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.

The Don Dunstan Foundation second Social Capital Residencies Showcase was an opportunity to hear about successful initiatives by our partnering organisations and to meet others working in the purpose economy.

Following an economic briefing, there was a series of rapid fire presentations from local initiatives, start-ups, established businesses and others all working on creating jobs in the purpose economy.

As part of Entrepreneurs’ Week 2017, IPAA SA 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.

Attendees gained insight into the role of intrapreneurs in pushing government forward, and were inspired by and learned from some successful SA-based initiatives.

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

• Suzie Sosa, Co-Founder and CEO of Verb
• Dr Gemma Carey, NHMRC Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer, UNSW Canberra
• Dr Kristin Alford, Director of MOD. at the University of South Australia.
• Tom Moore, Co-Founder and Managing Director, WithYouWithMe
• Elosie Burge, Partner and Design Strategist, Portable
• Erma Ranieri, Commissioner for Public Sector Employment
• Professor John Spoehr, Director of the Australian Industrial Transformation Institute at Flinders University
• Professor Eddie Blass, Founder and CEO of Conesol
• Thomas Sadowski, Director of Conesol
• Cezanne Green, Director, Secondary Learners, Department of Education and Child Development
• Deb O’Riley, Director, Adelaide Botanic High School, Department of Education and Child Development
• Matthew Anderson, Co-Founder, Social Capital
• Kirk Drage, Co- Founder, LeapSheep
• Dr Fiona Buick, Lecturer in Public Sector Management, UNSW Canberra

IPAA SA has placed a donation to the feedback survey’s most popular charity of choice, Cancer Council Australia. Thank you to those who participated. Videos and slides will be available soon.

View the live conversation on social media by visiting the hashtag #Intra2017 #EWeek2017. You can find us on Twitter @IPAASA and Facebook @IPAASouthAustralia.

Climbing out of the political abyss.
Australia is in a political abyss. How do we climb out of it? Do we need a ‘Courage Party’ to address major long term issues, such as refugees, climate change and taxation?

In October of 2016 we heard from Professor Barry Jones as he delivered the annual oration.

Listen to the oration here.