WITH AN ELECTION LOOMING, JULIE GARLAND MCLELLAN HIGHLIGHTS PUBLIC SECTOR GOVERNANCE REALITIES IN TIMES OF CHANGE - October 2007

With the Federal Election set for Saturday November 24, Julie Garland McLellan will deliver a timely presentation for Directors of public sector boards at the AICD Public Sector Governance Forum in Canberra on Thursday November 15.

"Government owned organisations regularly undergo rapid and dramatic change. Their ownership, structure and even purpose can be called into question, reviewed and revised within timeframes that the private sector would never be able to cope with," says Julie. "Elections are a major cause of this constant change, but even in the middle of a government's term in office, a single shareholder has the power to make wide ranging changes that can place the governance and management structures under intense pressure. "

Julie will explore how the governance of public sector organisations presides over continuity of service while also having to be flexible during times of radical changes in the power structures of which they are an inherent part.

"Governance in the public sector needs to be stronger and more flexible than in the private sector. Yet, when considering the nature and characteristics of public sector governance, it is more likely that bureaucratic rigidity, adherence to the rules and respect for traditions will spring to mind more than notions of resilience, flexibility and resolute customer service," says Julie. "I will be examining the apparent paradox between the branding and reality of public sector governance. "

Julie Garland McLellan is the author of 'All Above Board - Great Governance for the Government Sector' and is a one of Australia's leading governance consultants.

Book your place to see Julie's presentation at the AICD Public Sector Governance Forum