Facilitator Leah Thode will engage you in an immersive experience that progressively builds your leadership acumen through the online Empowering Emerging Leaders Bootcamp from 10 February — 31 March. Photo: Supplied.
VIC Public Sector Women in Leadership Summit 2026
Date: 6 — 20 February
Time: 9 am — 4:30 pm
Location: Pullman Melbourne Albert Park Hotel
Email: [email protected]
Overview
- Lead without Limits: Empowering Women to Shape the Future of the Public Sector.
- Position yourself as a future-ready VPS leader.
- Connect with inspiring women and transform your obstacles into opportunities.
- Thrive through change with clarity and confidence.
- Lean into your strengths, own your blind spots, and be better.
Speakers include Simone O’Brien, whose life changed forever after a near-fatal domestic violence attack. Rather than remain silent, she chose to speak. Rather than retreat, she chose to lead. In this powerful and emotional keynote, Simone shares her lived experience as a survivor turned advocate, and how trauma can become a turning point for purpose. Her story is a call to action for every leader: to stand up, to speak out, and to create safe, inclusive cultures where people are supported.
Other speakers include: CEO, Transport Accident Commission, Tracey Slatter; Deputy Secretary, Budget, Finance & Investment, Department of Health VIC, Catherine Rooney; Deputy Secretary, Integrity, Regulation and Legal Services, Department of Justice and Community Safety, Kathryn Bannon; Deputy Secretary, Consumer Affairs & Local Government, Department of Government Services, Lisa Gandolfo; and Fire Rescue Commissioner, Fire Rescue Victoria, Gavin Freeman.
Empowering Emerging Leaders Bootcamp
Date: 10 February — 31 March
Time: 9:30 am — 10:30 am
Location: Online
Email: [email protected]
Elevate your leadership with this bootcamp, crafted to empower emerging leaders with the essential skills and insights needed to excel in their role. This course from the Institute of Public Administration Australia (NSW) is delivered over eight 1.5-hour sessions.
Is this course right for you? During the virtual weekly workshops, you’ll engage in an immersive experience that progressively builds your leadership acumen, ensuring you are well prepared to navigate the challenges of today’s fast-paced working environment.
This unique course is designed to sharpen your leadership skills and set a positive tone, and gives you a focus for the upcoming week. If you’re eager to boost your leadership effectiveness and thrive in a rapidly changing world, this transformative bootcamp is your next step.
Leah Thode is a naturally engaging facilitator. She thrives on challenging the status quo to achieve key objectives and lasting change. Leah provides individuals and teams with the tools and knowledge to develop strengths, build collaboration, and achieve rewarding outcomes.
Navigating Difficult Conversations
Date: 11 February
Time: 9 am — 12:30 pm
Location: Online
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Discover strategies, tools and frameworks to communicate effectively in challenging situations.
- Identify and address barriers hindering difficult conversations.
- Develop practical strategies for effective communication.
- Enhance conflict-resolution skills, define objectives, and stay solution-focused.
- Craft a personal action plan to apply your newfound skills in various real-world scenarios.
Trainer Karen Whittingham is one of Australia’s leading executive management development specialists, having worked with thousands of executives to transition them into senior leadership roles quickly and effectively. Dr Whittingham is an organisational psychologist passionate about people’s success and facilitating their careers to rise.
Power BI Fundamentals — Powering Up Your Data Insights
Date: 11 — 12 February
Time: 9 am — 4:30 pm
Location: Online
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Take your business intelligence and professional success to the next level by analysing, visualising and sharing data.
- Build impactful reports using data modelling and visualisation tools.
- Transform and clean data efficiently with Power Query.
- Communicate insights clearly through compelling visualisations.
- Collaborate effectively by sharing and managing reports.
Trainer Lance Rubin has extensive financial modelling experience, having worked at two of the Big 4 firms, Investec Bank and National Australia Bank. He is the founder of Model Citizn, helping businesses and governments improve decision-making by managing cash flow and optimising Excel and Power BI environments. Lance has led workshops on data analytics and visualisation across Australia and New Zealand for ACCA and CA ANZ.
He is also the chief Excel officer at EXL Cloud, a software solution for automating cashflow and financial models. A global expert in Power BI for finance, Lance has spoken at the Global Power BI Summit.
