Public Sector Indigenous Leadership Summit 2026

Pre-Conference Workshop

09:00 First Nations Leadership Masterclass

This one-day masterclass is designed specifically for Indigenous staff and future leaders to rise to greater levels of influence, responsibility and decision-making.

It will challenge your assumptions, expand and develop your mindset, skillset and toolsets to become  a more effective leader whilst navigating some of the challenges Indigenous professionals can face in the workplace.

Throughout the day, you will explore frameworks and tools, emotional intelligence, develop your  unique leadership style, navigate workplace cultural challenges, learn powerful verbal and nonverbal  communication skills, and exert your personal influence and build a foundation for positive influence  and success.

Key Course Takeaways:

• Understand the value and importance of leadership for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• Confidence you need to navigate your role and engage with multiple stakeholders
• Internalise leadership styles, qualities, and behaviours
• Develop strategic leadership skills that are effective & informed by both Indigenous culture & Western best practice
• Deepen cultural awareness & identity in the context of business leadership
• Take Away practical skills such as negotiating, problem-solving and above-the-line thinking
• Develop your unique, authentic leadership style
• Influence and engage with others with more impact and presence
• Deepen & broaden your worldview and ability to coordinate different perspectives
• Contribute to the development of Indigenous leaders and staff within your organisation

Conference Day 1

Across Australia’s public sector, Indigenous leaders are playing an increasingly important role in shaping the future of government. From influencing national policy to strengthening representation across institutions, Indigenous leadership is helping transform how government serves communities.

This opening session explores the growing impact of Indigenous leaders across the public service and the important role they play in shaping stronger and more inclusive institutions. Delegates will hear insights from senior leaders who are navigating complex government systems while remaining grounded in culture, community and purpose. Discover how Indigenous perspectives are influencing policy, leadership and decision making across Australia’s public sector.

Leading within government requires navigating complexity, competing priorities and the challenge of delivering meaningful outcomes within large and often fragmented systems. For leaders working in Aboriginal affairs, this complexity is amplified by the need to balance policy, community expectations and whole of government accountability.

In this session, Gina Hill will share insights from her experience leading workforce and Aboriginal outcomes within the justice system. Drawing on her work across state and federal environments, Gina will explore how leaders can navigate complex systems while remaining focused on delivering measurable outcomes. This includes driving reform, influencing across agencies, strengthening partnerships and aligning workforce strategies with broader economic and community priorities. Gain practical insights into leading with clarity and purpose in complex environments and ensuring government efforts translate into real impact for Aboriginal communities.

Governments across Australia are increasingly recognising the importance of Indigenous knowledge systems in shaping more effective, culturally informed policy and governance. However, embedding these perspectives into decision making requires more than consultation. It requires structural change, cultural authority and a deeper understanding of how knowledge informs policy.

In this session, Leonard Hill will share insights from across government and Australia’s national Indigenous cultural institution. Drawing on his experience in public sector leadership and cultural policy, Leonard will explore how Indigenous knowledge systems can be meaningfully integrated into policy development and program design. Discover how government can move beyond consultation towards genuine collaboration and deliver stronger outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Closing the Gap remains one of the most important national priorities for governments across Australia. While policy commitments and funding are critical, strong leadership at all levels of government is essential to delivering meaningful and lasting outcomes.

In this headline keynote, Linda Burney, Former Minister for Indigenous Australians and the first Indigenous woman elected to the House of Representatives, will share insights from the highest levels of government. Drawing on her experience shaping national policy and leading key reform initiatives, Linda will reflect on the progress, challenges and opportunities influencing the future of Closing the Gap.

This session will explore the role of Indigenous leadership in driving accountability, strengthening partnerships and influencing long term change across government. Gain a deeper understanding of what is required to move from commitment to impact, and how leadership across the public sector can help deliver stronger outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Conference Day 2

09:00 From Insight To Action – Key Take Aways From Day 1

She is a staunch advocate of equality for women in business and believes women should be helping other women every chance they get.

Dana established Konnect Learning in 2013 and the Leadership Institute in 2017. Since then she has advocated for equality for women in all aspects of her entrepreneurial and professional life – in particular by chairing and assisting the production team in the development of TLI’s Women in Leadership line of events.

SESSION 1
9:30AM: From Policy to Impact. Delivering Measurable Outcomes for Communities

Public sector leadership is ultimately measured by the outcomes it delivers for communities. While policy frameworks provide direction, it is effective implementation, strong accountability and measurable outcomes that determine whether government initiatives create real and lasting change.

In this session, Selwyn Button will share insights into how policy can be translated into measurable outcomes across government. Drawing on his experience in economic reform and Indigenous policy, Selwyn will explore the challenges of implementation, performance and accountability within complex public sector systems. Gain practical insights into how government can strengthen service delivery, improve outcomes and ensure policy commitments result in meaningful impact for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

10:20: Morning Tea

SESSION 2
10:50AM: Indigenous Leadership in Major Public Sector Reforms

Public sector reform is critical to building stronger, more responsive institutions that deliver better outcomes for communities. Across government, there is a growing focus on embedding Indigenous perspectives into systems, policies and organisational practices to drive meaningful and lasting change.

In this session, Louisa Warren will share insights from her leadership in Indigenous science and engagement at CSIRO. Drawing on her experience leading large scale organisational initiatives, Louisa will explore how Indigenous knowledge can be embedded within major institutions, including through cultural and intellectual property frameworks, partnerships and reform strategies. Gain practical insights into how leaders can navigate complex systems, drive institutional change and ensure reforms deliver meaningful outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

SESSION 3: Keynote Session
11:40 AM: The Power of Storytelling in Shaping Indigenous Leadership

Storytelling has long been central to Indigenous culture, identity and knowledge sharing. In today’s leadership landscape, it also plays a powerful role in shaping perspectives, influencing thinking and driving meaningful change.

