EL2 – SES Leadership, Capability & Professional Excellence Masterclass
Learn how to lead at the top of your game, with tips from the top of the public sector
The more you climb the leadership ranks of the public sector, the more is demanded from your leadership. You will gain more responsibility, have more difficult and complex problems to solve, and you will need to understand the distinctions between your own ideas and the demands of the role.
At this critical stage in your leadership journey, you need the skills and advice of someone who has been there before. Having led at the highest levels of the APS, including Deputy CEO and COO of the extra large agency Services Australia during its most challenging times, Russell Egan knows exactly what it takes from you, your mindset and your skillset to lead in the public sector environment.
With an emphasis on capability, confidence and clarity, and a valuable blend of ideas, advice and practical tips, this is a learning and development opportunity that cannot be missed. Join Russell for two full days of learning and interactive activities to gain the perspective you need to lead at the very top.
This masterclass is also relevant for other supervisors with broader leadership requirements
Russell Egan
Former COO & Deputy CEO, Services Australia
With over 25 years of experience in public sector leadership, governance, policy, service delivery, and transformation, Russell has honed his expertise in driving organisational success. Now running his own business providing leadership, strategic advice and guidance to government and private sector clients, Russell has previously served in a number of public sector senior executive roles, including as Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO of one of Australia’s largest government agencies.
Russell Egan
With over 25 years of experience in public sector leadership, governance, policy, service delivery, and transformation, Russell has honed his expertise in driving organisational success. Now running his own business providing leadership, strategic advice and guidance to government and private sector clients, Russell has previously served in a number of public sector senior executive roles, including as Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO of one of Australia’s largest government agencies.
Russell specialises in helping organisations and leaders fully realise their potential by addressing their unique challenges and exploiting their strengths to achieve their objectives. He also sits on a number of government boards and committees as part of his continuing commitment to public sector excellence.
Attend & learn
Learn and fine-tune the core skills of a senior executive leader
Cultivate your leadership effectiveness and influence with public service values at the core
Understand what true authentic leadership means in the APS by balancing professionalism and candour
Confidently lead through crisis, uncertainty & change
Promote and embed clarity, resilience & high performance in your team
Learn with, & from, other executive leaders by sharing challenges & solutions
Gain wisdom, tips & tricks from the highest levels of the APS
What to expect
- The support and guidance of the former Deputy CEO & COO of Services Australia
- Small group-based activity sessions to translate theory into practice
- Real world learning with practical examples and case studies from the top of the APS
- Walk away with a toolkit of practical resources, frameworks, and tools that you will be able to implement immediately in your role & organisation
Agenda
All times are shown in AEST
Registration
Acknowledgement of Country & introductions
Course framework
Part One: Bringing your best self
Managing vs leading as a senior executive
- The difference between public and private sector contexts
- Your role in the public value triangle
- Managing vs directing vs leading
- The adaptive approach for public sector leadership
Leading with heart in government: Know your values
- Identify your personal values
- Expected values and capabilities of the senior public sector leader
- Triangulating to lead with trust and authenticity
Morning break
The empowered leader in government
- Political, economic and social drivers of uncertainty
- Strategies for leading confidently through ambiguity
- Never Play the Victim: Find Your Power
- Break Free from Perfection: Take Action
- Don’t Fear Failure: Embrace Learning
Behaviours for excellence in leadership
- Leading with vulnerability and empathy
- Know your leadership superpowers
- Use your superpowers to shift from managing to leading
Lunch break
Managing resilience as a public sector leader
- The particular demands on the public sector leader
- The four domains of resilience
- Develop your own plan for resilience
Key takeaways & questions from Part One
- Key takeaways and group reflections
- Questions and answers
Afternoon break
Part Two: Enabling your team
Creating the conditions for team success
- The 101 of team trust in government – Building it and losing it
- Building a healthy public sector culture
- Case study: What happens when things go wrong
Achieving sustained team excellence over time
- A framework for building lasting capability
- Capability gap analysis and intervention planning
- Transforming underperforming teams in the public sector
Close of Day One
Registration
Reflections & observations from Day One
Bringing clarity in an uncertain environment
- Inspire purpose while navigating uncertainty
- Set clear goals and expectations
- Unclog blockages and be clear about boundaries
The senior leader as coach
- Your role as coach
- Giving effective feedback
- Tips for managing underperformance
- Simple coaching tools for your leadership toolkit
Morning break
Key takeaways & questions from Part Two
- Key takeaways and group reflections
- Questions and answers
Part Three: Practical tools for the senior leader
Collaboration & influence: Power, politics & enterprise
- Know your real influence footprint
- Develop a sharp strategy for engaging across portfolios
- An influence move you can execute within 2 weeks
Making your vision happen
- Develop a one-page transformation/change strategy
- The spreadsheet is your friend
- Leading through change
Lunch break
Know you are delivering results, & your leader communications
- A basic and reliable scorecard for measuring success
- Adapt the scorecard for all public sector situations
- Make your communications meaningful, consistent and effortless
Personal effectiveness: Tips, tricks & techniques
- Knowing staff and clients
- Creating time
- Staying fresh and relevant
- The power of habits and habit stacking
Key takeaways & questions from Part Three
- Key takeaways and group reflections
- Questions and answers
Close of Masterclass
Location: Canberra CBD – Venue to be confirmed
Benefits of attending in-person: This is the perfect networking opportunity for leaders, in an environment that will set you up to build new connections and a support network of like-minded peers!
Food & catering requirements: Catering is provided at all in-person The Hatchery events. Dietary requirements and special needs are to be communicated to event organisers one week prior to the event commencing. Please identify yourself to The Hatchery staff upon arrival to ensure all your needs are met.
Pricing
Save up until 24 July
+GST
Early bird pricing
Save $700
Save up until 21 August
+GST
Early bird pricing
Save $500
Save up until 11 September
+GST
Early bird pricing
Save $300
Standard rate
+GST
Price after early bird savings
Bring your colleagues and save with a group discount!
Groups of 5+ attendees save 10%
Groups of 10+ attendees save 20%
Fantastic honest leadership course from an insightful leader that provided lived experiences. This will definitely help uplift my leadership capabilities.”
Nicole Grey
Director, Clinical Unit, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, November 2025
The best management course I’ve done for many years.”
Stephan Bayer
Director, Safeguards Policy Section, Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office, November 2025
The course is particularly enhanced through the use of real anecdotes and personal experience of the facilitator.”
David Tynan
Manager Estate and Leasing, CSIRO, November 2025
I found this training program very motivating and full of useful insights. Highly recommend this course.”
Jane Ogge-Cowan
Director, Japan Political and Security Section, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, November 2025
One of the best courses I have attended in my APS career. This course has been a game-changer for me and I look forward to applying my new skills in the work place.”
Clare O’Connor
Director Payments, National Disability Insurance Agency, November 2025
Related Events
