On Thursday 25 September 2025, IPAA Queensland welcomed the public purpose community to the final instalment of our Stewards on the Couch series for 2025. The event featured Sally Stannard, Director-General of the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR). In conversation with her colleague and confidant Anne Moffat, Chief Operations Officer at TMR. Sally offered insight into the realities of leading one of Queensland’s largest and most complex portfolios – one that touches the lives of almost every Queenslander, every day.

With authenticity and warmth, Sally shared candid reflections on leadership, shared responsibility and the most underused skill in the craft of public service – revealing the personal philosophies that underpin her approach to stewardship and why Sally is one of the State’s trusted and respected senior public leaders.

Authenticity in leadership

Sally speaks openly about the importance of leading with authenticity – bringing your whole self to work, operating with intention, and knowing your values and boundaries.

She shares how being comfortable with change and clear about what matters allows her to lead with focus and purpose.

Key takeaway: Authentic leadership isn’t about perfection – it’s about consistency, clarity, and showing up as yourself.

Building the village – leadership, family and teamwork

Behind every leader is a village. Sally reflects on the boundaries and supports that make balance possible – both at home and in the workplace.

From the shared effort of family and colleagues to her philosophy that “what we do as a business, we do as a team,” Sally shows that leadership is a collective act.

Key takeaway: There are no superheroes – shared responsibility, trust and intentional networks make it possible.

The craft of public service – make it visible

Sally describes storytelling as one of the public service’s most vital and underused skills.

She challenges us all to make the work of government visible and valued – to share stories that connect the community with the purpose behind public service.

Key takeaway: Storytelling builds in the public purpose and bridges understanding between government and community.

A Day in the Life of a Director-General

What does a typical day look like when you’re responsible for a $15.8 billion portfolio?

Sally shares the realities of decision-making, correspondence, and the energy she finds in telling the stories of exceptional work that often go unseen.

Key takeaway: Leadership is as much about listening and storytelling as it is about strategy and delivery.

Career advice – patience

Big successes come from consistent, sustained efforts along the path. Sally provides insight into balancing a strong desire for change with patience, and offers a grounded perspective to facing complex, long-term challenges.

Key takeaway: Progress with purpose – be patient, stay consistent, and trust the process.

Career highlight – Small project, big impact

One of Sally’s career highlights comes from a simple but powerful project connecting chronically unemployed people with public transport – opening pathways to work and new experiences.

For Sally, it was a lesson that transport is more than infrastructure, it’s connection, opportunity, and quality of life.

Key takeaway: When policy connects people to opportunity, even small projects can transform lives.

 
IPAA Queensland’s individual members can watch the entire event recording on the members portal.

IPAA Queensland acknowledges our event partner, Orchard Talent, whose support helped bring the 2025 Stewards on the Couch series to life. We thank Orchard Talent for their continued commitment to reshaping and reimagining workforce potential across the public purpose sector.

Orchard Talent Group is more than a search firm – we are your partner in public value. Born from the need for capable, values-aligned leadership in complex times, we help organisations navigate reform, uncertainty and opportunity with people strategies that deliver lasting outcomes. Guided by our purpose to elevate people, organisations and sectors, we work alongside our partners to reshape systems, strengthen capability and realise impact – contributing meaningfully to a stronger tomorrow, today.

As Director-General, Sally Stannard leads the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR). Sally was appointed as Director-General in 2023 after acting in the role since 4 June 2023.

In this role Sally oversees TMR’s delivery of transport services and infrastructure, the shaping of current and future transport systems, and management of the State’s transport regulation, marine and road safety functions.

TMR has approximately 6850 staff and an annual budget of $15.8 billion, including capital expenditure of $6.3 billion and managed assets worth in excess of $136 billion. TMR’s network also includes 33,000km of state-controlled road, service contracts worth over $2 Billion per annum and important rail, bus, cycling and maritime infrastructure.

In Sally’s previous role as the Deputy Director-General (Translink), Sally led the delivery of customer-focused passenger transport services across Queensland including policy, planning, ticketing, contract management and customer services.

Sally is the Chair of Cross River Rail and Chair of Public Transport Association Australia New Zealand. Sally is also a board member of Roads Australia. Sally holds qualifications in Engineering and International Studies and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Sally is passionate about the role transport plays in equitable and sustainable economic development of our cities and regions.

Stewards on the Couch is a regular and highly popular feature of IPAA’s annual event program, where one or more chief executives sit down for an informal, conversational-style interview.

These events provide the IPAA community an opportunity to learn more about the influences, priorities, and core values of stewards leading public purpose work along with the key challenges and opportunities facing their organisation and/or sector. Guests are invited to stay for networking and refreshments after the interview.