Event Overview

Moving into the final year of the 2020-2025 SA Government ICT, Cyber Security and Digital Government Strategy with the end vision to deliver smart, simple and secure services to all SA citizens, now is a pivotal time in driving success and positioning the SA public sector in a strong, future-ready position.

With the rapid progression of AI capabilities over the course of 2024, even tighter fiscal and budget constraints, and pressure on public service to keep up with evolving citizen needs and expectations, innovating effectively and strategically to meet this vision has arguably never been as crucial, and leadership is the underpinning force determining success or failure.

The Public Sector Digital Academy invites senior-level digital leaders and innovators from across all sectors of technology within the public sector to a comprehensive full-day conference. This event focuses on key aspects of digital governance, transformative leadership, and future-ready policy-making, offering attendees a unique opportunity to engage deeply on pivotal challenges and opportunities in the public sector.  

Focused on ‘Leadership in the Digital Age’, we’ll be unpacking the three critical components to driving a thriving organisation; ‘Leading Through Complexity: People Strategy in Tech’, ‘Strategic Leadership: Streamlining Processes for Digital Excellence’, and ‘Visionary Leadership: Navigating the Technological Landscape’.

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

Government Leaders

Executives and decision-makers looking to lead digital initiatives and policy implementation.   

Future Leaders

Individuals aiming to develop their leadership skills and make a significant impact in the public sector.   

Industry Specialists

Professionals from tech firms and consultancies offering products, services, and expertise to government agencies. 

Educators and Developers

Experts who train or guide current and future leaders in the skills necessary for effective digital governance.   

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

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

Dini Soulio,
Chief Executive Officer,
Super SA

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

Sally Smith,
Executive Director, Planning and Land Use Services, Department of State Development

Susan Pearce,
Secretary,
NSW Health

Lisiane Barao McLeod,
Chief Software Engineer and General Manager
myGov and Core Systems,
Services Australia

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

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

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

Benefits of Partnering

A crucial part of the solution to your challenges and vision, are our partners.

Engaging with leading vendors offers an opportunity to explore innovative solutions tailored to digital governance, transformative leadership, and future-ready policy-making. These sessions provide insights from industry leaders, empowering participants to adopt cutting-edge technologies and forge strategic alliances that amplify their leadership impact. It’s a chance to discover tools and strategies that align with your vision for driving meaningful change and achieving exceptional results in your organisations.