Executive Education Foundations of strategic policy development 2026

How will we shape the future to produce better outcomes for society? What can the government do to bring about positive long-term change?

Navigating complex and uncertain policy challenges and advancing effective policy solutions now and into the future requires new ways of thinking and working. Fundamental to strategic policy development are concepts and practices around systems and futures thinking and the application of behavioural science.

This course will provide you with an overview of conceptual and theoretical insights from a range of disciplines and practices. It will highlight contemporary debates on how to tackle ‘wicked’ problems, reveal insights from the application of behavioural science to public policy from around the world, and be grounded in a long history of public policy scholarship. Throughout the course you will be encouraged to apply critical thinking to policy models and concepts and so be able to draw from them in different contexts.

A range of practical approaches and tools will be explored which will help your policy work be future oriented, strategically well-considered and leverage evidence of ‘real’ human behaviour.

Key topics include:

What does strategic policy development involve?
Key theories and conceptual frameworks that help make sense of the complexity of public policy
Tools and techniques for strategic policy development, their potential and their challenges
Approaches that support the practical application of systems thinking and futures thinking
Strategies for building more effective policies and communications that have their intended impact using behavioural science tools and frameworks
Current issues facing behavioural science and its application to public policy

At a glance

Format: Online

Duration: 4 weeks (excluding orientation)

Commitment: 3-5 hours per week

Cost: $1,495 (or $1,195 for early bird registrations by 9 September)

Start/end date: 9 - 30 October 2026 with a course orientation / meet and greet on 2 October

Group discounts available.

Testimonials

The systems mapping of a wicked problem to support decisions and policy making will be useful. I think it will help break down some silos and support collaboration to make and implement stronger policy in my current work.

The course has really promoted thinking about problems and policy making in a new way. I get frustrated with silos, and duplication, and piecemeal solutions. The course kind of gives support from the department/SES to go for the big issues with the knowledge and skills to make changes.

Real-world Application

The course will equip participants with the knowledge and skills to be effective strategic policy development professionals. It will give participants vital foundational knowledge of how public policy works and a range of practical tools to navigate the complexity of public policy. Participants will be equipped to develop and implement public policy that takes a systems approach and is future orientated and thereby be able to contribute purposefully to long-term positive outcomes. Participants will also develop a sophisticated understanding of how behavioural science principles can be leveraged to improve policy design and implementation outcomes across diverse contexts. The module equips participants with practical frameworks and tools that they can immediately apply to diagnose behavioural barriers within their own policy initiatives and develop targeted interventions and communications.

Course curriculum

Module 1 Introduction to strategic policy development
Module 2 Systems thinking and practices
Module 3 Futures thinking and practices
Module 4 Behavioural science and interventions for strategic policy

Session schedule

This course will run as an online and distance program in 2026. It is scheduled to run across four weeks, 9 - 30 October 2026 with a course orientation / meet and greet on 2 October. Specific dates and times to note in your diary are as follows:

1:00-2:30pm Friday 2 October 2026 - course introduction, meet and greet
1:00-2:30pm Friday 9 October 2026
1:00-2:30pm Friday 16 October 2026
1:00-2:30pm Friday 23 October 2026
1:00-2:30pm Friday 30 October 2026

Note: Dates and times are in Canberra time (AEDT). The calendar invite for each session should automatically adjust to your timezone when you add it to your calendar. You can check at a site like this to be sure.

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Learning outcomes

Navigate the complexity of public policy and a range of concepts and tools that contribute to strategic policy development
Explain systems thinking and futures thinking and why they are important
Explain fundamental behavioural science concepts, including relevant cognitive biases that may affect policy design
Apply selected systems and futures tools to analyse complex policy problems
Apply selected behavioural tools and frameworks to place the end-user (citizen) at the centre of policy development

Who is this course for?

The course is suitable for project officers through to senior executives (APS6–EL2/SESB1) who are involved in policy development, implementation or evaluation, particularly those seeking to enhance policy effectiveness through strategic tools and evidence-based behavioural approaches.

The content is relevant to public servants in the Commonwealth, state and territory governments, officials in statutory authorities who are developing or implementing policy, and people undertaking policy work beyond government, for example in the not-for-profit sector.

