Digital Leadership Academy South Australia

Shaping the leaders of tomorrow’s digital government

Wednesday, 5th March 2025

Event Overview

Join Public Sector Network’s Digital Leadership Academy for a transformative day designed to empower senior leaders and innovators in the public sector. This full-day event focuses on equipping leaders with the strategies, insights, and tools they need to navigate the complexities of the digital era and drive impactful change. 

In a world where rapid digital transformation is the norm, this academy offers a unique opportunity to tackle the most pressing leadership challenges. You’ll gain actionable strategies for leading through change and uncertainty, leveraging emerging technologies like generative AI, and ensuring ethical and effective governance. Learn how to future-proof your organisation while maintaining focus on people, processes, and performance. 

The academy’s sessions will address three core pillars of leadership in the digital age: developing a people-first strategy for the tech-driven future, refining processes to achieve digital excellence, and anticipating shifts in the tech landscape with visionary leadership. 

Deep Dive Into Pivotal Themes

Digital Governance

Best practices and frameworks for ensuring robust and transparent governance in the digital age.

Transformative Leadership

Strategies for leading change, fostering innovation, and inspiring teams to achieve exceptional results.

Future-Ready Policy-Making

Insights into crafting policies that anticipate and address the evolving needs of the public sector and its constituents.

Psychological Safety

Creating environments where employees feel safe to take risks, express their ideas, and contribute to their fullest potential.

Accessibility

Enhancing support for individuals with autism and other disabilities, ensuring that public sector services are inclusive and accessible to all.

People-Centric Strategies

Making people a core pillar in strategic planning, emphasising the importance of employee engagement, development, and well-being.

Key Benefits of Attending

Enhance Your Leadership

Improve your leadership skills with sessions on fundamental practices, ethical decision-making, and team management to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.  

Network with Like-Minded Professionals

Connect directly with peers and industry leaders to share experiences and discuss the latest trends in public sector technology.   

Gain Valuable Insights

Learn from a variety of sessions including keynotes, partner insights, and panels, offering perspectives on leadership, innovation, and strategic execution in the digital realm.  

Participate in Breakout Discussions

Join roundtables addressing today’s leadership challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities, focusing on practical skills and knowledge you can apply.

Who Attends

Executive Leaders

Elevate strategic decision-making by aligning digital leadership with organizational goals to drive impactful change across the public sector.

Department Heads and Directors

Enhance your department’s digital capabilities through practical strategies for tech-driven efficiency and process improvements.

Current Program or Team Leaders

Gain actionable insights to enhance your leadership capabilities, drive impactful digital projects, and ensure your team adapts and thrives in the public sector’s evolving tech landscape.

New Program or Team Leaders

Build essential leadership skills to confidently guide your team through digital projects, laying a strong foundation for your career in the public sector.

Join Your Peers Involved In:

People Leadership
Leading Through Complexity: People Strategy in Tech  
– Cultivate a leadership style that thrives amidst the complexities of tech team dynamics
– Explore leadership initiatives that effectively promote diversity and drive inclusion within tech teams
– Utilise emotional intelligence to navigate the challenges unique to tech environments
– Examine strategies to implement to attract, develop, and retain top tech talent during rapid industry changes 
– Champion ethical technology use within teams and decision-making processes
People Leadership
Strategic Leadership: Streamlining Processes for Digital Excellence  
Align digital initiatives with governmental policies while leading through bureaucratic complexities
Instill agile thinking to reshape traditional processes within the SA public sector
Activate key leadership strategies to balance innovation with compliance amidst evolving regulations  
Analyse the most effective ways to manage resources to maximise impact in tech projects 
Traverse vendor relationships to cultivate fruitful partnerships that drive technological advancement
Technology Leadership
Visionary Leadership: Navigating the Technological Landscape  
Ensure new technologies are integrated effectively and with foresight
Examine essential qualities for staying ahead in cybersecurity amidst a fast-evolving threat landscape
Leverage data analytics to transform public service delivery while maintaining trust and privacy
Navigate barriers to technology adoption, and how to overcome these with strategic leadership
Inspire innovation and manage risk in a sector known for its cautious approach to new technologies  

2025 Speakers

Mahadhir Aziz,
Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation

SA Cyber Security Showcase Speaker 2024

Dr Eva Balan-Vnuk, Government CIO, Department of Treasury and Finance  

Nikunj Mandlas,
CIO,
Department for Child Protection SA 

Dan Hughes,
CIO,
Department for Education

Scott Johnson,
Deputy Secretary, Chief Commissioner,
Revenue NSW

Sally Nicholas,
Executive Director, People & Culture,
Department of Human Services

Victor Dominello image

Victor Dominello,
Co-Founder,
ServiceGen

Susan Pearce,
Secretary,
NSW Health

Suzanne Stew,
Deputy CE/Deputy Secretary, Service Delivery, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment NZ

Jeannie Sim,
Chief Digital Health Officer & Director Cybersecurity and Assurance,
Department of Health

Lea Diffey,
Deputy Director-General, Innovation,
Department of Tourism and Sport QLD

Nathan Heeney,
CIO,
Australian Federal Police

Attending Innovate SA for the third time has been consistently enlightening and beneficial, to continue learning and growing in our industry.

– SA Health

The showcase was fantastic with engaging presentations, useful round table sessions discussing real scenarios, and a good turnout of relevant exhibitors.

– Australian Taxation Office

2024 Event Sponsors

Location

Adelaide Convention Centre, South Australia

Interested In Learning More?

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