Ep#144: Institutional integrity amid uncertainty: Key insights from the ASPA Conference

Hosted by IPAA National President Andrew Metcalfe, AO FIPAA, this episode of Work with Purpose explores how the public sector might manage an increasingly complex global public sector environment, while maintaining a spirit of humility and empathy in serving the community.

Public administration on a global scale is facing challenges from growing hostility influenced by misinformation and political rhetoric, which is impacting public servants’ morale and the perception of government institutions.

In this discussion, Crawford School of Public Policy Director Janine O’Flynn reflects on her address to the 2025 American Society of Public Administration Conference which highlighted these issues alongside efforts to build a positive narrative for public service and the integration of technology like AI in governance.

This podcast delves into the long-running global debate on the value of public service – a conversation that continues to evolve across different national contexts.

key tips:

  1. Lead with empathy – recognise the emotional toll of uncertainty and trauma on public sector employees. Whether you’re a leader or a colleague, approach conversations and decisions with compassion and understanding.
  2. Champion positivity – actively highlight the value and impact of public sector work. Sharing success stories and meaningful contributions helps counteract public hostility and rebuild trust.
  3. Engage thoughtfully with AI – understand that trust in artificial intelligence depends on more than just technology; it requires ethical oversight, sound judgement, and high-quality data. Advocate for systems that challenge, rather than replicate, existing biases.

guest and host:

Andrew Metcalfe AO FIPAA

Andrew Metcalfe AO FIPAA is the National President of IPAA.

Andrew was a Commonwealth departmental secretary for 12 years, heading three departments.  He was appointed or reappointed as a Secretary by five different Prime Ministers and worked directly with 15 portfolio ministers.

Hailing from Toowoomba, Queensland, Andrew holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Queensland.  He also completed business administration studies at INSEAD in Fontaineblue, France.

Andrew joined the Australian Public Service as an Administrative Trainee in 1980 and held numerous senior roles in the Department of Immigration, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and as Chief of Staff to a Cabinet Minister.

From 2014 to 2020, he was a senior partner in Ernst and Young.

He was the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment from February 2020 to June 2022, and its successor, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry from July 2022 until his retirement in August 2023.

Andrew is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia and was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2012. In 2010 he was named as the ‘Federal Government Leader of the Year’ by the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Professor Janine O’Flynn

Professor Janine O’Flynn is the Director of the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy, one of the world’s leading interdisciplinary public policy schools.

She is an expert in public administration and management, having advised governments around the world on issues ranging from the design of effective performance management systems through to collaborative approaches to policy design and implementation. She is a Fellow of the US National Academy of Public Administration and the Institute of Public Administration Australia, and she sits on several advisory boards. Janine is an award-winning researcher and educator, and is committed to better understanding how government works, and contributing to improving the outcomes of those activities.

Show notes

transcript:

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