated by Prof Rod Glover and Charles Landry respectively, as they explored further insights around innovation, entrepreneurship and what it means for the SA public sector.

View Katrina Dunn’s presentation slides here.

View the transcript of the event here.

As part of Entrepreneurs’ Week 2018, IPAA hosted a forum to showcase examples of intrapreneurship in the South Australian public sector, and to explore emerging trends and challenges for achieving change, improving coordination and facilitating innovation.

IPAA Members joined IPAA SA and the Intrapreneurship Community of Practice (ICoP) for a snapshot of cutting edge intrapreneurial work by motivated innovators from around the world as part of Entrepreneurs Week 2018.

For the fourth year running the 2018 Intrapreneurship Forum was bigger and better, covering a wide range of Intrapreneurial topics, ideas and real time projects. Participants networked and discussed ideas with colleagues and experts, and attended exclusive workshops in a range of presentation formats.

This years keynote speaker was creative bureaucracy expert, Charles Landry.

In June 2018 IPAA SA commissioned a survey for the Intraprenuership forum, with results of this survey now available to view and download Here.

The forum featured thinking from leading practitioners in innovation. Speakers included:

• Dr Kristin Alford, Director of MOD., University of South Australia
• Erma Ranieri, Commissioner for Public Sector Employment
• Dr Pip Ryan, Lecturer in Commercial Equity and Disruptive Technologies and the Law, University of Technology Sydney
• Lois Boswell, Deputy Chief Executive, Department of Human Services
• Dr Francesco Cangiano, Lecturer in Management and Organisations, University of Western Australia
• Darren Sharp, Director Social Surplus
• Ian McBurney, CoFounder and Director at bHive Cooperative Bendigo
• Suhit Anantula, Partner & Strategy Designer, Business Model Inc
• Jay Edwards, Researcher, IndigenousX, University of NSW
• James Calder, Calder Consultants
• Alix Taylor, Manager, Business Transformation, Department of Human Services
• Jack Buckskin, Youth and Community Mentor

IPAA SA will be placing a donation to the audience’s most popular charity of choice. Thank you to those who participated. Videos and slides will be available soon.

If you would like to be involved in the Intrapreneurship Community of Practice please email Tim Mares on tim.mares@sa.gov.au

View the live conversation on social media by visiting the hashtag #Intra2018 #EWeek2018. You can find us on Twitter @IPAASA and Facebook @IPAASouthAustralia.

Australia in the Year of Uncertainty

We welcomed you to join us for the first event of IPAA SA’s 2018 Event Program, Future of The Profession, curated by our members for our members.

Sarah Ferguson, Australia’s most respected and experienced journalists wowed audienced with her unique and compelling analysis of the evolving political and cultural climate in 2018. Her analysis was perfectly suited to public sector professionals who recognised the impact that global and national politics have on the day-to-day lives of people in the community, and on the future of their profession.

As writer and presenter of such documentaries as The Killing Season and Hitting Home, she has captivated audiences as a fearless and incisive reporter on Australia’s socio-political life. As host of Four Corners she has presented some of Australia’s best journalism in global and national current affairs.

ABC Journalist and Political Reporter, Nick Harmsen, hosted the event and interviewed Sarah Ferguson, the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment, Erma Ranieri, and Adelaide Managing Partner of PwC, Kim Cheater.

Great leaders can build great organisations. Professional, purposeful and collaborative leadership in the public sector is essential as we face rapidly changing times in South Australia. It is how we lead in times of change that can determine the ongoing success of our sector.

This dynamic forum engaged senior leaders across the public sector to raise awareness and provide insights into how to manage the challenges of leadership in times of complex change. It also explored how we can come together to achieve better outcomes for South Australians and continue to build a modern public sector.

Keynote speaker Professor Lisa Paul AO PSM, former Secretary of the Federal Department of Education and Training, drew from her experience and career in the Australian Government and public sector to share her approach to, and her definition of, successful leadership. Lisa also discussed her insights into maintaining a strong culture and how to motivate teams amidst complex change.

Professor Helen Sullivan, Director of the Crawford School of Public Policy, also unpacks some of the challenges, opportunities and benefits of collaborating across government in times of change.

SA’s Commissioner for Public Sector Employment, Erma Ranieri, and SA Health’s Chief Medical Officer and Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Paddy A Phillips, then joined both keynote speakers for a panel discussion.