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 highest ranks of the public sector demand more from your leadership. You have more responsibility, more difficult and complex problems to solve, and you will need to have a keen sense of the distinctions between your own ideas and the demands of the role.
No one understands these demands, and the skills that are needed to meet them, than Rebecca Skinner PSM. Having led at the highest levels of the APS, including the extra large agency Services Australia during its most challenging times, she knows exactly what it takes from you, your mindset and your skillset to steer the public sector in the right direction.
With an emphasis on capability, accountability and integrity, and a valuable blend of ideas, advice and practical tips, this is a learning and development opportunity that can not be missed. Join Rebecca for two full days of learning and interactive activities to gain the perspective you need to lead at the very top.
Rebecca Skinner PSM
Former Chief Executive Officer, Services Australia
Rebecca is the former CEO of Services Australia with a deep background in Defence and national security. She served as the Associate Secretary Defence and as the Deputy Secretary for Strategic Policy and Intelligence. A long-term member of the Defence Committee she has led Defence strategic policy, capability and technology investment, ministerial engagement and driven transformed governance, human resource management and integrated service delivery. Rebecca led Services Australia through the social security and health demands of the pandemic in the post Robodebt era, setting the organisation on its customer centric cultural renewal. She is a resilient people-focused leader experienced in operating under intense pressure through international and domestic crisis such as the Covid-19 pandemic, natural disasters and defence operations. Rebecca was awarded a PSM in 2021 for outstanding public service in the areas of national security policy, intelligence, business transformation and service delivery.
Rebecca Skinner PSM (She/Her)
Rebecca is the former CEO of Services Australia with a deep background in Defence and national security. She served as the Associate Secretary Defence and as the Deputy Secretary for Strategic Policy and Intelligence. A long-term member of the Defence Committee she has led Defence strategic policy, capability and technology investment, ministerial engagement and driven transformed governance, human resource management and integrated service delivery. Rebecca led Services Australia through the social security and health demands of the pandemic in the post Robodebt era, setting the organisation on its customer centric cultural renewal. She is a resilient people-focused leader experienced in operating under intense pressure through international and domestic crisis such as the Covid-19 pandemic, natural disasters and defence operations. Rebecca was awarded a PSM in 2021 for outstanding public service in the areas of national security policy, intelligence, business transformation and service delivery.
Attend & learn
Learn and fine-tune the core skills of an SES leader and exceed your work level
Cultivate your leadership effectiveness and influence while maintaining public sector values
Understand what true authentic leadership means in the APS by balancing professionalism and candour
Confidently lead through uncertainty and change, and learn how to avoid crisis
Promote and embed integrity, accountability and high performance in your team
Learn with, and from, other senior leaders by sharing challenges and solutions
Gain the wisdom, tips and tricks of one of the most accomplished APS leaders
Agenda
All times are shown in AEDT
Exploring the behaviours of high performing teams
- Identifying and overcoming imposter syndrome
- Understanding that leadership is learned
- The changing image of a leader, and the changing nature of leadership
- Leveraging your diversity of thought, experience and background
- The power of inclusion, diversity of view & contestability
- Creating a culture of excellence
Leading effectively in a system
- Diagnosing the system so you can effectively lead within it
- Realising your authority
- Accountability and risk management
- Whose accountable? Using ‘the accountability ball’
- Leading with integrity and maintaining public service values
- Providing frank and fearless advice, but what does fearless really mean?
Having maximum impact in the workplace
- Enhancing resilience, productivity & high performance
- Maintaining energy, agility and focus
- Surviving the increasing complexity public sector workplace
- Looking after yourself and finding balance at work
Breakout activity – Group Coaching
- Come prepared with a real workplace challenge and engage in a practical and valuable group coaching exercise
- Begin by learning and unpacking the difference between coaching and mentoring
- Enter a feedback activity with fellow participants on how you can address your workplace problem
- Take away experiments to trial in the workplace based on feedback from your group as well as Rebecca
Review, reflect & plan
- Q&A and key takeaways
- What do you want people to say about you?
- What do you need to do to make them say it about you?
- Develop an overall action plan
Understanding yourself as a resource & growing as a leader
- Understanding your biases, blind spots and over-used strengths!
- Determining the true value you bring to your role and the organisation
- Living a full life, that is in balance, and using your energy on things that are helpful to you
- How to maintain drive and purpose during challenging times in life & work
- Creating safe workplaces by behaving in a safe manner
- Understanding yourself, and using yourself in the best way possible
Governance, risk & good management
- How to use management and governance to support good risk management
- The role of risk management in maintaining integrity in the public service
- The importance of engaging in the governance system that is on offer – it’s there for a reason!
- Governance saves time and headaches, and keeps you and your people safe from scandal & stress, including your boss!
- The public service value of stewardship
- Building capability in your people to elevate the performance and reputation of the service
Managing finance and resources
- What is your accountability to organise yourself around the available resources?
