17th NSW Public Sector Women in Leadership Summit

Understand negotiation fundamentals

- Introduction to negotiation strategy and structure

- The importance of preparation and planning process

- Identify key factors and dynamics in negotiations

Learn practical techniques for optimum success

- Reading the other party - Understanding needs and interests

- Steering the negotiation - Navigating towards win-win outcomes

- Designing creative solutions - Thinking outside the box

Principles of persuasion and influence

- Exploring key approaches to framing ideas for maximum impact

- Understanding persuasive communication styles for effective presentation

- Utilising power and influence ethically to achieve desired outcomes

Take things to the next level 

- Analysing performance, identifying strengths and weaknesses

- Debriefing and self-assessment

- Create an action plan - Implement strategies for future negotiations

Join Liquid Learning for this kick-off session as we prepare for two days of incredible speakers, senior leaders, expert deep-dives and unmissable panel discussions!

As leaders and public servants, you have the opportunity to make a difference in other peoples lives. Whether that's our team members, our colleagues or the citizens of NSW. As we work towards a brighter future, join Commissioner Tonkin as she shares how she uses her leadership position to make the state a safer, more educated place to live for women and girls.

- Understand the impact you can have as a leader

- Raise awareness and promote education to support healthy outcomes for improved women's safety

- Embrace the cohesion that values based leadership brings

Having clear aims and outcomes is the first step in achieving your career goals. Setting smaller, achievable stepping-stone targets creates a pathway to help you navigate towards your overall epic career goal. In this session, join your chair, Liz Van Vliet to understand the key to creating goals that will motivate, energise and direct your career trajectory.

- Create your personalised action plan

- Prioritise your event experience

- Get started on achieving your goals TODAY!

Mix and mingle with your fellow leaders over a cup of coffee and light refreshments.

Leaders with strong critical thinking skills can navigate ambiguity, anticipate consequences, and strategize with a forward-looking perspective. This fosters innovation, adaptability, and a more resilient leadership approach. Join Fiona Maggs for a deep dive into all things critical thinking and put your skills to the test.

- Enhance your ability to analyse information objectively and critically

- Make informed decisions from the data available to you

- Develop skills in strategic thinking, allowing for better planning and goal-setting

Maintaining strong relationships with people that have an impact on the work that you do is important in every aspect of leadership. Having a diversity of people in the room that are already on board with your ideas makes for more resilient transitions and ultimately more effective transformation for the state. Join Katie Knight in this session to find out how she harnesses the power of great relationships in her work at Investment NSW, ensuring the delivery of economic and social benefits for the people of NSW.

- Finetune your communication skills to get the most out of your relationships

- Negotiate and influence your way to success

- Find your cheerleaders to support your progress

Enjoy a midday lunch break. A time to refresh, refuel, and prepare for a full afternoon of immersive learning and inspiration.

Burnout is often seen as an individual's problem, but research shows it's a response to occupational surroundings. When 58% of employees say they are facing burnout, what can leaders do to avoid contributing to burnout culture? And how can they protect themselves at the same time? Hear from top Public Sector leaders in this panel discussion sharing their thoughts on creating positive work environments and how they regain their balance.

- Build employee commitment by actively encouraging feedback

- Create an honest, fair, and equitable culture across all levels

- Recognise your impact as a leader on creating a burnout culture

Tracey O'Brien is Chief Cancer Officer & CEO of Cancer Institute NSW, globally recognised oncologist, researcher, and named in the Australian Financial Review's Top 10 Women of Influence. Join this session as she unveils the keys to her success, delves into the passion and unwavering commitment that propel her in the fight against cancer, uncover the driving force behind her transformative impact.

- Find your passion and lead to make a difference

- Translate the success of an esteemed leader into your professional dialect

- Find your motivation and drive your department forward

A quick break to refresh and continue building your network with fellow leaders. Enjoy a light refreshment before finishing day one.

Do you spend enough time with your next level of leaders? Are you training your replacement right now? No matter what level of leadership you are at right now, it's important to not only invest in the next generation but also to invest in yourself. In this session, Deb Summerhayes shares her passion for supporting others throughout her career and helps set you up for success.

- Identify the next steps in your career plan

- Consider succession planning ready for your next role

- Understand the benefits of a meaningful mentor relationship

Join us for our end of day one networking. Enjoy canapés and drinks whilst getting to know your peers further, build ongoing relationships, and share your highlights of the day.

We're back! Another day and a whole lot more learning to come - time to check back in with your fellow leaders.

Tick off any goals you scored on Day One, develop an implementation plan for your new goals and set yourself up for another exciting day!

