On the Couch with Rob Baker

Founder, Tailored Thinking | Global Leader in Job Crafting

In conversation with Commissioner for Public Sector Employment Erma Ranieri

On Monday, 7 July 2025, we welcomed Rob Baker, renowned job crafting expert and founder of Tailored Thinking, for an insightful On the Couch conversation with South Australia’s Commissioner for Public Sector Employment, Erma Ranieri.

Together, they explored how public sector leaders and employees can shape their roles to drive performance, enhance wellbeing and reignite purpose at work.

As a global voice on meaningful work, Rob shared how small, personalised changes to how we approach our jobs — known as job crafting — can lead to powerful improvements in motivation, productivity and psychological safety.

The session offered practical advice and evidence-based strategies to support public servants in reshaping their work with intention.

Attendees gained:

  • A fresh, practical understanding about job crafting
  • Tools to design your role around your strengths, values and passions
  • Proven strategies to improve wellbeing, performance and resilience
  • Tips to reduce psychosocial risks in teams and across workplaces
  • Insight into how leaders can support more human-centred work design
  • Inspiration to take small steps that create meaningful change

Thank you to everyone who attended, asked questions and contributed to a meaningful conversation.

Watch the full event below:

Learn about our speakers

Rob Baker, FCIP, MAPP

Founder
Tailored Thinking

Rob Baker is a globally recognised expert in job crafting and personalised work design and founder of Tailored Thinking. A TEDx speaker, author, and HR Most Influential Thinker (2023/24), he helps organisations create happier, healthier, and higher-performing workplaces through evidence-based research, workshops, and consultancy.

Erma Ranieri PSM FIPAA

IPAA SA President, Commissioner for Public Sector Employment
South Australian Public Sector

Appointed on 1 July 2014, Commissioner for Public Sector Employment Erma Ranieri works passionately towards creating a world-leading public sector that serves South Australians well, does what it says it will do, and to which every public servant is proud to belong.

With the role of the public sector being to serve and support South Australia to thrive, Erma leads sector-wide reform to modernise the public sector and continue to build on its value and service to the South Australian community.

Erma has worked for more than 30 years to help organisations optimise productivity and employee wellbeing. She was named a 2014 Telstra Business Woman of the Year as SA Winner of the Telstra Community and Government Award for her role in leading transformational change throughout the public sector.

With a key focus on flexibility, diversity and leadership development to ensure the public sector is positioned as an Employer of Choice, Erma continues to challenge cultural and structural barriers to drive innovative, collaborative and connected services for the community.

Event brought to you by

IPAA SA
Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment