The real constraint isn’t risk; it’s how agencies choose to interpret it.

In this ADAPT Edge panel, Peter O’Halloran, Chief Digital Officer at ADHA, Emily Hilder, First Assistant Secretary Digital Capability at Defence Australia, Justin Keefe, First Assistant Secretary, Digital and Security at Prime Minister and Cabinet and Peter Hind, Principal Research Analyst at ADAPT challenge the default assumptions slowing public sector progress, reframing collaboration, workforce readiness and productivity as mindset shifts rather than structural limitations.

Collaboration requires reframing sensitivity and difference

The barrier to cross-agency collaboration is not actual difference or data sensitivity, it’s the belief that these factors prevent sharing.

When agencies over-index on risk and uniqueness, they fragment efforts, duplicate work, and fail to scale impact. Reframing sensitivity as something to design around, and recognising commonality across organisations, enables reuse, accelerates innovation, and supports more equitable, accessible outcomes across diverse communities.

Justin argues sensitivity exists everywhere and cannot justify not collaborating, positioning it as a constraint to solve rather than an excuse. Emily reinforces this by highlighting that agencies are “not very different,” and that most services, like healthcare, share core fundamentals, making cross-learning both viable and necessary.

Workforce transformation is a mindset shift, not a survival risk

AI-driven change is less about replacing the workforce and more about requiring it to think, learn, and operate differently.

The speed of current transformation compresses the time available for adaptation. Organisations that fail to actively shift behaviours, breaking down silos, encouraging curiosity, and moving away from “knowledge is power”, will struggle to keep pace, regardless of how much technology they adopt.

Justin normalises workforce anxiety as a feature of every transformation cycle but highlights that the pace is unprecedented. The critical shift is toward continuous learning and openness, with leaders expected to model this by staying informed and fostering curiosity across their teams.

Productivity comes from disciplined focus on value, not tool proliferation

Real productivity gains come from selecting a small number of high-impact problems and proving value quickly, not from experimenting broadly with tools.

Without early, demonstrable outcomes, organisations fail to build trust with stakeholders, limiting their ability to scale or secure support for larger initiatives. A focused, value-first approach reduces noise, builds confidence, and creates momentum for more ambitious transformation.

Emily emphasises defining the problem before choosing tools and avoiding paralysis from too many options. Peter extends this by stressing the importance of delivering quick, visible wins that prove safety, reliability, and benefit, establishing the trust needed for long-term investment.

The differentiator is no longer access to technology, it’s whether organisations can align mindset, collaboration, and value delivery fast enough to use it effectively.

Key takeaways:

• Redefine risk: Treat sensitivity as solvable, not as a reason to avoid collaboration.
• Lead mindset change: Prioritise curiosity, learning, and breaking silos in the workforce.
• Prove value early: Focus on a few use cases that deliver fast, visible, and trusted outcomes.