Agenda |

Victoria 2025

Digital Leadership Day Victoria

 Tuesday, 27 May 2025
8:00AM

Registration and Networking

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM (60 mins)

9:00AM

Opening from Public Sector Network & Acknowledgement of Country

9:00 AM - 9:10 AM (10 mins)

9:10AM

Welcome from Event Chair: Overview of the Day | Intro to Segment 1: People Leadership in the Digital Age

9:10 AM - 9:20 AM (10 mins)

9:20AM
Keynote

Inspirational Keynote: Navigating the Digital Era: Essential Skills for Government Leaders

9:20 AM - 9:40 AM (20 mins)

The Hon. Victor Dominello Co-Founder, Future Government Institute
9:40AM
Keynote

Navigating the Digital Frontier: Empowering Public Sector Teams for Tomorrow

9:40 AM - 10:00 AM (20 mins)

Abhik Sengupta Principal Business Value Advisor, Atlassian

This session will unpack the key trends shaping public sector leadership in the wake of the Atlassian State of Teams 2025 Report. It will examine how evolving work dynamics are transforming team structures, operations, and leadership approaches across government. Abhik will share strategies for building a resilient and effective system of work - one that turns information into impact. The session will also explore actionable techniques to help leaders guide their teams through disruption, fostering adaptability, alignment, and long-term success.

10:00AM
Panel discussion

Panel: Strategising and Collaborating in Times of Need | Deep Dive into Talent Strategies in a Digital Era

10:00 AM - 10:50 AM (50 mins)

  • As leaders, how can we cultivate a leadership style that thrives amidst the complexities of tech team dynamics?
  • What leadership initiatives effectively promote diversity and drive inclusion within tech teams?
  • How should leaders utilise emotional intelligence to navigate the challenges unique to tech environments?
  • What strategies can leaders implement to attract, develop, and retain top tech talent during rapid industry changes?
  • In what ways can leaders champion ethical technology use within their teams and decision-making processes?
Nicola Quin
Deputy Secretary Corporate & Delivery Services, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
Sam Jones
Executive Director Corporate Services, Office of Public Prosecutions Victoria
Marg Burge
Chief People Officer, Victorian Building Authority
Jennifer Dobell
Chief Operating Officer, Australian Financial Security Authority
Dr Emmanuelle Walkowiak
Vice Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow, RMIT
10:50AM

Morning Tea & Networking

10:50 AM - 11:20 AM (30 mins)

11:20AM

Welcome from Event Chair: Summary of Session 1 | Intro to Segment 2: Process

11:20 AM - 11:40 AM (20 mins)

11:30AM
Keynote

Leveraging AI in Process Automation for Public Sector Efficiency

11:30 AM - 11:50 AM (20 mins)

11:50AM
Panel discussion

Panel: Setting Your Team Up for Success | Implementing Practices for Efficient Workflows

11:50 AM - 12:40 PM (50 mins)

  • How can tech leaders align digital initiatives with governmental policies while leading through bureaucratic complexities?
  • In the role of a leader, how do you instil agile thinking to reshape traditional processes within the public sector?
  • As regulations evolve, what leadership strategies are key to balancing innovation with compliance?
  • From a leader's perspective, what are the most effective ways to manage resources to maximise impact in tech projects?
  • How should leaders approach vendor relationships to cultivate fruitful partnerships that drive technological advancement?
Scott Tivendale
Chief Information Officer, Cenitex
Emma Jones
Deputy Government Statistician and Deputy Chief Executive for Technology Operations, Commercial & Collections, Stats NZ
Rodney Apostol
Chief Information Officer, Victorian Ombudsman
Mark Hawthorne
Public Sector Lead, Tungsten Automation
12:40PM

Lunch & Networking

12:40 PM - 1:40 PM (60 mins)

1:40PM
Roundtables

Roundtable 1: Thriving in the Digital Future

1:40 PM - 2:40 PM (60 mins)

Abhik Sengupta Principal Business Value Advisor, Atlassian
Dean Smith Head of Enterprise Australia/NZ + Public Sector Lead, Atlassian

The nature of work in Australian government agencies is evolving, with teams busier than ever but often struggling to achieve desired outcomes. There is a critical opportunity for government leaders to rethink approaches to teamwork and productivity. Join Atlassian's roundtable, where you'll explore:

  1. Applying AI for Impact: Practical ways to integrate AI into workflows to enhance efficiency and deliver measurable outcomes for government teams
  2. Building Effective Systems of Work: Strategies to align people, processes, and tools for achieving mission-critical objectives
  3. Leading Through Exponential Change: How to make teams confident and comfortable working in a heavily disrupted future state
1:40PM
Roundtables

Roundtable 2: Empowering Government Through Automation: Smarter Workforces, Streamlined Services

1:40 PM - 2:40 PM (60 mins)

Mark Hawthorne Public Sector Lead, Tungsten Automation
  • Empower Employees: Explore how automation helps employees manage increasing workloads more effectively, allowing them to focus on higher-value tasks.
  • Successful Automation Strategies: Discuss practical approaches to automating routine functions within government operations for improved efficiency and accuracy.
  • Continuous Process Improvement: Identify ways to enhance processes through continual automation efforts, leading to better service delivery and responsiveness to citizen needs.
1:40PM
Roundtables

Roundtable 3: Future Trends: Preparing for the Digital Shifts

1:40 PM - 2:40 PM (60 mins)

Evan Davey Head of Australia & NZ, DEPT®
  • AI in Action: Moving from Hype to Implementation: Exploring practical ways government can embed AI into core services to reduce administrative load, personalise citizen experiences — without losing sight of ethics and public trust.
  • Future-Proofing the Public Sector Workforce: Strategies for equipping teams with digital fluency, reimagining roles, and building internal capacity to lead transformation — from data literacy to change agility.
  • Learning from Global Leaders: What governments in regions like Estonia, the UK, and Singapore are doing to embrace digital maturity — and how Australia and New Zealand can adapt these lessons to our unique public sector landscape.
1:40PM
Roundtables

Roundtable 4: Facilitated by Newgen

1:40 PM - 2:40 PM (60 mins)

1:40PM
Roundtables

Roundtable 5: Facilitated by Workday

1:40 PM - 2:40 PM (60 mins)

1:40PM
Roundtables

Roundtable 6: Facilitated by Iron Mountain

1:40 PM - 2:40 PM (60 mins)

1:40PM
Roundtables

Roundtable 7: Facilitated by Gitlab

1:40 PM - 2:40 PM (60 mins)

2:40PM

Break

2:40 PM - 2:50 PM (10 mins)

2:50PM

Welcome from Event Chair: Summary of Session 2 | Intro to Session 3: Technology

2:50 PM - 3:00 PM (10 mins)

3:00PM
Keynote

Leading the Charge in Secure Tech Adoption and Data Management

3:00 PM - 3:20 PM (20 mins)

3:20PM
Panel discussion

Panel: Visionary Leadership: Navigating the Technological Landscape

3:20 PM - 4:10 PM (50 mins)

Jonas Petersen
Chief Digital Officer, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, WA
Elizabeth Wilson
Chief Information Officer, Victorian Department of Education
Nikhil Patinge
Director – WoVG Digital Integration Services | Technology & Digital Platforms, Department of Government Services
Michelle Fitzgerald
Group Chief Digital Officer, St Vincent’s Health Australia
Adam Carthew
Chief Information Officer, Service Victoria
Chikako Masuda
Head of Intelligence Research, Digital Agency, Government of Japan
4:10PM

Closing Remarks: Summary of Segment 3

4:10 PM - 4:20 PM (10 mins)

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