Richard Bolt Archives

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The Select Committee

Empathy training for public sector leaders — is it a good idea?

By Chris Johnson

Australian Capital Territory

Is empathy training worthwhile and should it be mandatory for public sector leaders? If so, what shape should it take? …

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Is it the role of staff to be managing the managers? – The Select Committee

By Chris Johnson

Leadership Advice and Insights

How do you seek improvements to leadership in your organisation when you are not a designated leader? Is managing up the line a fair thing…

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Priorities following a year like this – the Select Committee

By Chris Johnson

Editors' Picks

After the year that we have had, what should be the public sector's initial priorities once everyone returns next year following the shutdown? And how…

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Define the public interest – The Select Committee

By Chris Johnson

Editors' Picks

This instalment of The Select Committee includes comment from our whole brains trust – the entire nine-member panel. And while we were acutely aware of…

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Is going into public policy a good career? – The Select Committee

By Chris Johnson

Editors' Picks

Would you advise one of your children, relatives or close friends to go into public policy? If so, why? If not, why not?…

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Public policy perfection – The Select Committee

By Chris Johnson

Thought Leadership

Would you accept that there is no such thing as a perfect public policy — or, if not, would you agree with the contention that…

The nine policy experts answering the burning questions facing public sector leaders

By Shannon Jenkins

News

With nine members from a range of backgrounds, including Lucy Turnbull, Geoff Gallop, and Richard Bolt, the Select Committee provides comment and insight into key…

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Introducing The Select Committee – The Mandarin Brains Trust

By Chris Johnson

Editors' Picks

The Mandarin has asked nine highly skilled high achievers to form a panel we are calling The Select Committee. These people are huge contributors to…

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Columnists

Richard Bolt on dealing with corruption when it's in your own executive. Why it happens, and what he learned about the duty to protect the agency

By Richard Bolt

Editors' Picks

From The Coalface: As a public sector leader you must be able hold two apparently contradictory thoughts at the same time – that although corruption…

Greg Wilson, Gill Callister and Richard Bolt resign as MOG rumours fly

By David Donaldson

News

Gill Callister, Greg Wilson and Richard Bolt, the heads of Victoria's education, justice and economic development super departments, have announced their resignations ahead of post-election…

Harvard scholarships for four state mandarins

By David Donaldson

New South Wales

Top public servants from NSW, Victoria, Queensland and WA have been awarded Harvard scholarships to study an executive program in 2018 or 2019.

Inequality and unemployment 'a choice' governments make, says jobs dept boss

By David Donaldson

Economy & Industry

As technology changes the economy, it's up to government to ensure life doesn't get worse for the already disadvantaged, argues Richard Bolt.

MoG change reporting 'inconsistent and incomplete'

By David Donaldson

Career Advice

Unlike the Commonwealth, Victoria has no framework for consistently calculating the costs and benefits of MoG changes. This must be addressed, says a parliamentary report.

Gill Callister’s anti-corruption war plan to impact entire VPS

By Harley Dennett

Education

An ambitious anti-corruption reform agenda been announced on the final day of high-profile corruption hearings into the Victorian Education Department. The Secretaries Board has flagged…

Ultranet inquiry: claims of Education Department corruption

By David Donaldson

Education

The Victorian Education Department's failed Ultranet software system may have cost four times the original budgeted amount following flawed tendering. And staff failed to declare…