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As the Western Australian Public sector faces its most significant period of change in nearly a decade, this session provided delegates with first hand insights into how to work with modern government.

Modern government is characterised by large agencies often reporting to multiple ministers. Ministerial offices have become increasingly difficult to navigate, as they fill out with advisors and chiefs of staff.

Led by Adam Fennessy, and featuring a distinguished panel of experts, this session explored the skills and political savvy necessary for your agency to deliver the government’s agenda.

MC

Colin Murphy PSM FIPAA
Auditor General, Office of the Auditor General;
Vice President, IPAA WA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keynote Presenter

Adam Fennessy
Former Secretary, Department of Environment, Water, Land, and Planning (Victoria)

Adam Fennessy is a Partner in EY’s Advisory Practice, with a focus on government and strategy. This follows a 20 year career at State and Federal Government level, including over four years at Secretary (CEO) level.

In Government, Adam was Secretary of the Victorian Government Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) from January 2015 to June 2017. He led the organisation in creating liveable, inclusive and sustainable communities across Victoria while maintaining the State’s world class liveability.  Prior to this, Adam was Secretary of the Department of Environment and Primary Industries, from April 2013 to December 2014.

Adam was appointed as a member of the inaugural Victorian Male Champions of Change group in 2015, and led change to embed gender equity across DELWP and areas of state government.  Adam was appointed to the inaugural board of Infrastructure Victoria, and served on the board of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (Victoria).  Adam is currently serving on the advisory councils of the Monash Sustainable Development Institute and the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute.

Adam lives in Bendigo with his partner and young family, which gives him a unique perspective of the opportunities and challenges across regional areas of Victoria and Australia.

Panel

Terry Waldron
fmr Minister for Sport and Recreation 

Ron Alexander
fmr Director-General, Department of Sport and Recreation

Dr Ruth Shean FIPAAWA 
IPAA WA Fellow; fmr Director General, Department of Training and Workforce Development

Michael Megaw
Michael Megaw Consulting; fmr Chief of Staff to the Hon. Eric Ripper

Michael has more than two decades of experience as a senior adviser to Federal and State Ministers in Australia, including ten years as a Chief of Staff. This includes nine years with Kim Beazley during his time as Education Minister, Minister for Finance, Deputy Prime Minister and Opposition Leader. Additionally, he served as Chief of Staff to WA Deputy Premier, and then Leader of the Opposition, Eric Ripper from 2002. This experience covered Treasury, Energy, Public Sector Management and State Development portfolios.

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