Public Service    Senior Management Conference Wellington 15 October 1998

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Conference theme

'On the Edge' -  Challenging Boundaries in the Public Service

The title and theme for the eighth New Zealand Public Service Senior Management Conference, 'On the Edge: Challenging Boundaries in the Public Service', arose from an organic concept attributed to Ray Raphael and quoted by Henry Mintzberg. The inter-tidal zone of the seashore is the edge where land and water meet, where richness of life abounds, but where there is tension and danger for the inhabitants. This theme provided the discussion platform for the important next steps in the development of the Public Service, by drawing on theories and practices from New Zealand and international experience.

The conference explored topical challenges for the management and leadership of public sector organisations. In particular it presented knowledge as a strategic tool of government and addressed some challenges in the management of knowledge.

The conference was organised by the State Services Commission and a steering group of representatives of departments of the New Zealand Public Service.  

 

PRESENTERS

 

Hon Simon Upton, Minister of State Services

Opening Address           

Professor Percy Allan, Percy Allan and Associates Ltd, Sydney, Australia (Keynote speaker)

'The New State - Recasting the Public Service in the New Century'  

_______

 

TOPIC I : MANAGING KNOWLEDGE

 

Rebekah Burton, Deputy Secretary, Dept of Premier and Cabinet, Tasmania  (Keynote speaker)

'The Information Economy - Transforming Government and the Community in a Small Regional Economy' 

 

Len Cook, Government Statistician, Statistics New Zealand

'Knowledge Management: Perspectives from Public Policy and Public Administration'

Judith Speight, Sales Director STA, and chair TUANZ

'The Informed Organisation'

 

Debbie Sorensen, Chief Adviser, Pacific Health, Ministry of Health

'Population Knowledge - Informing Policy Advice'

__________

 

TOPIC II : PUBLIC INTEREST

 

Eva Kmiecic, Vice President, Public Policy Forum, Ottawa, Canada (Keynote speaker)

'Understanding the Public Interest- A Canadian Experience

 

Rob Steele, Chief Executive, Electra

'Serving Our Public's Interest - A Commercial Response'

Al Morrison, Political Editor, Radio New Zealand

'Traders in Information - The Public Interest and Policy Debate from a Media Perspective'

       ___________   

 

Michael Bichard, Permanent Secretary, Department for Education and Employment, United Kingdom (Keynote speaker)

'Policy, Management and Delivery in a Changing World' 

Michael Wintringham, State Services Commissioner (Closing Address)

'Beyond the Edge - The Commissioner's View'