About IPAA’s Challenger Series

Our Challenger Series aims to facilitate discussion on topics and issues that are challenging in their very nature, to spark conversations that can lead to real impact and to be a catalyst for transformation in public purpose work in Queensland.  These interactive forums are based on respectful collaboration and are intended to provide a platform to promote ideas and discussion about emerging issues, innovation, and future public service reform.

Who should attend

We invite all professionals who want to engage with informed discussion and debate about the big issues in public leadership, public policy and public sector management, to attend Challenger Series events.

Registration is complimentary for individual members of IPAA Queensland. Organisational member employees and full-time students receive a discount.

History

  • Our most recent challenger event on “AI and Government” brought together Nathan Bines (Queensland Government Customer and Digital Group), Fahim Khondaker (BDO), Dr Katie Williams (University of Queensland School of Business), moderated by Professor Tim Kastelle.
  • An esteemed panel of leading experts – Dr Robyn Littlewood (Health and Wellbeing Queensland), Professor Bruce Abernathy AM (University of Queensland), Helen Darch AOM (Chair of Mackay Hospital and Health Board) and John Kotzas AM (Queensland Performing Arts Centre), and moderated by Professor Marina Reeves (University of Queensland), come together in 2024 to share insight and perspective on the challenges of public health in Queensland.
  • In 2022, challenger event on “Rethinking Crises and Achieving Resilience in a Post-COVID World” brought together Alistair Dawson (Inspector-General Emergency Management), Professor Cheryl Desha (Griffith University) and Collin Sivalingum (Red Cross), moderated by Dr Anne Tiernan.
  • In partnership with Complexability, the Cynefin Centre and QUTeX, Dave Snowden and Beth Smith shared their insights on ‘Citizen Engagement through Complexity in Public Purpose Work’ also in 2022.
  • In 2020, IPAA partnered with McKinsey & Co to bring two of their expert consultants Seckin Ungur and Brant Carson to speak about “Digital Transformation in Public Purpose Work”. Moderated by Cat Matson.
  • Also in 2020, our most popular Challenger seminar on “Caretaker Conventions in Westminster Systems” was presented by Jennifer Menzies in partnership with Griffith University Policy Innovation Hub.
  • The inaugural Challenger Seminar Series in 2019 covered the subject “30 Years since Fitzgerald: Ethics and public purpose in the future economy” and featured CCC Chairperson Alan MacSporran QC, Ian Stewart AO APM (Commissioner, Queensland Police Service), Cris Parker (Head of Ethics Alliance from the Ethics Centre), and David Fagan (former editor of the Courier Mail).

 

Build connections. Challenge your thinking. Keep informed. It’s your IPAA.