MELBOURNE, GRAND HYATT | NOVEMBER 6, 2025

This Mandarin Live conference will address key challenges and opportunities facing Victoria’s public sector and help future-proof your public service career. 

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

PUBLIC SECTOR 

ATTENDEES

NOTABLE  

SPEAKERS

INVALUABLE  CAREER
BOOSTING SESSIONS

STATE PUBLIC SERVANTS

The Mandarin's Frank and Fearless public sector survey 2024

Brigid Monagle was appointed as Victorian Public Sector Commissioner in February 2023. She is a senior public servant who previously acted as secretary for the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH). Before this, Brigid held several deputy secretary roles at DFFH as well as at the former Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Premier and Cabinet. She holds a Master of Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons).

Amanda Stevens has held several leadership roles in federal, state, and local government. She led teams at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission for over 10 years, was executive director in the Victorian Department of Health’s COVID Response, and is currently CEO at the Institute of Public Administration Victoria, the public sector peak body. As well as an experienced board member, Amanda served three consecutive terms as mayor of the City of Port Phillip.

Deborah Glass was Victorian Ombudsman for a decade from 2014. After being raised in Melbourne, Deborah practised law before moving overseas and into financial services regulation. She became a commissioner of the Independent Police Complaints Commission of England and Wales, heading up criminal and misconduct investigations into police. She was appointed IPCC deputy chair and, in 2012, was awarded an OBE for her service.

Dr Stephen Duckett is a health economist and honorary enterprise professor at the University of Melbourne. After working at the Victorian Department of Health, he became federal Health secretary in 1994. He was then chief executive of Queensland’s Centre for Health Improvement, and president/CEO of Alberta Health Services in Canada. He spent a decade as director of the Grattan Institute’s health program.

Jenny Macklin is the former deputy leader of the federal Labor Party, and the first woman elected to a leadership position in a major Australian political party. In the Rudd-Gillard governments, she was minister for disability reform, families, housing, and community services. As minister for Indigenous affairs, Jenny oversaw the Apology to the Stolen Generations and developed the Closing the Gap framework. She is now an honorary enterprise professor in social and political science at the University of Melbourne. Her most recent book is Making Progress: How Good Policy Happens with Joel Deane.

The Australian Public Policy Institute is a government-university partnership transforming how policymakers and research experts work together. An adjunct professor of economics at the University of Sydney, Libby is a public policy expert with more than 20 years’ experience bringing government and universities together to solve complex problems. She has held senior leadership and advisory roles in government, parliament, university peak bodies, think tanks and private sector consultancy in Australia and the UK.

Jay Weatherill was premier of South Australia for over six years and a minister for 16 years, holding portfolios including early childhood. He is a member of the National Gallery of Australia council, chairs the not-for-profit Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation, and is a director of Nicola Forrest’s Coaxial Foundation. Most recently, he led the Thrive by Five campaign for early years reform with the Minderoo Foundation. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2021 Australia Day Honours list for his work in early childhood development.

More speakers coming soon.

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. It also includes ethics, craft, stewardship, values and leadership across many government disciplines, including technology, finance, and social services.

MODERN PUBLIC SERVICE CHALLENGES

Examining the risks and demands facing governments in the post-pandemic world, and what citizens require of public sector employees and their leaders.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER PATHWAYS

What it takes to foster growth and excellence within the public sector workforce, and the expertise required to address specific community challenges.

ETHICAL LEADERSHIP AND SOCIETAL IMPACT

How public servants develop their ethical ‘muscle’ while understanding the moral imperative and broader societal responsibilities of working in government.

PUBLIC SERVICE COLLABORATION IN ACTION 

How vital public sector components can work better together and with stakeholders, including communities and private industry, during ‘chaos as usual’.

COFFEE CART & NETWORKING 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, November 6, Grand Hyatt Melbourne

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.

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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