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.

In a fast-paced and complex world, it can be challenging to align big-picture values with the realities of day-to-day public sector leadership. Things can easily feel out of reach, and we can come to doubt our individual impact. For our event keynote, Lorraine Finlay reflects on her distinguished career, and her work as Australian Human Rights Commissioner, to explore how leaders can ground their professional purpose in their everyday actions. With practical insights on translating human rights principles into meaningful behaviours, this keynote will inspire you to recognise the power of small moments and embody your values to create lasting impact.

- Connect professional purpose with practical, day-to-day leadership

- Integrate your values into decision-making

- Embrace everyday opportunities to lead with purpose and make meaningful change

Join Kate van Hilst as she delves into the complexities of leading change and transformation in Australia's Defence sector. With over 15 years experience in submarine construction and strategic policy, Kate offers a unique perspective on the challenges of navigating large-scale projects. Understand the leadership mindset needed to thrive under pressure, inspired by Kate's real-world successes and lessons learned.

- Overcome challenges with resilience and adaptability

- Inspire and lead teams through transformation and change

- Leadership mindset to tackle uncertainty

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.

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

Maree Bridger will share her reflections on a career shaped by a commitment to impactful leadership and building strong connections. Through personal stories and key insights, she will explore how small, intentional actions can lead to transformative outcomes for individuals, teams, and organisations. This session offers an inspiring opportunity to learn from Maree’s experience and to embrace the power of leadership that drives meaningful change.

Enjoy a well-deserved break with a delicious meal and the chance to network with peers. Use this time to recharge and exchange insights from the morning’s sessions.

Leadership is central to digital transformation. Emerging technologies like AI and advanced data systems are transforming the public sector, offering immense potential for innovation and efficiency, but they also bring complex challenges that require leadership. This panel delves into the technical considerations, ethical implications, and critical skills that leaders need to navigate this rapidly changing environment.

- Embrace digital transformation to develop new capabilities

- Cultivate adaptability, empower teams, and drive a culture of change

- Balance innovation and accountability

Achieving work-life balance is often viewed as an elusive goal, but in reality, it’s an ongoing journey, one that evolves through different stages of life and career. In this intimate and practical session Margaret shares her personal experiences and reflections on navigating the challenges of balancing professional and personal responsibilities. Margaret will explore how to cultivate self-kindness when things don’t go according to plan, and develop practical, adaptable strategies to help manage competing priorities and build resilience during times of stress and uncertainty.

- Understanding that work-life balance is not static but evolves with life’s changes

- Practical tips for self-compassion and maintaining perspective during challenging times

- Strategies to navigate competing demands with grace and adaptability

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 relationships

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!

In today’s complex and rapidly changing world, leaders must anchor their decision-making in values that resonate with both themselves and their teams. For Letitia Hope, leadership is not just about driving outcomes - it's about being a true custodian of the public service, serving both the community and the individuals within the organisation with integrity and compassion. In this session, Letitia will share how her leadership philosophy is deeply rooted in values that empower her team and create a culture of accountability, trust, and engagement.

- Define core values to guide your leadership approach

- Connect team engagement to shared values, driving accountability, trust, and engagement

- Lead with compassion and integrity, reinforce a culture of service and ethical stewardship

Sometimes the direct approach isn’t always the best. While defence traditionally relies on command and control, a leadership style grounded in influence and human connection can often be more effective, especially when it comes to tackling change. Drawing on her extensive career in defence, Lt Col Suzanne Albury shares practical strategies for slowing down, refocusing, and guiding teams through uncertainty by fostering collaboration and embracing flexibility.

Build trust by fostering authentic connections and clear communication.

- Influence your team to embrace change 

- Show agility to learn fast

- Become a change champion without pulling rank 

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

In a world shaped by constant change and technological disruption, effective leadership requires adaptability, foresight, and the ability to harness innovation for the greater good. Join Pia Andrews, Chief Data Officer at the Department of Home Affairs, as she explores how women in leadership can amplify their impact by leveraging data, artificial intelligence, and participatory governance. With a career spanning public sector transformation and data-driven policymaking, Pia shares insights into navigating complexity and creating value through collaboration and innovation.

- Practical strategies to integrate data and AI as a leader

- Collaborative approaches to enhance inclusivity and build trust

- How to stay adaptable, innovative, and impactful in the face of change

Unconscious bias influences decisions at every level, often in ways we don’t realise. In this session, Bec 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

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

With constant change and uncertainty around us, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless to make a real impact. The big picture can seem out of reach, and yet it’s often the small, everyday interactions that leave the most meaningful impressions. What are the little moments that matter - the subtle, easily overlooked opportunities to build trust and foster a people-centred culture that drives success? In this session, our panellists will explore these hidden opportunities to slow down, regain focus, and create small moments with a big impact.

- Translate strategic goals into meaningful everyday actions

- Harness your own "little moments" for personal and professional growth

- Real-world examples of how people-centred leadership builds trust, engagement, and resilience

Emotional intelligence is a critical skill for effective leadership, enabling leaders to navigate complex challenges, build strong relationships, and drive meaningful change. This session 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

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

Building a new agency from the ground up is never a straightforward or linear process. In this session, Vicki Woodburn shares key leadership insights from her experience navigating this complex journey, balancing strategic vision with operational challenges, leading teams through uncertainty, and fostering resilience while driving meaningful outcomes.

- How to lead an emerging agency when the roadmap is constantly evolving

- Managing personal resilience and supporting teams through high-stakes challenges

- Integrating scientific insights with leadership decisions to achieve meaningful outcomes

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