NSW Public Sector Women in Leadership Summit 2025

Join us as we officially open the summit, set the scene for the days ahead, and highlight key themes. Start the journey towards meaningful conversations and new connections.

The Hon Jodie Harrison MP, Minister for Women, will deliver the opening address for the event, setting the tone for two days of learning, networking and inspiration. With her passion for gender equality and commitment to empowering women, Minister Harrison will share insights on driving meaningful change and advancing opportunities for women in leadership across the public sector.

As NSW Fair Trading Commissioner and Deputy Secretary, Natasha Mann manages a broad range of regulatory functions, including SafeWork NSW and NSW Fair Trading, all designed to protect and support businesses and communities across NSW. In this session, Natasha will draw on her extensive regulatory and public policy experience to highlight how aligning actions with core values has allowed her to lead effectively and drive positive outcomes. She will share how a purpose-driven approach helps to guide decision-making and create impactful solutions.

- Defining your leadership purpose and setting clear goals

- Integrating personal and organisational values to strengthen decision-making

- Building the confidence to tackle challenges with purpose

As leaders, we all face challenging situations that test our resilience, both at work and in life. During times of change and adversity, it’s crucial to support our teams - but what if you're unsure how to guide others through their toughest moments? Join Jacqui as she explores strategies for strengthening team dynamics, fostering open dialogue, and building a culture that prioritises long-term mental well-being. Discover how to lead with clarity and compassion, empowering your team to thrive in any circumstance.

- Develop strategies for mental resilience and personal growth

- Prioritise personal and team-wellbeing

- Navigate your personal and professional challenges

Take a break, grab a coffee, and connect with fellow attendees. A great opportunity to reflect on the morning’s discussions and continue the conversation in a relaxed setting.

Unconscious bias influences decisions at every level, often in ways we don’t realise. This session explores how bias shapes workplace culture, decision-making, and leadership in the public sector. Through practical strategies, she will empower leaders to recognise and challenge their own biases, creating more inclusive and equitable environments.

- Realise your unique strengths and reach your potential

- Challenge negative self-talk and reframe your narrative

- Embrace each experience as a learning opportunity

Leading the Hunter’s largest council, Morven Cameron has driven the development of multiple successful partnerships and implemented significant organisational restructures, relying on her collaborative and staff-centred approach. Morven demonstrates by putting people first, you lay the foundation for a flexible and collaborative environment that encourages teams to be more responsive and organisations to achieve innovative outcomes. Discover how Morven empowers her teams and drives progress effectively

- Prioritising different needs and perspectives

- Developing supportive and positive work cultures 

- Strengthening partnerships for long-term success

Network with peers and continue conversations sparked in the morning sessions. Use this break to make connections that could shape your next steps.

Leaders often have to navigate diverse career pathways and make bold decisions to overcome obstacles. At times it’s easy to downplay your strengths or hesitate when applying for roles that seem beyond your reach. So how can you make the right decision when it comes to career progression? In this session, our panellists reflect on the opportunities and risks that have shaped their career journeys, and the unexpected lessons they have learnt along the way.

- Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth

- Lean into your authentic leadership style

- Back yourself and your ability

Successful collaboration within government is essential in addressing the complex, interconnected challenges facing the public service today. With her extensive background in social justice, Sharon Gudu will share how she builds strong, collaborative relationships to drive key reforms and ensure child safety through a co-design approach.

- Identifying opportunities for continuous learning

- Building strategic relationships 

- Communicate with impact and influence

Refuel for the final stretch of the day with a selection of refreshments. A perfect moment to pause, reflect, and prepare for the closing session.

Effective leadership isn’t just about what you know, it’s about who you know and how you engage with them. In this session, Liz shares practical strategies for building meaningful professional networks, leveraging connections to drive career growth, and fostering authentic relationships that support leadership success. Learn how to navigate networking with confidence, create opportunities, and strengthen your influence in the public sector.

- Grow and expand with networking 

- Navigating hybrid networking

- Build meaningful and supportive relationship

Wind down with an evening of networking over drinks and canapés. A fantastic opportunity to deepen connections, share perspectives, and enjoy a relaxed social setting.

Look back on the key moments from Day 1 and set the focus for the day ahead. A great way to refocus and maximise your experience!

Sonya Campbell has spent 20 years working on a wide range of complex infrastructure projects, advising both government and private sectors on commercial, financial, governance, and risk management strategies. In this session, Sonya shares valuable lessons from her experience leading high-stakes initiatives, offering practical insights on maintaining momentum, navigating change, and boosting team productivity.

