Public Minds™ is a product of the IPAA NSW Policy and Practice program. Launched in June of this year at the spectacular IPAA National Conference in Sydney, the project aims to facilitate and enrich the relationship between IPAA NSW, its members and the wider public sector. Further to this, IPAA NSW has made the decision to emphasise its role as a thought leader, strengthening its responsiveness to emerging issues in the field of public sector administration and aiding the development of relationships within the sector and with the Public Minds project we are well on our way.

IPAA NSW already provides a high quality membership experience, hosting first rate training services for the public sector, and building upon an established reputation as an organiser of innovative events. However, currently these services are often enjoyed in a piecemeal manner. As a consequence, learning opportunities are not fully exploited. For instance, IPAA NSW events and forums often prompt inspiring discussions and produce innovative ideas, but only the relatively small number of people who attend the event benefit from them. At the same time, the wealth of relationship and networking opportunities arising from participation in training programs is not always actively cultivated and exploited. IPAA NSW has recognised the need and desire for a fully integrated service that will focus on combating some of these existing issues and has implemented the Public Minds™ project to do just that.

Using the Public Minds™ portal and the Policy and Practice program, IPAA NSW continues to work towards securing its position as a primary source of strategic intelligence and solutions in public sector administration and management. As it builds on the Institute’s existing strengths, the initiative will reinforce IPAA NSW as a leader in knowledge provision and a driver of innovation in the public sector.