In this keynote session, Anita Heiss, acclaimed author and proud Wiradjuri woman, will explore how storytelling can strengthen leadership, challenge assumptions and create deeper understanding within organisations and communities. Drawing on her work as a writer, academic and commentator, Anita will share insights on the role of narrative in shaping identity, amplifying voices and influencing how we lead.

Discover how storytelling can be used as a powerful tool to strengthen leadership across Australia’s public sector.

12:40 AM: From Insights to Action

01:00 PM: Lunch

SESSION 4
2:00 PM: Building Strong Partnerships Between Government and Indigenous Communities

Strong partnerships between government and Indigenous communities are essential to delivering meaningful outcomes, particularly in areas such as housing, homelessness and community wellbeing. While policy frameworks set direction, it is the strength of relationships, trust and culturally informed service delivery that ultimately determine impact on the ground.

In this session, Shane Hamilton will share insights from his leadership at Aboriginal Hostels Limited and his experience across complex human services systems. Drawing on his work in housing, justice and community services, Shane will explore what effective partnerships look like in practice and how government can better align policy, service delivery and community needs. Gain practical insights into strengthening collaboration, embedding cultural safety and ensuring services are designed and delivered in ways that genuinely improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

2:50 PM: Afternoon Tea

SESSION 5
3:10PM: Driving Economic Outcomes Through Indigenous Business and Global Market Access

Strong partnerships between government and Indigenous communities are critical, but the real measure of success is the economic outcomes they create. Across Australia, there is a growing focus on how government can move beyond engagement to actively support Indigenous businesses to access national and international opportunities.

In this session, Melanie Harris will share insights from her work leading Indigenous engagement and export at Austrade. Drawing on her experience connecting Indigenous businesses to global markets, Melanie will explore how government can play a more active role in creating pathways to trade, investment and growth. This includes increasing exposure to opportunities that have historically been more accessible to non Indigenous businesses, and supporting Indigenous enterprises to participate in both domestic and international markets.

Gain practical insights into how leaders can shift from policy and intent to action, building capability, opening doors to new opportunities and driving stronger economic outcomes for Indigenous businesses.

SESSION 6
4:00PM: From Strategy to the Frontline. Delivering Public Sector Outcomes in High Pressure Environment

Public sector leaders are often tasked with translating strategy into action, but the real test comes when decisions must be made in high pressure, fast moving and unpredictable environments. Whether responding to emergencies or managing complex operational challenges, leaders must balance planning, coordination and real time decision making to deliver outcomes when it matters most.

In this session, Jeremy Fewtrell will share insights from leading large scale emergency response and frontline operations at Fire and Rescue NSW. Drawing on his experience in high stakes environments, Jeremy will explore how leaders can move from strategy to execution, align teams under pressure and maintain focus on outcomes in rapidly changing conditions. Gain practical insights into decision making, coordination and leadership approaches that ensure public sector strategies translate into effective action on the ground.

4:00 PM PM Bringing it all together - From Insight to Action

4:40 PM Close of Day one & Networking Drinks

Post-Conference Workshop 1

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | 28TH AUGUST

The economic participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples provides a real path to reconciliation – and also allows the strengthening of ethical behaviour whilst working more effectively with Indigenous communities.

This half-day workshop will give organisations and individuals the skills to strengthen ethical behaviour by developing an understanding of obligations and responsibilities to Land and to each other - as Aboriginal people have practised for thousands of years. You will build your cultural capability to work effectively with members of the Aboriginal community and lead Aboriginal staff with greater impact and empathy. Most importantly,you will improve retention of Aboriginal staff, make sure your employers, supervisors, and workplaces understand Aboriginal experience and what they can do to make Aboriginal employment work.

Key Benefits of Attending:

• Gain knowledge and awareness of cultural identity in relation to colleagues, clients, customers, suppliers and the wider community

• Appreciate the different behavioural styles of people from different cultures

• Understand the type of languages (written and spoken) that is generated in a particular field and the cultural assumptions and underpinning language

• Gain a greater attitude of tolerance towards differences

• Upskill your ability to work more harmoniously

• Appreciate Aboriginal approaches to teaching and more effectively with others learning

• Put advice and information into appropriate language for the receiver

Post-Conference Workshop 2

Reconciliation Action Plans make a massive difference across all sectors in Australian workplaces. RAPs are a powerful tool for advancing reconciliation in Australia. RAP frameworks assist organisations to foster relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities, organisations, and the broader Australian community, all the while embedding respect for the world’s longest surviving culture. By developing a nationally recognised, tried and tested model for workplaces to formalise commitments to reconciliation, RAPs help to foster a community of shared value, goals and a common language when it comes to reconciliation. This half day workshop is for organisations at any stage of RAP development, implementation or refinement. It will cover initial development of ideas, activities or programs which align with your particular business or brand and work to support Indigenous communities and people. It will provide advice on all aspects of RAP development around the three pillars of Respect, Relationships and Opportunities including Indigenous employment, recruitment and retention, cultural protocols, developing partnerships and sponsorships, establishing networks and engaging with Indigenous communities in your organisation’s region and more broadly.

Key Learning Outcomes: :

• Implement a tried and tested framework that is proven to drive reconciliation through practical actions commitment to reconciliation

• Turn your organisation’s good intentions into action by formalising your organisation’s commitment to reconciliation

• Reaffirm institutional integrity by embedding an engaging framework contributing towards good governance practices

• Join a dynamic, supportive and fast growing network of RAP organisations

• Gain greater esteem as an employer of choice and build a more dynamic and diverse workforce
  

• Enable your staff to develop greater cultural awareness and professional development  practices that will strengthen relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders

• Ensure more effective and relevant service delivery to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities