Public Sector - Productivity, proficiency and proactivity will drive digital success.

It was a pleasure to Chair the #PSN Innovate NSW 2024 Conference. Over 200 attendees braved a decently cold Sydney morning to hear from over 30 C-Suite executives from a range of government agencies and departments, and we are deeply grateful for the support of the event’s ever-important sponsors.?

In my introduction, I outlined several key themes that have the potential to revolutionise the public sector and serve as the cornerstone of our collective efforts.?

These five key requirements established by capioIT were?

Apply strategic vision and leadership

Invest in digital skills and culture?

Don’t shortcut technology infrastructure

Drive Policy and Regulation?

Ensure cross-agency outcome investment, including the private sector.

The early discussion highlighted the importance of driving these requirements of strong data and strong leadership. This is even though many, if not most, agencies are clogged globally, not just in the Australian public sector, by financial limitations and restrictive budgets. Investment is not necessarily the first option.?

The many agency CEOs on the panels I had the honour of chairing countered this, Budget constraints are always a reality in the private and public sectors. Get over it and get on with it, is the paraphrased message.?

So, what were the takeaways from the day? Unsurprisingly, the key requirements that kicked off the session were there for the end in an evolved form.?

Data - Understand, share and create value.?

Process - Test the limits, fail, learn, and go again.?

Collaborate - Within the agency, between agencies, and outside the government.?

Perhaps it all can be summed up by the idea that: “There is a lot to learn; look for help, provide help”