Dana Lightbody is the CEO of The Leadership Institute. She is a staunch advocate of equality for women in business and believes women should be helping other women every chance they get. Dana established Konnect Learning in 2013 and the Leadership Institute in 2017.

Since then she has advocated for equality for women in all aspects of her entrepreneurial and professional life – in particular by chairing and assisting the production team in the development of TLI’s Women in Leadership line of events.

Trust in government is built not just on outcomes, but on the quality of the decisions that shape them. In an environment defined by complexity, competing priorities, and increasing public scrutiny, leaders are required to exercise sound judgement while balancing diverse stakeholder expectations.

In this opening keynote, Dr Sandra Cuthbert, Chief Executive Officer, Food Standards Australia New Zealand, draws on her experience across central agencies and regulatory leadership to explore what it means to lead with trust in complex public systems. Sandra will share insights into navigating competing perspectives, making decisions in the public interest, and maintaining confidence in institutions during times of uncertainty.

This session will set the tone for the summit, offering a grounded and practical perspective on leadership, stewardship, and trust in today’s public sector.

Stepping into leadership rarely comes with certainty. For many women, growth brings self doubt, heightened visibility, and pressure to prove credibility in environments that often demand perfection. In this candid and empowering session, Dana Lightbody explores what it really takes to lead before you feel ready.

Drawing on real world experience, practical insight, and the patterns she has observed across thousands of women leaders, Dana unpacks why confidence is not a prerequisite for leadership, but a result of action. She challenges common myths around readiness, authority, and self belief, and examines how women can build influence, presence, and trust without waiting for permission.

This session is designed to help women reframe imposter syndrome, recognise their existing capability, and step forward with greater clarity and conviction. You will leave with practical ways to own your voice, lead authentically, and back yourself even when it feels uncomfortable. Because leadership does not begin with certainty. It begins with choosing to step forward.

In large and complex public sector organisations, leadership does not always come with direct authority. Many leaders are required to influence outcomes across teams, functions, and portfolios while navigating competing priorities, governance structures, and organisational dynamics.

In this practical session, Kenna draws on her experience leading across Treasury, Police, Health, and Communities and Justice to explore how leaders can drive outcomes without formal control. Kenna will share insights into influencing decision making, aligning stakeholders, and navigating complex organisational environments with confidence and clarity.

This session will offer a grounded perspective on building credibility, shaping priorities, and delivering results in systems where leadership is defined as much by influence as it is by authority.

Every leader faces moments where the stakes are high and the path forward is not always clear. Whether managing competing priorities, addressing performance challenges, or navigating sensitive stakeholder dynamics, difficult leadership moments require sound judgement, clarity, and confidence.

In this practical and insightful session, Elizabeth Mildwater, Secretary, Department of Customer Service NSW, draws on more than 30 years of leadership experience across government, transport, and the private sector to explore how leaders can navigate complexity with confidence and integrity.

Elizabeth will share real world reflections on managing competing demands, leading through pressure, and making decisions that balance people, outcomes, and public accountability. Attendees will gain practical strategies to approach difficult conversations with clarity, strengthen trust in challenging situations, and lead with confidence in complex environments.

With a career spanning almost 40 years we've grown up with Indira effortlessly anchoring the evening news, cooking up a storm on MasterChef, spruiking the joys of balcony gardening, hosting radio shows, to even - later this year - making her Sydney Opera House stage debut as an actor in the political comedy Housework.

So how do you build a long-lasting, decorated career in the notoriously cut-throat world of media and stay true to your ideals and values?

In this inspiring session Indira explains why it's possible to succeed badly and fail well and why being endlessly curious can fortify you in times of loss and set-back.

Dana Lightbody is the CEO of The Leadership Institute. She is a staunch advocate of equality for women in business and believes women should be helping other women every chance they get.

Dana established Konnect Learning in 2013 and the Leadership Institute in 2017. Since then she has advocated for equality for women in all aspects of her entrepreneurial and professional life – in particular by chairing and assisting the production team in the development of TLI’s Women in Leadership line of events.

Leading change in the public sector often means working within systems that are complex, evolving, and not always designed with every voice in mind. For many leaders, the challenge is not only delivering outcomes, but ensuring that the needs and experiences of the people they serve are genuinely reflected in decision making.