No prior experience or knowledge is required for this course. However, a background in public policy is recommended.

Presenter

Sue Regan

Dr Sue Regan has had a varied career across the government, not-for-profit and university sectors in Australia and the United Kingdom. Most recently, Sue was Deputy CEO of Volunteering Australia and Head of Research and Policy at the Community Council for Australia.

Since 2014, she has had a position at the Crawford School of Public Policy, with her teaching focusing on how policy is developed, implemented and evaluated. Sue has undertaken research into the role of evidence in public policy and on a range of social policy concerns.

Prior to moving to Australia in 2010, Sue was CEO of Resolution Foundation (a research and policy institution), a civil servant and ministerial adviser to three members of the British Cabinet, and Associate Director of the Institute for Public Policy Research.

Sue holds an MA in Economics from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) and a PhD in Public Policy from the Australian National University. Sue is the current President of the Australian Social Policy Association and has recently joined the Australian Parliamentary Service overseeing committees in the House of Representatives.

Sharon Rosenrauch

Sharon is a Principal Behavioural Scientist and Director in the Australian Public Service, where she leads a team dedicated to placing people at the centre of government's strategic policy agenda. Her work has applied behavioural science across diverse portfolios including climate change and energy, health, food standards, industry, science, and resources. She holds postgraduate qualifications in organisational and cognitive psychology, behavioural economics, and nutrition.

Sharon's career spans both public and private sectors. She has worked at Apple, consulted for big firms, and served as a senior researcher and lecturer in organisational and health psychology. Her contributions to the field include two best-selling books, publications in reputable academic journals, and presentations at national and international conferences on decision-making, behaviour change, and social and health psychology. She has received several leadership and academic awards in recognition of her work.

Currently, Sharon is undertaking doctoral studies at The Australian National University under the prestigious Sir Roland Wilson Scholarship, a collaboration between the Australian Public Service and ANU. Her research focuses on developing behavioural interventions to increase representation of people with disability in Australian Public Service leadership roles.

Online training: How it works

This is a real-time, date-specific course, in which you will join live classes, engage and connect with experts, other course participants and the Executive Education team. Here’s how it works:

Pre-course live session. This is an opportunity for you to grab a cuppa and join our meet and greet before the course commences.
Practice + Study. Set aside 3 to 5 hours per week – this time commitment will vary depending on how deeply you choose to engage with the material. It is up to you.
Course pack. Each participant will receive a carefully curated workbook, which includes everything you need to guide you through the course.
Live sessions with presenter. This is a specified date and time for you to come together with the presenter and other participants to consolidate your learning.
Post-course. On completion of the course, you will receive your post-course resources for your reference and further learning.

Why choose online training?

No time off work – study and practice when you can.
Busy schedule? No problem, you can go at your own pace, join just the live classes, and do the course work whenever suits you best. We know that work and family obligations can be overwhelming. Mix and match the schedule to fit your life.
No travel. This is a course right at your fingertips. With no travel expenses, this is a very affordable option for high-level training with world-leading experts.
Live interaction with world-leading experts. You’ll have direct access to all the best resources and trainers.
Working remotely? With the online and distance format, we welcome participants from around the world to join us.

FAQs

What if I can’t make a live session? No problem, we understand you are busy. Live sessions are recorded for you to catch up in your own time.

What if I’m in a different time zone? All advertised course times from 5th April 2026 to 3rd October 2026 are scheduled in Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) otherwise known as GMT+11. All other scheduled times in 2026 are Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) or GMT+10. Convert for your time zone here.

What if I am not tech savvy? As long as you have access to a phone or computer, you will have no problems. Our online courses require a working laptop, desktop or smart device with good internet connection. Bring your headset. Join the tech-check session for support and insider tips.

I would like to purchase multiple courses, are there any discounts available? Yes, discount offers are available if you would like to book multiple courses throughout the year. You may contact us to discuss further options.

I work for a company or organisation that would like to enrol multiple employees in the same time. Is it possible? Yes, discounted rates are available for groups attending from the same organisation. Get in touch with us if you want to register as a group.

Can’t find the answers are you looking for? Contact our team for support at csee@anu.edu.au.

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