Traditionally, leaders were told to separate work and life and not show any of their personal side to the teams they led. The modern leader embraces their life lessons and takes their learnings into their work. In this session, Joann Wilkie shares the lessons that have shaped her leadership style, the power of changing career direction, and the rewards of being a career public servant.

- Embrace your own journey

- Align your life and career priorities

- Lead with integrity to make a positive impact

The Future of Work is a term that seems to be used a lot recently. But what does it actually mean? While no one really knows what the future of work looks like, the rapid changes seen over the last few years can better prepare you for the ways of working to come. As leaders you need to be open-minded to individual employee requests and avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Join Ingrid in this progressive take on flexibility, boundaries and new ways of working.

- Recognise your team's working-style preferences

- Define clear values to work together more effectively

- Take a step towards the future ways of working

Mix and mingle with your fellow leaders over a cup of coffee and light refreshments.

Unconscious biases are social stereotypes about certain groups of people that individuals form outside their own conscious awareness. Everyone holds unconscious beliefs about various social and identity groups, but by learning about our biases we can make better decisions, be more innovative and improve inclusion. In this session, join Dr Karen Whittingham to help recognise your unconscious bias.

- Uncover strategies to recognize, challenge, and mitigate biases

- Recognise how biases impact your decisions

- Address Unconscious Bias for positive change

Change is constant, especially in the public sector. The continuous drive to be better forces us to live in a world full of transformation, failing fast and learning faster, to ensure NSW is a pioneer for our citizens. But during times of change, one thing needs to be at the heart, our people. In this session, Vanessa Janissen shares her passion for strategy, planning and digital transformation, and how she keeps her people at the forefront of change.

- Navigate the change curve and foster resilience in your team

- Explore empathetic leadership as a catalyst for innovation

- Emphasize adaptability, creativity and collaboration

Enjoy a midday lunch break. A time to refresh, refuel, and prepare for a full afternoon of immersive learning and inspiration.

People don't work for organisations, they work for leaders. In today's working climate, talent retention is vital for success. High turnover rates can be costly and disruptive, and negatively impact culture. Join this panel discussion to discover the impact you can have as a leader on employee retention and creating a culture where people want to thrive.

- Local strategies for creating an environment that promotes longevity

- Align your values and culture

- Explore the leader's role in employee engagement

A quick break to refresh and continue building your network with fellow leaders.

"Excellence is never an accident; it's always the result of high intention, sincere efforts, intelligent direction, and skillful execution.”

These are the words of wisdom from CEO of Afghan Women on the Move, Maryam Zahid and the mantra that she lives by. In this session hear Maryam's story of living in Afghanistan and starting again in Australia and her vision for helping women find their motivation.

- Be a voice and advocate for people from diverse backgrounds

- Offer environments for growth and discovery

- Foster self-reliance in your team

We wrap up our two days of insight and inspiration with this interactive roundtable session. This is your chance to table any topic or trend for a final group discussion. Network with your peers, reflect on your journey so far and create an action plan to carry you forward!

- Reflect on your key takeaways from the Summit

- Identify opportunities for career progression and growth

- Create an action plan for your leadership journey

- Understand different leadership theories to become an adaptive leader

- Differentiate between leadership styles for situational needs

- Hone communication skills for conveying complex ideas clearly

- Practice active listening and facilitate open dialogue within teams

You don't have to look very far to see the advancements in technology used in the every day things we do. Paying for your coffee on your watch and online banking from your phone are the norm for most people, and it doesn't take long for Chat GPT for come up in conversations nowadays. But what does this all mean for the future of the Public Sector? How do you stay current as a leader and embrace the ever-changing technological world that we live in?

- Stay ahead of the curve and plan for the future

- Understand the benefits and considerations of tech advances

- Recognise the importance of data-driven decisions

- Explore the role of emotional intelligence in leadership

- Apply emotional intelligence in decision-making and team dynamics

- Understand the key dynamics of high-performing teams

- Foster a collaborative culture within government teams

The business case for inclusion and diversity is now well established. We know unequivocally that when we create a more inclusive workplace in which people belong, we foster a positive culture and enhance our productivity. As leaders, we have a role to embrace diversity and create a feeling of belonging at work, to celebrate our individual characteristics and learn from others views of the world. Join this interactive panel discussion to hear from experienced leaders on how they promote inclusivity within their organisations.

- Collaborate on the best possible approaches to diversity and inclusion

- Amplify the feeling of belonging in your team

- Set the foundations for long term impact

- Understand the essentials of effective performance management.

- Develop skills in providing constructive feedback and coaching.

- Identify and analyse key relationships that impact your role 

- Apply various engagement techniques to foster positive relationships

- Set clear, actionable goals for your leadership career

- Enhance accountability to and collaboration to support your action plan