Penelope Croser is a senior public sector executive with extensive experience leading complex organisations across justice and education systems.

She is currently State Courts Administrator for the Courts Administration Authority of South Australia, serving as Chief Executive Officer to the State Courts Administration Council and leading a workforce of approximately 700 staff Statewide.

Recognised for her strategic judgement and calm leadership in contested, high-pressure environments, Penny has a track record in governance, major reform delivery, operational improvement, and organisational culture change.

Her career spans senior leadership roles advising Ministers, Cabinets and Boards, including executive positions in the Victorian Departments of Premier and Cabinet, Education and Justice.

She brings deep expertise in stakeholder management, public value creation and institutional strengthening, underpinned by qualifications in law, public policy, psychology and science.

Co-Founder, States of Change

Over 20 years experience of working on and leading innovation and reform initiatives around the world, the last 13 of which as a senior executive in government and not-for-profit organisations. I am a respected leader in the
global innovation community and over the last ten years, have advised governments in over 20 countries on ways that they can build an innovation culture and improve outcomes for citizens. I am recognised as an innovative
and strategic thinker and I regularly present to and advise national and global audiences on a wide range of issues relating to innovation and reform. I am currently the co-founder and Executive Director of States of Change, a global not-for-profit organisation committed to building the next generation of public innovation. States of Change was spun out of Nesta, one of the world’s pre-eminent innovation institutions, where I spent over six years as Executive Director of Global Innovation Partnerships and Director of Innovation Skills. I previously established The Australian Centre for Social Innovation in Adelaide as its founding CEO and have held several executive roles in the South Australian Government.

Principal Workforce Planner,

Department for Health and Wellbeing

Katherine is an experienced and strategic workforce planner with a strong track record in leading system-wide health workforce initiatives. She is skilled in applying data-driven modelling, labour market analysis, and stakeholder engagement to inform recruitment, retention, and redesign strategies, with a proven ability to align workforce planning with clinical priorities, emerging service demands, and long-term reform objectives to support a sustainable and capable health workforce.

Katherine is the Chair of the Department’s ‘Access All Areas’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Employee Resource Group, championing initiatives that improve access, belonging and representation across disability, neurodiversity and caring responsibilities.

She is an active mentor with the University of South Australia (now Adelaide University) Business Career Mentor Program and the Department’s Peers Offering Peers Support Program, contributing expertise to support the next generation of health sector professionals.

Katherine is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), Certified Health Informatician Australasia (CHIA), member of the Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH), Vice President of the Australasian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM) SA Branch Council and Treasurer of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) SA.

She is passionate about innovation, ethical governance, and designing healthier systems for the future – and always open to connecting with peers who share a commitment to creating positive change.

Chief Executive

Department for Child Protection

Jackie was appointed Chief Executive of South Australia’s Department for Child Protection in June 2023. Prior to this, she was the inaugural Head of the Office for the Early Years within the Department for Education, providing strategic leadership for early years services.

Jackie has held senior executive roles in the public and private sectors in the United Kingdom and South Australia, including UK Health Services, Department for Families and Communities, and as the Deputy Chief Executive in the Department for Correctional Services. Her work in the UK Health Service ignited her passion for major service delivery reforms affecting communities.

An experienced and strategically minded Executive, Jackie has extensive expertise in building and maintaining partnerships, policy development, and strategic reform within the South Australian public service. She is dedicated to developing a transparent and accountable department, fostering strong leadership, and building a highly capable workforce within a positive organisational culture.

Jackie has a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Australia and is a member of Chief Executive Women, women leaders empowering all women.

With over 25 years of public sector and industrial relations experience, Josie is committed to a public sector founded on excellence, robust governance and strategic policy development supported by effective leaders.

As a Director, Workforce Integrity, Strategy and Capability with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment, Josie has a good understanding of issues impacting IPAA members and the public sector.

Her career reflects a strong focus on integrity, governance and stewardship, serving on various Boards and Advisory Committees, and a personal commitment to professionalism and values. Her work includes enhancing employment opportunity pathways, sector-wide diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and the development of workforce policy and capability.

Joise has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Bachelor of Laws.

Danielle Elston is the Managing Director of Good Government Advisory (GGA), a national consulting firm based in South Australia, dedicated to helping governments do good things—and do them well. A former senior executive in the South Australian Government, she has led major reforms in justice, education, and environment, driving policy innovation and organisational change at the highest levels.

Passionate about the craft of government and the people who make it work, Danielle believes that public servants—at every level—are the backbone of a well-run democracy. Through her work with agencies across Australia, she has supported leadership development, strategic alignment, and whole-of-government initiatives that empower frontline and executive teams alike.

A recognised thought leader in public administration, Danielle co-hosts Australia’s #1 government podcast, The Westminster Tradition, where she explores integrity, leadership, and what makes public service work. She speaks regularly on public sector leadership, governance, and trust for ANZSOG, IPAA, universities, and national conferences.

Danielle is committed to strengthening public institutions, supporting the everyday leaders of government, and ensuring that public servants at all levels are set up for success.

Renae leads a skilled and enthusiastic team to deliver on the association‘s mission of supporting the public sector. She drives the Divisional Council’s strategic vision for IPAA SA. She is determined to continue to grow and modernise the 95-year-old organisation to ensure every one of its members is supported throughout their careers. Renae holds a Bachelor of Science (Evolutionary Biology) and Bachelor of Arts (Sociology), and qualifications through the AICD Company Directors Course. She is passionate about championing the work of public servants, as well as supporting animal welfare. 

Gemma is the Executive Director, Land Administration and Registrar General of South Australia, responsible for statutory land title functions, regulatory oversight of the electronic property exchange, and management of the State’s contract with the private Land Titles Operator.

She has held senior roles across planning, housing and policy, contributing to major reforms, governance improvements and cross government coordination.

She represents South Australia nationally through ARNECC and other interjurisdictional forums, and has a background in property law, conveyancing and regulatory delivery. Gemma has also written and delivered course content for the College of Law and TAFE SA, supporting capability development across the profession.

A committed advocate for a high performing, trusted and collaborative public sector, Gemma is motivated by strengthening capability, improving outcomes, and enabling public servants to deliver their best work for South Australians.