Are you building your career in the public sector while living and working in Wollongong and the Illawarra areas?
Do you want to expand your network and connect with peers across the region?
Join Jo Rose, IPAA CEO, Kathrina Lo, Public Service Commissioner, and Julie-Anne Tooth, Chief People Officer DPRID, to explore:
- The skills and capabilities every modern public servant needs, with a regional lens
- How networking across the public sector can accelerate your career development
- The opportunities and challenges unique to working in regional public sector workplaces
This free, face-to-face, event is designed for all public servants working in Wollongong and the Illawarra areas and includes time for audience Q&A and networking over lunch.
This event is part of IPAA NSW’s new regional program of activities being developed to better support NSW public servants who live and work outside Sydney.
What Will You Gain ?
If you want to develop your public sector career, this event will help you:
• Understand the skills and capabilities needed for success in the public sector
• Get more value out of public sector networking opportunities
• Recognise and take advantage of what makes regional public sector workplaces unique.
Sponsor Acknowledgment

SPEAKERS
Julie-Ann Tooth
Chief People Officer
NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPRID)

Julie-Anne Tooth is the Chief People Officer at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development where she leads a customer facing workforce of 700+ individuals dedicated to connecting people and communities across NSW. She was previously Director of Regions South and West at NSW TrainLink and Director of People & Culture Business Partnering at Transport for NSW.
Her career also includes senior roles in the corporate sector includes leadership and business transformation roles across diverse industries in the Asia Pacific region, including IT, business process outsourcing and energy.
Julie-Anne has developed and implemented human resources strategy in a number of multinational corporations, designed and lead large organisation-wide change and restructuring programs and transformed leadership and culture in a number of organizations.
She spent over a decade in consulting and coaching and contributed to the professional coaching industry through the publication of her PhD research in the book, 'Experiencing executive coaching' (Scholars Press 2014) and her involvement in the Standards Australia 'Coaching in organizations' project. She has been an Editorial Board Member for the Philosophy of Coaching: An International Journal and Member of the ICF Australasia Professional Standards Committee.
Kathrina Lo
Public Service Commissioner
Office of the NSW Public Service Commissioner

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Kathrina joined the NSW Public Service Commission in April 2020 after previously working as a Deputy Secretary for the Department of Communities and Justice.
Kathrina has extensive public sector experience with both state and federal governments. She has held senior executive roles in the NSW Department of Justice, NSW Audit Office and NSW Information and Privacy Commission. Kathrina is on the board of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government and is a member of Chief Executive Women.
Kathrina has qualifications in law and economics and is passionate about working in the public interest, and is a champion for diversity and inclusion.
The Public Service Commissioner is an independent office holder.
HOST
Jo Rose
Chief Executive Officer
IPAA NSW


As the CEO, Jo oversees the strategic direction of the organisation.
She liaises between Council, staff and key stakeholders to ensure IPAA’s offerings are aligned with the changing needs of the public sector.
Jo is also responsible for the design of IPAA NSW’s integrated program, ensuring it remains focused on contemporary, NSW public sector stories.
Jo is passionate about members and ensuring we create an environment where all voices are heard, where diversity is celebrated, and where we honour the knowledge and experiences of everyone through a deep sense of belonging.
Jo has led IPAA’s digital transformation, the revitalisation of our learning program and the design of IPAA’s private sector partnerships.
Prior to IPAA, Jo worked as an advocate for the creative industries and was an award winning film and TV producer.
How to Register
If you are a NSW public sector employee, click here to become an Affiliate membership free of charge.

Event Details
Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm
When: Tuesday, 14 July 2026
Where: Venue to be confirmed, Wollongong
Cost: Professional & Affiliate Members: Free
Be at your best, for NSW.
Register now to secure your spot.