- Never say “there’s not enough resources” again
- Effective procurement in the public sector
Breakout activity – Group Coaching
- Come prepared with a real workplace challenge and engage in a practical and valuable group coaching exercise
- Enter a feedback activity with fellow participants on how you can address your workplace problem
- Take away experiments to trial in the workplace based on feedback from your group as well as Rebecca
Acknowledgement of Country & Opening remarks
Welcome, introduction & getting to know each other
What is the reality of a good public sector leader?
Your leadership journey – where are you & where could you be?
- Why leadership matters
- What kind of leader are you, and what kind of leader could you be?
- What does a good public sector leader look like?
- Proactively building your leadership capability
- Why leadership is hard!
Being an authentic leader & developing your leadership practice
- Learn how to lead authentically
- What is authentic leadership in a public sector context?
- Being yourself while also maintaining professionalism and boundaries
- Understanding the difference and balance between self, role and system
- Exploring the concept of curiosity versus judgement for leaders
Morning tea
Exploring the behaviours of high performing teams
- Identifying and overcoming imposter syndrome
- Understanding that leadership is learned
- The changing image of a leader, and the changing nature of leadership
- Leveraging your diversity of thought, experience and background
- The power of inclusion, diversity of view & contestability
- Creating a culture of excellence
Leading effectively in a system
- Diagnosing the system so you can effectively lead within it
- Realising your authority
- Accountability and risk management
- Whose accountable? Using ‘the accountability ball’
- Leading with integrity and maintaining public service values
- Providing frank and fearless advice, but what does fearless really mean?
Lunch
Having maximum impact in the workplace
- Enhancing resilience, productivity & high performance
- Maintaining energy, agility and focus
- Surviving the increasing complexity public sector workplace
- Looking after yourself and finding balance at work
Afternoon tea
Breakout activity – Group Coaching
- Come prepared with a real workplace challenge and engage in a practical and valuable group coaching exercise
- Begin by learning and unpacking the difference between coaching and mentoring
- Enter a feedback activity with fellow participants on how you can address your workplace problem
- Take away experiments to trial in the workplace based on feedback from your group as well as Rebecca
Review, reflect & plan
- Q&A and key takeaways
- What do you want people to say about you?
- What do you need to do to make them say it about you?
- Develop an overall action plan
Close of Day One
Reflections & Observations from Day One
What are the actions of a good public sector leader?
Understanding yourself as a resource & growing as a leader
- Understanding your biases, blind spots and over-used strengths!
- Determining the true value you bring to your role and the organisation
- Living a full life, that is in balance, and using your energy on things that are helpful to you
- How to maintain drive and purpose during challenging times in life & work
- Creating safe workplaces by behaving in a safe manner
- Understanding yourself, and using yourself in the best way possible
Morning tea
Governance, risk & good management
- How to use management and governance to support good risk management
- The role of risk management in maintaining integrity in the public service
- The importance of engaging in the governance system that is on offer – it’s there for a reason!
- Governance saves time and headaches, and keeps you and your people safe from scandal & stress, including your boss!
- The public service value of stewardship
- Building capability in your people to elevate the performance and reputation of the service
Lunch
Managing finance and resources
- What is your accountability to organise yourself around the available resources?
- Never say “there’s not enough resources” again
- Effective procurement in the public sector
Breakout activity – Group Coaching
- Come prepared with a real workplace challenge and engage in a practical and valuable group coaching exercise
- Enter a feedback activity with fellow participants on how you can address your workplace problem
- Take away experiments to trial in the workplace based on feedback from your group as well as Rebecca
Afternoon tea
Review, reflect & plan
- Q&A and key takeaways
- What do you want people to say about you?
- What do you need to do to make them say it about you?
- Develop an overall action plan
Close of Masterclass
Venue TBC, Canberra CBD
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which this conference will take place and pay our respects to Indigenous Elders past, present and emerging.
This Masterclass is specifically tailored to Public Sector leaders in EL2 – SES level roles.
Pricing
Early bird savings until 20 September
+GST
Save $700
Early bird savings until 18 October
+GST
Save $400
Early bird savings until 8 November
+GST
Save $200
Standard price after early bird
+GST
Thank you for a very thought-provoking workshop, I’m excited to take the next steps towards improving my leadership style and impact!! I feel empowered to take the next career steps I’ve been hesitant to take. Thank you.”
Helen Salouros
Director, Australian Forensic Drug Laboratory, National Measurement Institute
I am leaving this course with an action plan and more confidence to lead with influence and own my career path!”
Leanne DeWinter
Director, Department of Health and Aged Care, May 2024
This course has highlighted that how I exercise leadership in any given situation is my choice and my responsibility.”
Clair Victoria
Ag/g Asst Manager - CLimate Risk, Department of Industry, Science and Resources
I strongly recommend this for anyone who wants to contribute to the public service at SES level.”
Jyothi Gali
Senior Advisor, Department of Industry, Science and Resources, May 2024
The masterclass really made the audience question and reassess what you think you know and provides great practical ways about how you might achieve better results by trying something new and different. Highly recommended for everyone who thinks they know it all already.”
Ludger Dinkler
Advisor, National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), March 2023