AI & cyber for Commonwealth leaders
Two days built for the APS: what the AI Plan and the new rules expect of your agency, and how to lead when the Minister asks what happened.
Two days built for the Commonwealth
Canberra runs its own public sector agenda. Day 1 turns AI policy into practice; Day 2 covers PSPF accountability and ends in a simulated Senate Estimates.
From policy to practice
Two days built for Commonwealth leaders. Day 1 covers what the APS AI Plan and the new rules expect of your agency, and how CAIOs and senior leaders are turning policy into better services.
The Essential AI Update 2027: what it means for the Commonwealth
Twelve months of AI change, seen through a Commonwealth lens. What moved in capability and cost, what the APS AI Plan now expects of agencies, and where government is genuinely getting value. A grounded starting point for two days of decisions.
- What changed in AI in the last 12 months
- What the APS AI Plan asks of every agency
- Where the Commonwealth is seeing real value
Chief AI Officers: one year in
Agencies have been appointing Chief AI Officers and AI Accountable Officials. What does the role look like in practice? CAIOs from across the Commonwealth share how they set direction, manage risk and get traction with busy executive boards.
- How CAIOs are structuring the role
- Working with your executive board and your Secretary
- Building AI capability without a big budget
From pilots to payoff in government
Federal leaders who have taken AI from trial to everyday service delivery talk honestly about what worked, what didn't, and how they proved the value to their minister, their staff and the public.
- Choosing use cases that survive scrutiny
- Measuring value in a public service context
- Consulting staff and their representatives well
The rules for agencies: policy, transparency and assessment
Agencies now work under the Policy for the responsible use of AI in government, publish AI transparency statements and assess the impact of their AI use. From 10 December 2026, Privacy Act transparency for automated decisions applies too. Get clear on what is mandatory and who is accountable.
- Transparency statements and AI Accountable Officials
- AI impact assessments and procurement
- Privacy Act automated-decision disclosure
The APS workforce and AI
AI literacy is becoming a baseline expectation for every APS employee. This session looks at how agencies are building capability at scale, redesigning roles and consulting their people, without losing the expertise that makes the public service work.
- Building AI literacy across your agency
- Redesigning roles and workflows
- Bringing your people with you
Automated decisions after Robodebt: lawful, fair and explainable
The Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme showed what happens when automated decisions go wrong at scale. This closing session draws out the lessons for every agency using AI to make or support decisions about people, then gives you time to build your 90-day plan.
- The Royal Commission's lessons for automated decision-making
- Designing for lawfulness, fairness and human review
- Your agency's 90-day plan, on the page
When the Minister asks what happened
Accountable authorities and SES officers own security outcomes. Day 2 covers the threats facing agencies, your obligations under the PSPF, and a live simulation that ends in front of a Senate Estimates committee.
The 2027 threat briefing for government
Government is one of the most targeted sectors in Australia, and AI is making attacks on agencies faster and more convincing. This briefing covers the threats facing the Commonwealth in 2027 and what they mean for senior leaders, not just security teams.
- The threats aimed at agencies in 2027
- How AI is changing them
- What attackers look for first in government
Protecting citizens' data
Agencies hold some of the most sensitive data in the country. A senior leader shares what it takes to protect it across shared services, legacy systems and partner agencies, and how to keep public trust when something goes wrong.
- Data protection across shared and legacy systems
- Working with partner agencies and the ASD
- Rebuilding trust after an incident
When it happens to you: agency leaders who led through an incident
Agency leaders who have been through a serious cyber incident share the first hour, day and week: the briefings to the Secretary and the Minister, the public statements, and what they wish had been in place beforehand.
- What the first 72 hours look like inside an agency
- Briefing Secretaries, Ministers and the public
- What they'd change next time
Cyber accountability in the Commonwealth
Under the Protective Security Policy Framework, accountable authorities and SES officers own security outcomes. This session sets out who is accountable for what, the role of audit and risk committees, Essential Eight expectations, and how to report on cyber maturity with confidence.
- PSPF accountability for accountable authorities and SES
- The role of audit and risk committees
- Essential Eight maturity, and how to report it
Suppliers, contractors and shadow AI
Most government services rely on contractors, cloud providers and partner agencies. Each one is part of your attack surface, and so is every staff member using an unapproved AI tool. Learn where the risk sits and the controls that sit with leaders.
- Supply chain and third-party risk
- Shadow AI in the APS workplace
- The contract and governance levers leaders control
Crisis simulation: the ministerial briefing edition
Your agency is hit by a ransomware attack, complete with a deepfake call. Working at your table, you'll make the calls round by round, prepare a ministerial brief and face a Senate Estimates round. Every table debriefs with the experts.
- Decisions under pressure with incomplete information
- Writing a ministerial brief mid-incident
- Facing Senate Estimates questions
Program subject to change. Speakers will be announced progressively.
Your 90-day AI plan: a hands-on workshop for leaders
Two online mornings to turn the briefing into a plan for the part of the organisation you lead. Add it when you book your Canberra ticket, or choose All-Access.
- Where you really are. Your pilots, tools and the shadow AI already in use.
- Choosing your bets. Score use cases on value and feasibility. Cut the rest.
- The business case. Costs, returns and the measures your executive will accept.
- People and ways of working. Who owns it, the skills you need and how the work changes.
- Your 90-day plan. Sequence it, find the quick wins and test it with your peers.
Book early and save up to $600
First In pricing ends 19 February 2027. All-Access includes both days and the online workshop.
| Ticket | First InUntil 19 Feb 2027 | Early BirdUntil 25 Mar 2027 | StandardFrom 26 Mar 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| One dayDay 1 (AI) or Day 2 (Cyber) | $1,299 | $1,499 | $1,699 |
| Both daysThe full two-day summit | $2,099 | $2,399 | $2,699 |
| All-AccessBoth days + the 90-day AI plan workshop | $2,699 | $2,999 | $3,299 |
| Workshop onlyTwo online mornings, 13–14 May | $899 | $999 | $1,099 |
All prices in Australian dollars and exclude GST.
A room full of people who decide
Questions, answered
When and where is the Canberra event?
Mon 3 – Tue 4 May 2027, in Canberra. Both days run 9:00am to 4:20pm local time, with registration from 8:30am. The venue will be announced on this page.
Can I attend just one day?
Yes. Day 1 covers AI and Day 2 covers cyber. Book either day on its own from $1,299 + GST, or both days from $2,099 + GST.
How do I book the 90-day AI plan workshop?
Add it for $699 + GST when you register for Canberra, or choose All-Access, which includes both days and the workshop. It runs online over two mornings, Thursday 13 and Friday 14 May 2027.
Who should attend?
SES officers, accountable authorities, Chief AI Officers, AI Accountable Officials, CIOs, CISOs, and risk, legal and audit leaders across the Commonwealth and ACT Government.
Are there group discounts?
Teams of 3–5 save 15% and alumni save 10%. Discounts don't combine. For more than ten people, ask us about an in-house session.
Other cities
Book Canberra at First In prices
First In prices end 19 February 2027. Choose Canberra and your ticket when you register.
Book now