Trainer Bethan Winn will unpack critical thinking as a mental process and set of action steps to address everyday problems at the Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving Workshop at Cliftons Perth from 4 – 5 June. Photo: Supplied.
NSW Public Sector Grades 11-12 Strategic Thinking & Advanced Problem Solving
Date: 29 – 30 May
Time: 9 am – 4:30 pm
Location: Cliftons Sydney
Level 13, 60 Margaret Street
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Develop strategic thinking and advanced problem-solving abilities required of Grades 11-12 officers, through:
- Practical outcome-driven strategic thinking and problem-solving models.
- A structured systems thinking approach to analyse problems and formulate strategy.
- Stakeholder engagement principles to work collaboratively on organisational issues.
- Your role as a leader, empowering others to solve problems.
Trainer Dr Karen Whittingham is one of Australia’s leading executive management development specialists, who has worked with thousands of executives to transition them into senior leadership roles quickly and effectively. She is an organisational psychologist passionate about people’s success and facilitating their careers to rise. She teaches organisational psychology at UNSW and works with ASX-listed companies and large public sector organisations to drive engagement, inclusion and performance.
MasterCraft Series – Integrity and complexity in the APS
Date: 29 May
Time: 11 am – noon
Duration: One-hour face-to-screen session
Location: Virtual
Email: https://apslearn.apsacademy.gov.au/user_login
Hear from senior leaders in the APS and academia about how they deal with integrity in their roles. The importance of acting with integrity in decision-making, interacting with colleagues and stakeholders, and how we build ethical leadership is critically important in today’s public service.
This MasterCraft Series event discusses and highlights the role of integrity, particularly in the APS as it depends on trust, transparency and ethical decision-making. Every decision APS employees make should reflect these values, building trust not only within the APS, but also with the wider community.
Leadership plays a vital role by modelling ethical behaviour. However, integrity is not solely the responsibility of leaders – it should be embedded across the APS, with every individual understanding their role in maintaining the APS’s trustworthiness.
Presenters are:
- Deputy chair of the recently established Australian Research Council Board, and fellow and member of the Council of the Academy of the Humanities, Professor Susan Dodds.
- Registrar of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation, Tricia Stroud.
- Retired public servant Ron Brent, who worked for 10 years as the director of the National Film and Sound Archive, spent seven years as Deputy Commonwealth Ombudsman, six months as Commonwealth Ombudsman, and then retired to take posts as the first Australian Aircraft Noise Ombudsman and the initial chair of the Australian Research Integrity Committee.
This event is suitable for all staff.
Leadership Strategies Series 2025: In-person
When: 3 – 4 June; 17 – 18 June; 22 – 23 July
Where: East Hotel, 69 Canberra Avenue, Kingston
Cost: Ticket prices vary; find out more at Kim Vella Leadership
As a leader in the public service, do any of these points resonate with you?
- I feel overwhelmed all the time, like I’m spinning plates that could drop at any moment.
- I’m always under pressure with competing priorities, limited resources, and an ever-changing geopolitical landscape.
- I’m worried the hard work I put in isn’t recognised.
- I walk into meetings and feel anxious about what to say.
- I don’t usually think about my wellbeing. I just want to make it through another week.
- I feel like I’m never enough, and don’t know what could change that.
If any of these do resonate with you, you’re not alone. The skills every public sector leader needs to thrive in today’s environment are next level – yet they’re rarely taught. Instead, we rely on outdated leadership models that leave you feeling stressed, exhausted, and helpless.
Join respected executive leadership coach Dr Kim Vella, with the support of esteemed industry professionals, for a new leadership skills pathway: The Leadership Strategies Series.
This workshop series gives you access to 32-plus hours of in-person collaborative learning, including:
- Cutting-edge leadership strategies.
- Coaching from PS experts and industry professionals.
- Advanced psychometric tools.
- Personalised assessments.
- Individualised feedback.
- Tailored action plans.
The Leadership Strategies Series is delivered in two stages: Essentials level and Enhanced level. Each level comprises two full-day workshops, with a six-week break in between to apply your new skills. You’ll also have the opportunity to join a facilitated peer mentoring session during this time to discuss challenges and insights.
Become the APS leader you can be – confident, balanced, insightful, and authentic – by levelling up your leadership skills with the Leadership Strategies Series.
Advanced Policy Workshop
Date: 3 – 5 June
Time: 9 am – 4:30 pm
Location: Online
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Elevate policy development, drive impactful changes, and manage complex issues.
- Apply higher-level strategic thinking and influencing skills.
- Navigate complexity, and manage change, risk, and opportunity.
- Assess evidence and context for policy change.
- Improve stakeholder engagement and consultation processes.
Trainer Dr Jeremiah Brown, a lecturer in public policy at the University of Melbourne’s School of Social and Political Sciences, focuses on the intersection of social policy, freedom, and financial wellbeing. His research, influenced by Amartya Sen’s capability approach, explores how societal disadvantages limit individual freedoms in democratic settings.
Dr Brown earned his PhD in political theory from the University of Melbourne in 2018 and teaches political theory and social science research methods.
SA Public Sector Women in Leadership Masterclass
Date: 4 – 5 June
Time: 9 am – 4:30 pm
Location: Kaurna Country | Adelaide
Email: [email protected]
This transformative program is designed to enhance and accelerate your leadership development. Take charge of the next phase of your career. This is a watershed moment in your career, and the skills and behaviours that you cultivate now will become the cornerstones of your senior leadership in the years to come.
