Digital Leadership Academy New South Wales
Shaping public sector leaders in a changing digital landscape
For government, by government
Event steering committee
Nicholas Davis
Co-Director, UTS Human Technology Institute
Chris Hanger
Chief Operations Officer, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Anne-Marie Holubinsky
Director, People Innovation and Experience, NSW Department of Customer Service
Dr Liming Zhu
Research Director, CSIRO’s Data 61
David Griffiths
Chief Information Security Officer, Northern Beaches Council
Nicholas Davis
Co-Director, UTS Human Technology Institute
Chris Hanger
Chief Operations Officer, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Anne-Marie Holubinsky
Director, People Innovation and Experience, NSW Department of Customer Service
Dr Liming Zhu
Research Director, CSIRO’s Data 61
David Griffiths
Chief Information Security Officer, Northern Beaches Council
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.
Designed specifically for public sector leaders, this event delivers practical solutions, peer insights, and expert guidance to help you lead confidently in a fast-evolving landscape. Shape the future of your organisation—and your leadership.
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Who will be there?
Elevate strategic decision-making by aligning digital leadership with organizational goals to drive impactful change across the public sector.
- Align digital initiatives with strategic goals to create unified, meaningful change that addresses public needs holistically, setting a foundation for long-term digital transformation.
- Foster an inclusive culture by leveraging tech innovations to ensure diversity and equity within teams, promoting cross-sector collaboration and stronger, united efforts.
- Share experiences to develop ethical practices, particularly in ethical AI and secure tech adoption, building public trust and reinforcing transparency.
- Engage with fellow executives to exchange real-world insights and build alliances that support long-term digital transformation goals, staying ahead of industry shifts and future trends.
Enhance your department’s digital capabilities through practical strategies for tech-driven efficiency and process improvements.
- Leverage AI-driven process automation to streamline workflows, increase efficiency in service delivery, enhance data-driven decision-making, and boost public sector responsiveness.
- Cultivate agile thinking to balance innovation with compliance, allowing for smooth adaptation of legacy systems to meet modern demands and supporting cohesive digital strategies across departments.
- Maximize resource impact in tech projects by building cross-departmental collaboration and fostering strategic partnerships that align with evolving policies.
- Participate in leadership fundamentals to develop adaptable teams ready to meet changing public sector needs, and walk away with actionable steps for immediate implementation.
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.
- Build high-performing, resilient team cultures ready to adopt emerging technologies, streamline government operations, and deliver measurable outcomes.
- Strengthen your leadership style to foster a collaborative, motivated team environment that aligns with organizational goals and promotes continuous growth.
- Master project management techniques to maximize efficiency, resource allocation, and project outcomes, supporting both immediate success and long-term career advancement.
- Develop strategies for overcoming barriers to tech adoption, applying innovative solutions to meet organizational objectives and stay aligned with future trends.
- Participate in practical roundtables on project management, communication, and stakeholder engagement, connecting with peers to share strategies, build trust, and ensure alignment on key initiatives.
Build essential leadership skills to confidently guide your team through digital projects, laying a strong foundation for your career in the public sector.
- Learn core leadership techniques to cultivate a collaborative, motivated team environment, fostering adaptability and strong team cohesion.
- Develop foundational project management skills, including resource planning and milestone setting, to ensure successful project outcomes from start to finish.
- Explore effective communication practices to engage team members, encourage collaboration, and align on project goals, setting up for long-term career success.
- Gain insights into personal development and resilience, preparing to navigate the challenges of leadership in a tech-driven public sector, with a focus on continuous learning and future-readiness.
Featured speakers
The Hon. Victor Dominello
Co-Founder, ServiceGen
Ott Velsberg
Chief Data Officer, Government of Estonia
Amith Shetty
Chief Executive Officer, eHealth NSW
Nicholas Davis
Co-Director, UTS Human Technology Institute
Paul James
Chief Executive, Department of Internal Affairs NZ
Emily Mailes
Chief eHealth Strategy Officer, Victorian Department of Health
Chris Fechner
Chief Executive Officer, Digital Transformation Agency
Sandra Peter
Director, Sydney Executive Plus, University of Sydney
Emma Jones
Deputy Government Statistician and Deputy Chief Executive for Technology Operations, Commercial & Collections, Statistics New Zealand
Why attend?
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.
Vendors boost your presence
The Digital Leaders’ Academy presents a timely opportunity for sponsors looking to engage with public sector organisations navigating the complexities of digital transformation. As governments worldwide increasingly focus on enhancing efficiency, transparency, and service delivery through technology, the demand for innovative solutions, technologies, and software is at an all-time high. This event is uniquely positioned to deep dive into digital governance, transformative leadership, and future-ready policy-making—critical areas where public sector organisations seek cutting-edge tools to streamline operations and meet evolving citizen expectations.
Event partners benefit from direct access to decision-makers and influencers from across the public sector, offering a prime platform to showcase solutions that address specific challenges such as data security, accessibility, and operational efficiency. Meeting potential clients at this event provides a targeted opportunity to demonstrate how their technologies can drive significant improvements in service delivery, cost-effectiveness, and overall organisational performance. By aligning your offerings with the event's themes and priorities, you can position yourself as a key partner in advancing public sector innovation and achieving tangible, positive impacts for both organisations and citizens alike.
Ready to register?
Registration is free for government