AI for WA Public Sector Leaders: Strategy, Governance & Practical Application

Get AI under control, manage risk, meet governance obligations and make decisions you can defend

In-person | 28 October 2026 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM AWST
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Overview

AI is already in your organisation, whether it’s governed or not.

Across WA, staff are already using tools like Copilot, ChatGPT and other AI platforms in their day-to-day work. The reality is, adoption is happening faster than policy, governance and capability can keep up. That’s the gap.

Right now, most agencies are not struggling with access to AI, they’re struggling with how to govern and use it effectively. Where it fits. What’s allowed. What’s too risky. And who is accountable when something goes wrong.

At the same time, expectations are tightening.

With the rollout of the Privacy and Responsible Information Sharing (PRIS) legislation, alongside evolving WA Government policy direction, agencies are under increasing pressure to make sure AI use is safe, compliant, and aligned with privacy, risk and governance obligations.

But in practice, it’s not that simple.

Governance is often fragmented. Approvals can be unclear or inconsistent. Use cases sit in silos. And many teams are still working out how to move from small experiments into something that holds up in real operations. On top of that, leaders are being asked to back AI initiatives, often without clear guidance on what “good” looks like. This is where most organisations get stuck. Not because AI isn’t useful, but because applying it in a way that is practical, defensible and aligned with WA requirements is harder than expected.

This program is built for that reality.

It focuses on what leaders need to know to move forward, how to assess AI use cases, how to manage risk, how to work within PRIS and existing governance frameworks, and how to move from early experimentation into something structured, accountable and usable.

No hype. No generic content. No “how to use AI” walkthroughs.

Just practical guidance on how to apply AI properly in a WA public sector context and make decisions you can stand behind.


Who Should Attend

Senior leaders across WA Government, including:

  • Executives, directors, and senior managers
  • Policy and program leaders shaping digital and AI strategy
  • CIOs, CDOs, and digital and data leaders
  • HR, workforce, and organisational transformation leaders

No technical background required – ideal for those responsible for strategy, risk, services or people.

Learning Outcomes

  • Understand where AI is already being used across their organisation and where it creates risk
  • Identify which AI use cases are worth pursuing and which should be avoided
  • Apply a practical approach to assess AI initiatives across value, risk and feasibility
  • Understand how PRIS legislation impacts AI use, data handling and information sharing
  • Recognise key risks including privacy, data leakage, bias and misuse
  • Define clear ownership, roles and accountability for AI decisions
  • Move from pilots and experimentation into structured, business-as-usual implementation
  • Make decisions about AI that are practical, defensible and aligned with WA expectations

Why Attend

  • Get clear on what AI should (and shouldn’t) be used for in your organisation
  • Understand how to apply AI without creating governance, privacy or risk issues
  • Learn how to move beyond pilots into something that works in practice
  • Avoid common mistakes that lead to wasted effort or stalled initiatives
  • Build confidence in making decisions that will stand up to scrutiny
  • Walk away with a clear, practical way forward not just ideas


Agenda

Participants are guided through a structured journey:
​Understand where AI is already being used → assess risk and governance → make defensible decisions → apply it in real operations

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM

Welcome & Context

  • Program overview and expected outcomes
  • Where AI sits across WA Government today
  • PRIS legislation and evolving governance expectations

10:15 AM – 10:55 AM

Module 1 – Where AI Actually Fits in WA Government

  • The reality of AI use across agencies (official and unofficial)
  • Constraints: systems, data, policy and organisational readiness
  • Where AI is adding value — and where it introduces risk
  • Activity: Map opportunities and limitations within your organisation

10:55 AM – 11:40 AM

Break

10:55 AM – 11:40 AM

Module 2 – AI for Decision-Making (Not Theory)

  • What leaders need to understand about AI — without getting technical
  • Common failure points: hallucination, bias, misuse and over-reliance
  • What makes an AI output “safe enough” to use
  • Activity: Real-world decision scenario — would you approve this?

11:40 AM – 11:50 AM

Morning Break

11:50 AM – 12:35 PM

Module 3 – Governance, PRIS & Responsible Use

  • Applying governance in real decision-making (not just policy)
  • Understanding PRIS obligations in practice
  • Working within fragmented governance structures across WA agencies
  • Activity: Assess a real WA public sector use case against governance and privacy requirements

12:35 PM – 1:20 PM

Module 4 – Risk, Privacy & Accountability

  • Where AI introduces real risk: data, cyber, legal and operational
  • Managing approvals, assurance and accountability
  • Aligning AI use with existing governance and risk frameworks
  • Activity: Risk and control mapping for a real use case

1:20 PM – 1:50 PM

  • Lunch Break

1:50 PM – 2:35 PM

Module 5 – From Pilot to Business-as-Usual

  • Why most AI pilots fail to scale in government
  • Gaps in ownership, process and operational readiness
  • What needs to be in place before AI can be embedded
  • Activity: Identify blockers and gaps in your current approach

2:35 PM – 3:25 PM

Module 6 – Roles, Accountability & Decision Ownership

  • Who is responsible for AI decisions — and where it breaks down
  • Governance across teams, functions and agencies
  • Avoiding “no one owns it” scenarios
  • Activity: Define roles, ownership and accountability structures

3:25 PM – 4:15 PM

Module 7 – Strategic Decision-Making for AI

  • Evaluating value vs risk in real scenarios
  • Avoiding hype-driven or vendor-led decisions
  • What “good” looks like in a WA public sector context
  • Activity: Prioritise use cases based on value, risk and feasibility

4:15 PM – 4:55 PM

Module 8 – Embedding AI into Real Workflows

  • Moving from isolated use to consistent application
  • Building workforce confidence and adoption
  • Making AI part of day-to-day operations (not side projects)
  • Activity: 90-day action plan tailored to your organisation

4:55 PM – 5:00 PM

Closing & Next Steps

  • Complete 6–12-month AI roadmap & 90-day action plan
  • Summary: leading AI-enabled departments in WA

Waqas Khan

Data & AI Leader Driving Organisational Transformation | Expert in AI Governance, LLMs, Agentic AI, RAG, Data Engineering & Scalable Advanced Analytics

Meet Your Facilitator

Waqas Khan is a data and AI leader with strong expertise in Large Language Models, agentic systems and Retrieval-Augmented Generation. Currently completing a PhD in Artificial Intelligence at RMIT University, he focuses on trustworthy and explainable AI, bringing cutting-edge research into real-world government and industry applications. He has led major analytics and modernisation initiatives, including a cloud-native procurement platform for the Department of Government Services that significantly improved visibility, governance and decision-making.

With a solid foundation in cloud data platforms, AI-enabled systems and data governance, he delivers scalable architectures that uplift operational performance and support strategic decision-making. He is known for building high-performing teams, advising senior executives on data and AI strategy and driving capability uplift across organisations. Passionate about responsible and future-focused AI, he is committed to helping organisations navigate an increasingly intelligent landscape.

Ready to level up your AI Leadership skills?

Register Early & Save!

Join peers from across government for a practical, expert-led training designed to build your capability, confidence, and career progression. Seats are limited. Register now to secure your spot. For group bookings (10+), payment enquiries or custom training options, reach out at training@publicsector.academy

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