In this insightful session, Alison draws on her leadership experience across government to explore what it takes to lead meaningful change in environments shaped by competing priorities and diverse stakeholder expectations. Alison will share practical reflections on engaging communities, navigating complexity, and bringing stakeholder voices into the heart of policy and service delivery.

This session will offer a thoughtful perspective on leading with empathy, influence, and purpose to create more inclusive and responsive public sector outcomes.

Government decisions have their greatest impact when they are shaped by a genuine understanding of the communities they serve. Whether responding to emergencies, supporting recovery efforts or developing policy, leaders must balance complex systems with the real experiences and needs of people on the ground.

In this insightful session, Karina Menday, Assistant Coordinator General at the National Emergency Management Agency, draws on her experience across disaster recovery, emergency management, policy and stakeholder engagement to explore what it means to lead with a community first mindset.

Karina will share practical insights into building trust with communities, engaging stakeholders during times of uncertainty and ensuring that policy and program delivery remain connected to the people they are designed to support. Drawing on lessons from emergency management and recovery environments, she will explore how leaders can create meaningful outcomes by listening deeply, fostering collaboration and keeping community needs at the centre of team work and decision making.

This session will provide a practical perspective on leading with empathy, influence and purpose to deliver outcomes that are trusted, responsive and impactful

Leadership is rarely defined by the moments that go to plan. More often, it is shaped by the decisions we make in the face of adversity, uncertainty and change. In this inspiring fireside conversation, actress, author and advocate Madeleine West shares the experiences that have shaped her remarkable journey and the lessons they offer for leaders navigating today's complex world.

Through an honest and engaging discussion, Madeleine will explore the power of courage, authenticity and staying true to your values, even when the path ahead is uncertain. Discover how life's greatest challenges can become catalysts for growth, how vulnerability can strengthen leadership, and why the choices we make in difficult moments often define the leader we become.

Following the conversation, Madeleine will remain on stage for an extended audience Q&A, offering delegates the opportunity to ask questions, reflect on the day's conversations, and leave the summit feeling inspired, empowered and ready to lead with greater courage and purpose.

In today’s public sector, leadership increasingly sits at the intersection of technology, risk, and public trust. Decisions made within digital systems have far reaching consequences, requiring leaders to balance innovation, security, and accountability in complex and high stakes environments.

In this insightful session, Alana draws on more than three decades of experience across government to explore what it means to lead with integrity in a rapidly evolving landscape. Alana will share practical insights into managing risk, making sound decisions under pressure, and building trust in systems that underpin essential public services.

This session will offer a grounded perspective on leadership, responsibility, and maintaining integrity in environments where the stakes are high and the margin for error is small.

Delivering outcomes in government rarely happens within a single team, function, or jurisdiction. Leaders are required to navigate layered systems, balance competing priorities, and work across portfolios while maintaining trust across a diverse set of stakeholders.

In this practical session, Lisa draws on her experience leading across infrastructure, regions, and national programs to explore what it takes to deliver results in complex environments while building and sustaining trust. Lisa will share insights into coordinating across systems, aligning priorities, and maintaining credibility in the face of competing demands.

This session will offer a grounded perspective on the role of trust in complex settings, and how leaders can deliver meaningful outcomes while strengthening confidence across teams, stakeholders, and communities.

The future of leadership will not be defined by technology, policy or organisational structures alone. It will be defined by how effectively leaders understand people.

As workplaces become more complex, expectations continue to rise and change accelerates across every sector, leaders are increasingly required to navigate uncertainty while maintaining trust, connection and performance. The challenge is not simply managing systems. It is understanding the human behaviours that shape how people respond to pressure, change and complexity.

In this thought provoking closing keynote, Associate Professor Sophie Adams, Chief Psychiatrist of Victoria, explores what the future of leadership demands in an increasingly complex world. Drawing on her experience across mental health, clinical leadership and large scale public sector systems, Sophie will share insights into human behaviour, decision making and the leadership qualities that will matter most in the years ahead.

This session will challenge delegates to think differently about leadership, influence and the future of work. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how to lead people through uncertainty, build environments where individuals can thrive and prepare themselves for the leadership challenges of tomorrow.