This intimate and engaging masterclass is designed to provide you with the crucial skills and behaviours to grow and scale your senior leadership for what comes next.
Specifically designed for women in public sector leadership roles from all jurisdictions, this two-day masterclass will give you key tools to thrive as a senior leader and set yourself up for success for the rest of your career.
Facilitator, former deputy chief executive from the Department of the Premier and Cabinet SA, Alison Lloydd-Wright, will take you on a journey of lightbulb moments and strategically grow key skills so that you walk away refreshed, inspired and more confident in your leadership and the path ahead.
Alison is managing director of the Good Trouble Group, a consulting group committed to creating bold outcomes through a willingness to take unconventional, cheeky and disruptive approaches. She is a proud culture, leadership, and strategy nerd with a fierce passion for the future of work. Alison partners with organisations, industries, and places to attract, retain, and empower young talent.
Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving Workshop
Date: 4 – 5 June
Time: 9 am – 4:30 pm
Location: Cliftons Perth
Parmelia House, 191 St Georges Terrace
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Unpack critical thinking as a mental process and set of action steps to address everyday problems.
- Apply practical, outcome-driven models for critical thinking and problem solving.
- Expand your perspective and deepen your understanding of issues and problems impacting your work.
- Understand team dynamics in problem solving and how to work with others in the process.
- Overcome common roadblocks to critical thinking and problem solving.
Trainer Bethan Winn is a keynote speaker, facilitator and director of Human Skills Co, delivering tailored, transformative training to professionals, government, academic and corporate audiences. She has been an international educator for two decades.
Bethan is passionate about sharing critical and creative-thinking skills and enhancing communication and connection in relatable, pragmatic and playful ways. She’s also a mum, a runner, a chocoholic and a Welsh speaker.
APS6 to EL1: Managing Performance & Difficult Conversations
Date: 4 – 5 June
Time: 9 am – 4:30 pm
Location: Cliftons Canberra
Level 2, 10 Moore Street
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Learn essential communication and conflict resolution skills to effectively and proactively manage performance.
- Understand the risks of employee disengagement and identifying its signs.
- Deliver performance feedback that is proactive, effective, and actionable.
- Prepare for and navigate tough conversations with the right tools.
- Learn essential skills for resolving conflicts constructively and positively.
Trainer Dr Karen Whittingham is one of Australia’s leading executive management development specialists, who has worked with thousands of executives to transition them into senior leadership roles quickly and effectively.
She is an organisational psychologist passionate about people’s success and facilitating their careers to rise. She teaches organisational psychology at UNSW and works with ASX-listed companies and large public sector organisations to drive engagement, inclusion, and performance.
QLD Government Professional Writing Essentials
Date: 12 June
Time: 9 am – 4:30 pm
Location: Cliftons Brisbane
Level 24, 288 Edward Street
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Transform your writing skills – a high-impact toolkit for lasting success.
- Make your written communication more impactful and engaging.
- Write with confidence and build skills to write clearly and concisely.
- Understand common writing mistakes and how to avoid them.
- Plan and tailor your writing to your audience.
Trainer Adrian Cropley is a certified strategic communication management professional and past global chair of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). Adrian is widely recognised as one of the world’s foremost experts in strategic communication.
He is the founder of the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence and CEO at Cropley Communication. With a career spanning more than 30 years, Adrian has worked with clients all over the world on major change communication initiatives, internal communication reviews and strategies, professional development programs, and executive leadership and coaching.
Media Skills for Executives
Date: 18 June
Time: 9 am – 4:30 pm
Location: Online
Email: [email protected]
Overview
Navigate the media landscape with finesse and mastery.
- Articulate your message with clarity and brevity.
- Adapt your communication style to resonate with diverse media audiences.
- Master techniques to shape the narrative and steer conversations towards desired talking points.
- Apply media skills to real-world scenarios through interactive exercises and role-playing.
Trainer Amber Daines has more than 25 years of diverse experience. Amber, the founder of Bespoke Co, brings a wealth of expertise as a former business TV and newspaper journalist, and PR consultant.
Leading a team of five consultants, she serves clients in financial services, cryptocurrency, and industry associations. Presently, Amber focuses on media training, crisis PR and reputation management. Her podcast, The Politics of Everything, has garnered five million downloads and inspired an online course for podcasters.
Leadership Strategies Series 2025: Online
When: 24 – 25 June; 29 – 30 July; 9 – 10 September
Where: Online (via Teams)
Cost: Ticket prices vary; find out more at Kim Vella Leadership
Join respected executive leadership coach Dr Kim Vella, with the support of esteemed industry professionals, for a new leadership skills pathway: The Leadership Strategies Series.
This workshop series gives you access to 32-plus hours of online collaborative learning, including:
- Cutting-edge leadership strategies.
- Coaching from PS experts and industry professionals.
- Advanced psychometric tools.
- Personalised assessments.
- Individualised feedback.
- Tailored action plans.
This series is delivered in two stages: Essentials level and Enhanced level. Each level comprises two full-day workshops, with a six-week break in between to apply your new skills. You’ll also have the opportunity to join a facilitated peer mentoring session during this time to discuss challenges and insights.
Become the APS leader you can be – confident, balanced, insightful, and authentic – by levelling up your leadership skills with the Leadership Strategies Series.
