BRISBANE |  AUGUST 21, 2025

For the first time, The Mandarin’s flagship event is heading to Queensland, bringing with it the speakers, insights and connections that matter to public servants across the state.

WHY BRISBANE — WHY NOW?

Queensland’s enviable lifestyle depends on a high-performing public sector—one equipped to deliver the infrastructure, services, and reforms that keep pace with the state’s growth and ambition.

This conference will feature presentations and panel sessions that cover all aspects of public sector capability, including leadership, recruitment, skills and training, collaboration, expertise, ethics and future government challenges.

PUBLIC SECTOR ATTENDEES

NOTABLE  SPEAKERS

INVALUABLE  CAREER
BOOSTING SESSIONS

FEDERAL AND STATE PUBLIC SERVANTS

The Mandarin's Frank and Fearless public sector survey 2024

David Crisafulli became premier last October. He is also the minister for veterans and member for Broadwater. He served two terms on Townsville City Council, including the last four as deputy mayor. In 2012, David was elected as the member for Mundingburra and appointed minister for local government. His responsibilities were later expanded to include community recovery and resilience. He was re-elected to the Queensland Parliament in 2017, and became opposition leader in 2020.

David Mackie PSM has over 35 years’ experience in public policy and administration, including the past decade in chief executive roles. Prior to being appointed commissioner in 2023, David was the Director-General of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General. He has also held senior executive positions with the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, the then Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland, and the then Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian.

Adam Fennessy has over 25 years of public sector experience at state and federal levels. His former roles have included Secretary of the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Secretary of the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning, the Victorian Public Sector Commissioner and Dean & CEO of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG). In 2018, he received a Public Service Medal (PSM) for leadership in the Victorian public sector.

Liquid is an independent, Australian-owned strategic design and digital consultancy that specialises in human-centred, digitally enabled government reform. Prior to joining Liquid, Fiona held senior executive roles in the UK and Australian governments, and has led whole-of-government reform and digital transformation projects for more than 20 years.

Emeritus Professor Peter Coaldrake AO was appointed Queensland Performing Arts Trust chair in 2017. Peter has had a distinguished career as a practitioner and author in public administration and higher education, including 15 years as QUT vice-chancellor. In 2022, he conducted the influential review of culture and accountability in the Queensland Public Sector, "Let the Sunshine In".

As the Queensland Government lead for Data and AI, Nathan is dedicated to ensuring government is best placed to leverage the power of these technologies to deliver better services to Queenslanders, and build a more effective and efficient public service.

Jasmina Joldić  has over 18 years of experience across the Queensland and Australian Governments, including senior roles in justice, health, policy, and strategy. She served as Director-General of Queensland’s Department of Justice and Attorney-General and led major reform initiatives at Queensland Health, including the development of HealthQ32. She has also held leadership roles in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, the Department of State Development, and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Stefan Hajkowicz is a chief research consultant at CSIRO with over 15 years’ experience leading strategic foresight research to support government decision-making. His work spans scenario planning, megatrends analysis, and risk-based decision support to help public sector leaders navigate future challenges. He has advised global bodies including the World Economic Forum and OECD, and is the author of the bestselling book Global Megatrends.

Jake Ellwood has been CEO of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority since March 2023 and is responsible for ensuring QRA delivers for Queenslanders as the state’s lead agency for disaster recovery and resilience. QRA was first established in 2011 and has since helped impacted Queensland communities recover from more than 130 disaster events.

PUBLIC SERVICE LEADERS

Government decision-makers - secretaries, CEOs, commissioners, CIOs etc - from federal, state and local jurisdictions

SUBJECT-MATTER EXPERTS

Public service managers and practitioners across various disciplines: technology, recruitment, training and more

THOSE WORKING WITH GOVERNMENT

Consultants and contractors who need to understand issues facing the public service

Walk away with practical, real-world insights from the people shaping Australia’s public sector, from premiers to department heads to future-focused thinkers.

Don’t just sit in the audience. Ask questions, join the discussion, and get perspective from those leading the change.

Meet like-minded public servants, policy specialists, and leaders — the kinds of connections that move careers and ideas forward.

At its core, capability covers everything from recruitment to employee retention, and skills training to continuous professional development, and using data for better decision-making. It also includes elements of ethics, craft, stewardship, values and leadership across many government disciplines, including technology, finance, national security and social services.

THE SKILLS PUBLIC SERVICE AGENCIES NEED NOW AND IN THE FUTURE

An examination of the risks and challenges facing all governments and what citizens will require of public sector employees and their leaders. 

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN GOVERNMENT: THE FUTURE IN YOUR HANDS

When it comes to modernising government processes and customer service, AI offers countless exciting opportunities. How can public servants take advantage of these?

HOW THE PUBLIC SECTOR CAN ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE BEST TALENT

How the public service can give itself the best chance to find and hold staff - especially future leaders - while lifting overall workforce capability.

DEBUNKING THE GREAT MYTH OF GENERALISM

How expertise in every form must be elevated within the public sector, and why leadership must be considered the most prized form of expertise.

GOLD SPONSOR

COFFEE CART PARTNER

EXHIBITION SPONSOR

"[The Mandarin’s conferences are] a timely intervention into the conversation about the future of the Australian public service”

– BARNEY GLOVER

JOBS AND SKILLS AUSTRALIA COMMISSIONER

1. EVENT DETAILS

Thursday, August 21, W Brisbane

8.30am -  6.00pm

2. HOW MUCH ARE TICKETS?

Ticket price is dependent on release and if you are working in the public sector. Please visit the checkout page for full pricing information. For group ticket purchases, please contact our team directly at events@themandarin.com.au.

3. CAN THIS CONFERENCE BE USED AS PART OF MY TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT?

Yes. If you need further information to provide for internal sign-off, please contact our team by emailing events@themandarin.com.au.

4. ARE THERE OTHER PERKS OF ATTENDING?

Yes. You will receive a 50% discount on an annual subscription to The Mandarin and exclusive access to Pia Andrews and Marcus Wigan's new book, The Expertise Deficit.

5. HOW CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SPONSORING?

For our media kit and more information, please contact raustin@themandarin.com.au.

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