Leading and encouraging humans to flourish in an increasingly disruptive and digital workplace will be the focus of a key presentation during the National Local Government Workforce Summit at Tweed Heads on 13-15 November.

Maitland-based change management specialist and CEO of Winton Consulting, Clare Dunnicliff, is an invited panellist and presenter on The Future of Work at the event.

She will join speakers from local government, academic, corporate and government organisations from across Australia. The three-day program includes interactive workshops, case studies, forums and workshops designed to exchange best practice across councils and encourage stronger networks.

With extensive experience guiding organisations in the public, not-for-profit and private sectors to adopt, adapt and respond to change, Clare believes many are realising that incorporating emerging technologies into traditional ways of working and doing business won’t be enough to drive prosperity and sustainability.

“Organisation systems are constantly shifting with new business models, technologies and changing expectations of and by the workforce and stakeholders,” Clare explained.

“What won’t change is that we are social beings living in the digital era where our need for each other remains fundamental.”

Clare lives by the understanding that people are hard-wired to find belonging, and it is human connectedness that drives ingenuity, innovation and creativity.

She believes that while the work focus has shifted away from our hands to our heads, the work of the heart cannot be automated.

Organisations need to be thinking about how they will foster human flourishing in the future and predicts this will be one of the greatest challenges ahead for leaders and managers.

“In the future, distinctions created between leadership and management will fade. Every manager will be a leader and every leader will possess management capability,” she said.

“Organisations, whether private or government, are learning that simply incorporating emerging technologies into traditional ways of working and doing business won’t be enough to drive prosperity and sustainability.

“It is, and will continue to be, the intangible magic that happens when humans connect.”

The themes that will be incorporated into the 2019 summit will include; the future of work in local government, using data to optimise talent management and transform cultural change, the life cycle of the employee and diversity in the workplace.

IMAGE | CEO, Clare Dunnicliff talking to Winton Consulting staff.