Overview
As governments across Australia and New Zealand accelerate their ambition to build world-leading digital economies, public-sector leaders are entering a period of rapid transformation. Federal and state governments are investing heavily in AI capability, digital infrastructure and workforce readiness, with Australia committing more than $1 billion through the National AI Capability Plan and related initiatives, alongside growing investment across states and territories in data platforms, automation and responsible AI adoption.
Against this backdrop, modern AI technologies — including large language models (LLMs), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and emerging agentic AI systems — are reshaping how government operates. From policy development and case management to HR, ICT and procurement workflows, AI is beginning to transform how public services are designed, delivered and governed.
This virtual program is designed specifically for public-sector leaders across Australia and New Zealand, providing a structured and practical journey: understand AI, navigate the challenges, plan strategically, and act with confidence.
Across two interactive sessions, participants will explore AI governance, ethical use, workforce readiness and cyber risk mitigation, while applying practical tools to assess opportunities, engage stakeholders and develop actionable AI roadmaps.
With AI set to influence every aspect of government operations, this program equips leaders with the insight and confidence needed to guide their organisations into an AI-enabled future.
Who Should Attend?
Senior leaders across Australian and New Zealand public sector organisations, including: Federal, state and local government executives, directors and senior managers | Policy and program leaders shaping digital, data and AI strategies | CIOs, CDOs, digital, technology and data leaders | HR, workforce and organisational transformation leaders No technical background is required — only responsibility for strategy, services, risk, transformation or people leadership.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
Understand modern AI (LLMs, RAG, agentic AI) well enough to lead, not just observe
Recognise and manage the ethical, regulatory, workforce and cyber risks unique to government AI
Collaborate more effectively with CIOs, data teams and vendors using a shared language and concrete tools
Identify the right AI use cases and avoid hype-driven or high-risk dead-ends
Prepare their workforce and organisation for AI-enabled ways of working
Leave with a practical, governed AI action plan tailored to their department
Online Training
AI for Public Sector Leaders: Strategy, Governance & Action
Session details
- Understand modern AI (LLMs, RAG, agentic AI) well enough to lead, not just observe
- Recognise and manage the ethical, regulatory, workforce and cyber risks unique to government AI
- Collaborate more effectively with CIOs, data teams and vendors using a shared language and concrete tools
- Identify the right AI use cases and avoid hype-driven or high-risk dead-ends
- Prepare your workforce and organisation for AI-enabled ways of working
- Leave with a practical, governed AI action plan tailored to your department
AI for Public Sector Leaders: Strategy, Governance & Action
No technical background required – just responsibility for strategy, risk, services or people.
Key Sessions
Welcome & Context
- Program introduction, objectives, and outcomes
- Positioning AI in the government context
- Overview of the day
The AI Era & Rise of Agentic AI
- Evolution: chatbots → copilots → AI that can act
- Implications for policy, HR, ICT, procurement, and service delivery
- Activity: Pain Points & Opportunities mapping (departmental focus)
- Plain-language explanation of LLMs, RAG, and agentic AI
- Risks of hallucination and mitigation via RAG and governance
- Activity: “Which Answer Would You Approve?”
- Balancing innovation with accountability and public value
- Understanding AI unknowns and emergent behaviour
- Activity: Public Value Check (mini-case review)
- Key AI cyber risks and mitigation strategies
- Threat → Control mapping activity to create a departmental checklist
- Aligning AI initiatives with ethical frameworks, legislation, and workforce obligations
- Activity: Framework Lens (evaluate AI use case against ethics, regulation, workforce impacts)
- AI steering/oversight models, roles, approvals, and use case lifecycle
- Activity: Design Your Governance Loop
- Identifying high-value, low-risk opportunities
- Activity: Use Case Canvas & Impact vs Risk prioritisation
- Exec ↔ tech collaboration role-play
- Personal and team commitments to adopting AI in daily workflows
Closing & Next Steps
- Complete 6–12 month AI roadmap & 90-day action plan
- Summary: leading AI-enabled departments in government
Meet Your Facilitator
Waqas Khan
Data & AI Leader Driving Organisational Transformation | Expert in AI Governance, LLMs, Agentic AI, RAG, Data Engineering & Scalable Advanced Analytics
Waqas Khan is a data and AI leader with strong expertise in Large Language Models, agentic systems and Retrieval-Augmented Generation. Currently completing a PhD in Artificial Intelligence at RMIT University, he focuses on trustworthy and explainable AI, bringing cutting-edge research into real-world government and industry applications. He has led major analytics and modernisation initiatives, including a cloud-native procurement platform for the Department of Government Services that significantly improved visibility, governance and decision-making.
With a solid foundation in cloud data platforms, AI-enabled systems and data governance, he delivers scalable architectures that uplift operational performance and support strategic decision-making. He is known for building high-performing teams, advising senior executives on data and AI strategy and driving capability uplift across organisations. Passionate about responsible and future-focused AI, he is committed to helping organisations navigate an increasingly intelligent landscape.
Register Today
Join this training for professionals working within the Public Sector
Extra Early Bird
Ends 15 May
$A 795
per person + tax $400 savingEarly Bird
Ends 12 Jun
$A 995
per person + tax $200 savingRegular
Ends 21 Jul
$A 1195
per person + taxFor group or payment enquiries or custom training solutions, please contact [email protected]
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