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
No technical background required – just responsibility for strategy, risk, services or people.
Key Sessions
Welcome & Program Context
- Program introduction and learning objectives
- The AI moment for governments across Australia and New Zealand
- What leaders need to understand today
Module 1 – The AI Era & the Rise of Agentic AI
- Evolution: chatbots → copilots → autonomous AI agents
- What this means for policy, HR, ICT, procurement and service delivery
- Identifying high-friction processes where AI may help
Interactive activity:
Pain Points & Opportunities Mapping (department focus)
- Plain-language explanation of LLMs and generative AI
- How RAG improves accuracy and reduces hallucination
- Where agentic AI fits in the next wave of automation
Interactive activity:
“Which AI Answer Would You Approve?”
- Balancing innovation with accountability and trust
- Managing AI uncertainty and emergent behaviour
- Ensuring AI enhances public value and service outcomes
Interactive activity:
Public Value Check (mini case analysis)
- Key cyber risks associated with AI systems
- Data protection, prompt injection and model vulnerabilities
- Embedding security from the start
Interactive activity:
Threat → Control Mapping (build a departmental checklist)
- Responsible AI frameworks emerging across ANZ
- Ethical risks and safeguards for public-sector use
- Preparing the workforce for AI-augmented roles
Interactive activity:
Framework Lens – evaluating an AI use case through ethics, regulation and workforce impacts
Day 1 Recap & Day 2 Kick-Off
- Key insights from Day 1
- The shift from understanding AI to implementing it safely
Module 6 – Governance Structures for Safe AI Deployment
- AI oversight models and governance frameworks
- Roles, approvals and accountability structures
- Managing the lifecycle of AI use cases
Interactive activity:
Design Your AI Governance Loop
- Identifying high-value, low-risk AI opportunities
- Aligning AI initiatives with organisational priorities
- Prioritising initiatives using risk and impact frameworks
Interactive activity:
AI Use Case Canvas & Impact vs Risk Prioritisation
- How leaders can effectively engage AI and technical teams
- Asking the right questions of vendors and internal teams
- Avoiding common leadership pitfalls in AI initiatives
Interactive activity:
Exec ↔ Tech collaboration role play
- Integrating AI into leadership decision-making
- Identifying practical AI tools for daily workflows
- Building an AI-ready organisational culture
Interactive activity:
Personal AI leadership commitments
Participants develop a practical 6–12 month AI roadmap and 90-day action plan for their organisation.
Key outputs:
- Priority AI opportunities
- Governance and risk considerations
- Workforce readiness actions
- Next steps for AI adoption
Program close:
Leading AI-enabled public sector organisations across Australia and New Zealand.
Closing Remarks | End of Day 2
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.
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Join this training for professionals working within the Public Sector
Regular
Ends 25 Aug
$A 1195
per person + taxFor group or payment enquiries or custom training solutions, please contact [email protected]
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