EL1 – EL2 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 of your game.
Key benefits
Learn & fine-tune the core skills of an EL1-EL2 leader
Cultivate your leadership effectiveness & influence with public service values at the core
Understand what true authentic leadership means in the APS by balancing professionalism & 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
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.
What’s new in 2026?
- Our new facilitator Russell Egan brings fresh perspectives and advice for the top ranks of the APS
- Updated agenda with a focus on practical skills and tools to succeed in the APS environment
Who will attend?
Public Sector leaders in EL1 – EL2 level roles
This Masterclass is also relevant for other supervisors with broader leadership requirements
Agenda
All times are shown in AEDT
Registration
Acknowledgement of Country & introductions
Course framework
Part One: Bring your best self
Managing vs leading in the public sector
- 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 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: Leading 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 public sector 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: The public sector leader’s toolkit
Leading through the annual cycle
- Making it predictable – knowing workload, team and budget cycles
- Your role as a leader throughout the annual cycle
- Leading through change
Tools to set a simple transformation or change strategy
- Develop a one-page change strategy
- The spreadsheet is your friend
Lunch break
Measuring success & your leader communications hack
- 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:
Crowne Plaza Canberra – 1 Binara St, Canberra ACT 2601
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.
Dress code: The event dress code is Business casual.
Pricing
Early bird savings until 20 March
+GST
Early bird pricing
Save $700
Early bird savings until 2 April
+GST
Early bird pricing
Save $500
Early bird savings until 24 April
+GST
Early bird pricing
Save $300
Early bird savings until 8 May
+GST
Early bird pricing
Save $100
Standard Price
+GST
Bring your colleagues and save with a group discount!
Groups of 5+ save 10%
Groups of 10+ save 20%
A well run and relevant course for public service middle managers delivered by a credentialed senior leader.”
Ben Cumming
Assistant Director, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, November 2025
This was a great experience and very practical for taking forward into the workplace. Lots to think about for my future work and direction”
Michael Moore
Assistant Manager, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, November 2025
Far exceeded my expectations, this training should be mandatory for all Executive Level leaders.”
Ben Hua
Director Group Risk, National Disability Insurance Agency, November 2025
Two days of uplifting and practical advice I can use immediately.”
Tanya McNaughton
Assistant Director, Department of Industry, Science and Resources, November 2025
Excellent content informed by decades of experience, backed by solid theory and practical tools to implement in the workplace.”
Ben Davis
Director, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Australian Federal Government, April 2025
I never thought I would learn so much about myself, I feel refocused with tips to model new behaviour that will get me further in life.”
Leilani Mordaunt
Advisor, Australian Financial Security Authority, April 2025
Very good course. First leadership course I have attended that is delivered by a former APS SES and that is so relevant and spot on in delivering exactly what we need as APL middle manager.”
Catherine Mathenge
Assistant Director, Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry - Australian Federal Government, April 2025
It was incredibly inspiring to hear a former CEO reflect and share her own experiences. Not only were Rebecca’s insights invaluable, she was engaging and I was hanging on to every word.”
Meg Espeleta
Assistant Director Office of the AGDIS System Administrator, Services Australia, April 2025
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