Institute of Public Administration Australia (ACT) Limited

Have you ever considered what it takes to design public services that keep pace with technology while staying genuinely human-centred?

In this episode of Work with Purpose, IP Australia Deputy Director-General Margaret Tregurtha joins Wendy Cohen, Deputy CEO of IPAA, to explore how modern public institutions can foster innovation, build trust and deliver services that meet evolving community needs.

Listeners will gain a clear understanding of how intellectual property underpins Australia’s economic and cultural wellbeing, why recognising and protecting First Nations knowledge is essential to a fair and modern IP system, and what responsible adoption of emerging technologies like AI really looks like in practice.

The conversation also highlights the mindsets and capabilities needed to drive meaningful change inside government, from embedding transparency and inclusion to creating cultures that support curiosity and continuous improvement. It offers a practical and grounded look at what it takes to build public services that are trusted, adaptive and ready for the future.

Key Takeaways:

1. Human centred design is essential for modern public services: True transformation happens when services are built around people’s real needs and expectations, not just new technology.

2. Protecting First Nations knowledge strengthens Australia’s innovation system: Recognising and safeguarding Indigenous cultural and intellectual property is vital for fairness, cultural resilience and a modern IP framework.

3. Responsible innovation depends on clear governance and a culture of curiosity: Emerging technologies like AI deliver public value only when supported by strong risk frameworks, purposeful leadership and teams empowered to learn and experiment.