- Master high level workloads, including through challenging times

- Adapting to change and unforeseen obstacles 

- Proactively manage expectations and set clear goals

Join Cassandra Franklin as she shares her journey of leadership in the public sector. Drawing on her extensive experience, Cassandra will discuss the challenges she has faced and the strategies she has employed to rise through the ranks in a highly competitive field. Cassandra reflects on building inclusive workplace cultures, navigating complex organisational landscapes, and leading with authenticity and resilience.

Take a mid-morning break to grab a refreshment, connect with colleagues, and reflect on the insights from the morning sessions.

Emotional intelligence is a critical skill for effective leadership, enabling leaders to navigate complex challenges, build strong relationships, and drive meaningful change. In this session, Amy Stewart explores how self-awareness, empathy, and resilience can enhance leadership effectiveness, particularly in high-pressure environments. Attendees will gain practical strategies to harness emotional intelligence for stronger decision-making, team dynamics, and workplace influence.

- Emotional intelligence and employee engagement

- Manage interactions using emotional intelligence

- Apply emotional intelligence across facets of leadership

Deb Willcox, Chief Executive of Sydney Local Health District, is a visionary healthcare leader known for her compassion and authenticity. Starting her career as a nurse, Deb has worked across various roles in NSW Health, including as Deputy Secretary of Health System Strategy and Planning. Recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia for her outstanding service to health and the community, Deb has implemented game-changing initiatives like the NSW Future Health Strategy. Join Deb as she explores how she transforms patient care and health systems through an authentic and trust-based leadership approach.

- Understand the impact you can have as a leader 

- Build genuine relationships based on trust and integrity 

- Lean into your strengths 

Network with peers and continue conversations sparked in the morning sessions. Use this break to make connections that could shape your next steps.

Innovation continues to reshape the operation of the public sector, from digital transformation to policy design and service delivery. To stay ahead and solve complex challenges, leaders need to be adaptable, accountable and digitally equipped. Join this panel to explore how leaders are embracing innovation to support a diverse and sustainable future for the NSW public sector.

- Building a culture of continuous improvement in public sector services

- Upholding trust and building collaboration across agencies 

- Leveraging data-driven decision making to improve outcomes and efficiency

We live in a world of information excess, where constant competing demands on our attention have made work overload, and decision fatigue an increasingly widespread issue. Recognising the sources of work overload is crucial, but it's also important to learn strategies to reduce the cognitive load that accompanies it, so you can make great decisions while performing under pressure. Join Karen as she shares practical tips for identifying and managing your work overload stressors.

- Explore the neuroscience of working memory and attention.

- Understand the importance of monitoring your mental energy level

- Practice a relaxation technique to reduce stress and get your cognitive energy back

Enjoy a final break before the closing sessions. A chance to reset and prepare for the last discussions of the event.

Leading public policy reform in complex areas and environments cannot be achieved without successful engagement with key stakeholders. In this session, Alison will explore how understanding the unique needs of stakeholder groups and actively engaging with multidisciplinary perspectives has been key in leading complex reforms and transformations. Join her as she shares her leadership experiences in driving lasting and impactful change.

- Understand and effectively engage with diverse stakeholder groups

- Navigate competing interests and perspectives 

- Lead with a clear vision and purpose

Consolidate key learnings, reflect on the summit’s impact, and discuss next steps. A valuable opportunity to share final thoughts, and leave inspired and ready to take action!

Develop self-awareness and authenticity

- Lead authentically through values-based leadership

- Identify personal strengths and potential de-railers as a leader

- Optimise your leadership style for your organisation

High level communication, influence, and negotiation skills

- Manage emotions for effective, assertive communication

- Develop your “conversational intelligence”

- Prepare for and successfully navigate difficult conversations 

Develop self and others with reflective leadership

- Recognise the benefits of reflection

- Develop skills for effective reflective practice

- Apply reflection to enhance organisational culture

Strategic career progression

- Create a personal leadership plan

- Build relationships for professional opportunities

- Manage personal branding and visibility effectively

Strategies to accelerate team performance

- Leverage team dynamics to optimise performance

- Challenge, support, and empower others to excel 

- Develop strategies to manage uncooperative team members

Drive change and innovation

- Recognise and overcome obstacles to change

- Trust your instincts, embrace risks, and push boundaries

- Create a culture of positive change 

Remain productive in a crisis

- Build resilience to thrive under pressure

- Support your team and engage others to deliver

- Provide and accept feedback after crisis

Action planning for leadership

- Plan approaches for short and long-term goals

- Identify and understand personal and organisational challenges

- Share approaches to move your career forward