Episode Overview

In this episode of the Public Sector Podcast, we hear from Jared Kelly Grimmond, Deputy Director General for Water Resource Management at the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers (Queensland). Jared offers a candid look at the realities of digital transformation in government—emphasising the importance of getting the foundations right before rushing to deliver new services.

With responsibility for managing Queensland’s critical water resources, Jared shares how his department is modernising outdated systems, rolling out new online portals, and embracing innovation to serve communities more effectively. His reflections highlight why digital transformation is not just about technology, but about people, mission, and focus.

Queensland’s Digital Water Journey

Jared outlines how the department, managing 13 legacy platforms that didn’t integrate, is now several years into its transformation journey. Key initiatives already underway include:

• An enterprise data platform to unify systems and improve access

• Online portals allowing customers to view water entitlements and submit data digitally

• Compliance case management to streamline regulation

• A single, cloud-based platform to replace multiple small-scale solutions

While progress has been made, Jared notes there is still a long way to go, with ambitions to enable self-service, water market transactions, and more integrated digital delivery.

Foundational Lessons for Transformation

Jared shares practical leadership insights for agencies embarking on similar journeys:

• People: Align staff with the mission and bring them along—digitising poor practices only scales problems.

• Customers: Design services that add value for end users, not just government efficiency.

• Mission focus: Avoid being distracted by endless good ideas; stay anchored to core goals.

• Innovation: Encourage “clever people” in your organisation to solve problems creatively using existing data and tools.

• Fail fast: Test with proofs of concept, embrace failure as learning, and don’t be afraid to stop projects early if needed.

Innovation in Practice

From AI-driven watercourse mapping to simple metering tools that save weeks of manual work, Jared demonstrates how empowering staff to combine existing data and technology can deliver major improvements at low cost. He also highlights the value of learning from other jurisdictions—collaborating with New South Wales on remote sensing to leapfrog challenges and adopt new practices more quickly.

Looking Ahead

As Queensland continues its transformation, priorities include:

• Cross-jurisdictional service integration for seamless citizen access

• Stronger approaches to digital identity and cybersecurity

• Careful, transparent use of AI in government decision-making

• Building scalable, flexible architectures and uplifting staff skills

• Embedding governance frameworks to keep projects on track

Key Takeaways

• Digital transformation starts with people, processes, and mission alignment—not just technology.

• Focus on foundations: clear architecture, governance, and staff capability.

• Innovation doesn’t have to be costly—empower staff to use existing tools differently.

• Learn from others and collaborate across government to accelerate progress.

• Stay flexible, embrace iteration, and don’t be afraid to call time on projects that aren’t working.