‘Work with Purpose’ celebrates the Spirit of Service
YOUR IPAA 
Elizabeth Kelly PSM (Deputy-Secretary at the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources) in conversation with host David Pembroke (contentgroup Founder and CEO).
An ingrained feature of public service across Australia — its ‘spirit of service’ — is the focus of a new podcast, WORK WITH PURPOSE.
Each week on the podcast senior leaders tell the stories of public service: how the sector is grappling with the complex challenges thrown up by the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, and how it is supporting the rapid response of governments with the best possible modelling, advice and service delivery.
On this week’s episode Elizabeth Kelly PSM shares her experience in leading four taskforces that have been scouring the world for the vast quantities of protective equipment and medical supplies needed for the National Medical Stockpile: face masks, goggles, gowns, ventilators, swabs, and testing kits.
Elizabeth — who is a Deputy Secretary with the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources — also brings to life the work being done to support Australian manufacturers in Victoria and South Australia scale up the local production of face mask and ventilators.
The rapid identification of Australian manufacturers, suppliers and importers and engaging their support, was only made possible by drawing together the nous of Industry’s biotech business advisors, the expertise of the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre, and the ability of Industry taskforce policy wonks to rapidly learn new and complex subject matter:
“They didn’t necessarily know that much about ultrasonic welders and how to get them operating in order to fuse surgical grade face masks. Let alone RNA extraction that’s necessary for COVID-19 testing.”
In an expansive half-hour interview Elizabeth also spoke about the path to economic recovery, the diversification of supply chains, and scenario planning for Australia’s future.
WORK WITH PURPOSE is produced in partnership between contentgroup and IPAA ACT, with the support of the Australian Public Service Commission. The podcast can be accessed from the link below is also available on Spotify, SoundCloud and iTunes.