Good policymaking for the future – Does the public sector have what it takes?
Elected governments determine the goals and priorities for public policy and services, while the public sector plays a pivotal role in advising, shaping and delivering on these priorities. In today’s world, this task is more challenging than ever, yet it is core to the craft of public service.
The sector and governments face mounting pressures from global economic and geopolitical crises, rapid technological disruption, 24/7 social media scrutiny, and rising public demand for simple solutions to complex problems.
At the same time, disinformation and distrust in expertise threaten the depth of well-informed public understanding of issues.
This raises some critical questions:
⦁ Do we have the knowledge and skills to navigate these challenges and strengthen democracy?
⦁ How can public servants foster well-informed public debate and rebuild trust in public institutions?
⦁ What tools and resources are needed to deliver excellence in governance and service delivery under conditions of rapid change and global disruption?
In the 2025 Irene Longman Oration Professor Brian Head tackled these pressing issues. Professor Head explored the need for policymaking to consider “future-orientated thinking”, genuine collaboration, and respect for lived experience. Professor Head argued that rebuilding policy capacity and public trust through good governance and cutting-edge evidence must go hand-in-hand with accountability and stewardship.
Attendees joined us for this thought-provoking discussion about the future of policymaking and the public sector’s role in strengthening democracy.
Click here to view the full 2025 Irene Longman Oration photo gallery
Professor Brian Head has been a distinguished scholar in public policy and administration at the University of Queensland since 2007, following a diverse career spanning senior roles in government, academia, and the non-government sector. A prolific author and editor, Professor Head has contributed extensively to the fields of public management, governance, social issues, and environmental policy. Professor Head’s research focuses on evidence-based policy, tackling complex or ‘wicked’ problems, program evaluation, prevention strategies, collaboration and consultation, and public sector integrity. Professor Head’s work bridges the gap between research and practice, fostering stronger connections between the academic and policy-making communities.His most recent publication, Wicked Problems in Public Policy. (2022, Palgrave, open access), provides a comprehensive overview of the ‘wicked problems’ literature. These problems are characterised as complex, open-ended, and intractable, with contested definitions and solutions. Drawing on examples from social, economic, and environmental fields, the book explores why these issues are contentious and how policy practitioners can better understand and manage them. It questions traditional public management approaches and highlights the need for integrative and inclusive strategies to address the multiple interests and complex causes of wicked problems.
The IPAA Queensland oration is named in honour of Irene Longman, the first female elected to the Queensland Parliament (1929-1932) and a dedicated ‘public servant’ to the community for over 30 years. Her values and legacy include the welfare of women, children and people with intellectual disabilities; establishing the first education opportunity classes; enabling women to join the police in Queensland; creating a separate Children’s Court; and for the appointment of an advisory panel in difficult cases of juvenile delinquency.
The oration is an annual flagship event, similar to IPAA National’s Garran Oration (in honour of Sir Robert Garran, the first Commonwealth public servant) and the orations held by other state and territory IPAAs. The oration’s intent is to honour an individual and their contribution to the field of public administration. It is delivered by a prominent leader who will focus on a relevant aspect of the sector to encourage public interest and contemporary thinking.