Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform & Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD today (20 March 2025) launched the Institute of Public Administration’s 2025 Strategic Leadership Programme, designed to address critical leadership needs across the Public Service. Pictured (L-R) are Institute of Public Administration (IPA) Chair George Burke, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform & Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD and Helen Brophy, IPA Director General.
The SPS Strategic Leadership Programme for senior public service leaders is designed to ensure that good leadership is at the core of public service to address critical skills, encourage innovation and take an integrated approach to cross-governmental issues such as infrastructure, housing, climate change, healthcare and immigration. It also builds leadership capabilities to prepare for emerging areas impacting public services, including digital transformation, AI and sustainability.
Led by Dr Cedric Chau, the IPA Director of Senior Public Service (SPS), this year’s programme will equip almost 200 leaders at Principal Officer level and above, with the necessary strategic leadership knowledge, skills and expertise needed to navigate the complex and ever-changing operating environment. It will also seek to cultivate a strong leadership community within the Public Service to meet succession planning needs and foster collaborative relationships within and between organisations.
Designed to contribute to the Better Public Services 2030 Transformation Strategy, the programme aligns with the government’s strategic vision to strengthen leadership capacity at senior levels, thereby ensuring a resilient public service in an increasingly complex environment. The IPA has engaged two delivery partners this year, Trinity College Dublin and the Roffey Institute.
Speaking at the launch, Helen Brophy, Director General of the IPA, said: “Investing in leadership development is central to providing better public services to the citizens of our country and the role of the IPA is critical to meeting the current and future challenges faced by the Public Service.
“With its diverse education, learning and development programmes, the IPA works in partnership with the Public Service to ensure that its over 425,000 staff and employees have access to supports that build an innovative, agile and resilient workforce for the future when, where and how they need it.”
—