Workforce Planning Start-Up Program
Date: 12 February — 26 March
Time: 10 am — 1:30 pm
Duration: Four 3.5-hour face-to-screen sessions
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
The Workforce Planning Start-Up Program focuses on building foundational strategic workforce planning capability across the APS. The program is delivered over four dates and focuses on:
- Setting up workforce planning and linking to business deliverables through engagement with the executive.
- Linking workforce planning to business planning in an agile manner, and utilising labour market data to gather insights.
- Storytelling with internal and external workforce data (focusing on both quantitative and qualitative data).
- Implementation of workforce planning to drive business outcomes and deliver benefits.
This content has been provided by the APS Academy, and the content is suitable for APS 5 — EL 1.
Delivering Great Policy — Foundations
Date: 16 — 17 February
Time: 9 am —5 pm
Duration: Two eight-hour face-to-screen sessions
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
Covering all four modules of Delivering Great Policy, this package defines the core elements required for delivering excellent policy advice: being clear on intent; being well informed; providing solutions that are practical to implement; and ensuring advice is influential. Participants will complete all four modules in sequence.
This content has been provided by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The content is suitable for APS 3 — APS 6 and APS employees who are new to, or considering a career in, policy development roles.
Working Effectively at the APS 6 Level
Date: 16 — 17 February
Time: 9:30 am — 12:30 pm
Duration: Two three-hour face-to-screen sessions
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
This program will help you understand the work-level standards, capability requirements and behavioural expectations at the APS 6 level. The course focuses on the work-level expectations and capability requirements at the APS 6 level detailed in the APS Work Level Standards (WLS) and the APS Integrated Leadership System (ILS). To clarify the step-up in expectations, the program compares the APS 6 work levels and capability requirements to those of the APS 5 level.
This learning experience has been provided by a third party in consultation with the APS Academy, and the content is suitable for APS 5 — APS 6.
Strategic Thinking
Date: 16 — 17 February
Time: 9:30 am — 12:30 pm
Duration: Two three-hour face-to-screen sessions
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
Understand the processes of strategy, the language of strategic thinking and strategic planning. Examine the methods and models used, including group-based planning processes. Discuss and share experiences about professional thought practices, work and team planning, and operating strategically in the APS.
This content has been provided by a third party in consultation with the APS Academy, and the content is suitable for APS 4 — APS 6.
Women Unlimited Leadership Summit
Date: 18 — 19 February
Time: 9 am – 5 pm
Location: In-person and online
Email: [email protected]
The Women UNLIMITED series is built on one defining belief: true leadership emerges when we are free to redefine possibility, unbound by limits. Join us for a landmark event that challenges leaders to expand their vision — personally, professionally and across society.
Women UNLIMITED: Redefining Possibilities invites you to explore new ways of thinking about leadership in a world where boundaries are constantly shifting.
Featuring two global leadership icons, the 49th vice-president of the United States, Kamala Harris, and former Australian foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop, this event offers unparalleled insights from those who have shaped their careers through courageous optimism, resilience and a bold commitment to progress. Other speakers include journalist and author Annabel Crabb and Leigh Sales, respectively.
Bringing the best in global leadership to Australia for two days of inspiration and empowerment, this forum is your opportunity to be inspired, elevate your leadership and help redefine what is possible. Join more than 3000 attendees across seven summits as you hear from over 200 speakers, who are changing limits and redefining what’s possible.
Public Sector Executive Leadership Summit
Date: 18 — 19 February
Time: 9 am – 5 pm
Location: National Convention Centre, Canberra
Email: [email protected]
The Public Sector Executive Leadership Summit convenes senior leaders from federal and state government for an exclusive forum exploring the complex challenges facing executive leaders. Modern government demands leaders who can think strategically, act decisively, and adapt fast.
Through thought-provoking keynotes, real-world scenarios, and peer discussions, delegates will challenge assumptions, refine strategic judgment, and explore approaches to drive transformation, influence policy, harness technology, and lead high-performing teams.
Walk away with actionable frameworks and insights to make high-impact decisions, strengthen organisational outcomes, and lead with confidence across complex government environments.
Speakers include Australia’s former deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth, Australian Taxation Office Commissioner Rob Heferen, Department of Veterans’ Affairs Secretary Alison Frame, Productivity Commission Commissioner Dr Angela Jackson, and Department of Home Affairs Head of National Security Hamish Hansford.
