Executive Connections

A distinguished panel of experts shared invaluable insights on how AI can serve as an indispensable tool for the public sector. The panel included Edward Santow, Professor and Co-Director of the UTS Human Technology Institute, Natacha Fort, Principal Solutions Architect, Government Data Science Lead, Amazon Web Services and Jessica Ho, Director Digital Investment and Assurance Division, NSW Department of Customer Service. 

This event was an opportunity for executives to understand how to better advocate for a diverse next generation of senior leaders, and to celebrate the incredible Aboriginal and CALD leaders we have in the public sector. Executives explored the importance of challenging some of the stereotypes of what a leader should be and how a diverse and inclusive leadership benefits the sector and the broader community.

Attendees heard from Lisa Annese, CEO Diversity Council Australia, Ming Long AM, private sector Non-Executive Director and former CEO/CFO, and Dr Todd Fernando, Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Communities, on their journeys to leadership and and insights on valuing cultural strength in the workforce. The session was moderated by Kathrina Lo, NSW Public Service Commissioner. 

Joining us from New York for this unique event was best-selling author and Professor of Management at Columbia Business School, Professor Rita McGrath. Rita is one of the world's foremost experts on strategy and innovation. She has consistently been ranked among the top 10 management thinkers globally and has received the #1 award for strategy by Thinkers50 Her impressive background includes extensive experience with public sector contexts.

Dr McGrath shared how to apply her tools and frameworks to strategy – specifically for contexts of high uncertainty or requiring innovation. Participants heard her unique insights and were equipped with the strategic thinking skills you need to ‘see around corners’. 

International performance coach Owen Eastwood joined NSW Public Service Commissioner Kathrina Lo in conversation about how to foster a culture of belonging in the workplace and how inclusive practices can contribute to high performance in our organisations.

Owen shared his diverse experiences including working with the England football team, British Olympic Team and the Command Group of NATO. Participants heard the inclusive leadership skills you need to build psychological safety in your organisation, enabling people to thrive. 

Josh Bersin, an expert on the talent market and trends impacting workforces shared his views on the current economy and how we can use data to tell the 'real' story behind the media spin. He explored how the use of workforce data and insights can help us build the workforces we need to achieve our collective goals for NSW.

Josh is cited as one of the top HR and workplace industry analysts in the world and is frequently featured in talent and business publications such as Forbes, Harvard Business Review, HR Executive, Fast Company, The Wall Street Journal, and CLO Magazine. His recent research initiatives span diversity and inclusion, hybrid work, wellbeing, HR capabilities and business resilience.

NSW Government aims to be the world’s most customer-centric government by 2030. In 2021, the NSW Department of Customer Service launched a whole of government strategy to work towards a customer centric government.

Being customer-centric means that government is there for people and businesses when they need support, is easy to deal with, and works hard in the background to keep making their lives better.

This event featured The Hon. Victor Dominello, Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government; Emma Hogan, Secretary for Digital and NSW Department of Customer Service, Kathrina Lo, NSW Public Service Commissioner, and Amy Brown, Secretary of Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade.