Shared Service Connections Conference

The presentations from the conference are now available.

Click here to download a copy of the final program (PDF 1,640 K).

'Connecting best practice across public and private sector organisations to realise the future benefits of shared services'

The Shared Service Connections Conference was held on 7 and 8 November, 2007, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The conference attracted 300 delegates from around Australia to learn from cutting-edge private and public sector knowledge in shared service implementation from Australia, United Kingdom and Canada, as well as research perspectives on addressing the challenges of implementing shared services.

David Myers from the UK Government received excellent feedback from delegates about his keynote presentation on the contributions of shared services to the UK Government’s strategic directions. Canadian presenters Dr Evert Lindquist, Director of the School of Public Administration and Liz Gilliland, Executive-in-Residence, University of Victoria, Canada similarly received an excellent response to their presentations about Canadian shared service experiences. They provided frameworks to assist delegates to compare shared service initiatives and learn from other case studies.

While shared service implementation is typically complex, the Canadian and UK keynote speakers outlined the diverse benefits of the shared service approaches and how implementation challenges could be overcome.

Delegates praised the academic and research perspectives that contributed to practitioners’ discussions, with contributions from leading business theorists including Professor Ken Wiltshire, Professor Victor Callan and Dr Patty Renfrow.

Delegate comments included:

“It was an awesome conference. It made me think and changed my views and thinking about what it is to be part of shared services.”

“The best shared services conference I’ve attended. Excellently priced. Great mix of speakers.”

“Very well run, excellent speakers and topics. Venue excellent. Great atmosphere. One of the best conferences I have attended.”

“Very well organised conference with a great mix of content and balanced program.”

“Good timing of sessions. Good breadth of content.”

“A very well organised and professionally run conference—Well done.”

The conference achieved its objective to inform, discuss, share and learn more about the shared services environment and shape strategic directions. The conference and subsequent discussions on key issues will help inform the Queensland Government’s focus and priorities for shared services now and into the future.

The event was developed by the Shared Service Initiative Policy and Program Office in partnership with the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA), Queensland and the UQ Business School.

Further information

Contact the Queensland Government Shared Service Initiative via email at ssi@sharedservices.qld.gov.au

Last reviewed 23 June 2008