2025 David Hawkes Oration Event
Fri, 29 August 2025
8:00am to 9:45am
Hilton Hotel | 32 Mitchell Street, Darwin NT 0800
Member: $25
Non-Member: $50
Breakfast is included
This event has sold out and registrations are now closed.
This event has sold out and registrations are now closed.
You may register up to 10 people online. If you would like to register a group of more than 10, or if you have any general questions, please contact IPAA WA on 08 9360 1400 or email eao@ipaawa.org.au.
2025 Oration Topic
Lessons learnt from a lifetime of public service
Join us for an inspiring oration by Ken Davies PSM FIPAA as he reflects on lessons learned from 47 years of public service in the Northern Territory.
Ken will share his unique insights into the complexities, challenges, and rewards of serving every government since self-government, starting as a teacher in remote Papunya in 1978 and subsequently holding eight chief executive roles in Territory government agencies through his career, including the Department of Education, Department of Housing, Local Government and Regional Services and the Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet.
From navigating economic and social reforms to building trust in culturally rich and complex settings, this talk will offer thoughtful reflections and practical wisdom for those passionate about public service and wanting to make a meaningful impact in the Territory and beyond.
Ken Davies PSM FIPAA
Ken Davies PSM is one of the Northern Territory’s most respected and accomplished public servants, with a distinguished career spanning nearly five decades across education, human services, housing, and executive government.
Ken began his career in the Northern Territory in 1978 as a teacher at Papunya. Ken has since held Chief Executive roles in eight Northern Territory Government agencies, including the Department of Education, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Regional Services, the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment. In 2023 he was appointed CEO of the Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet, becoming the Territory’s top public servant. In this role, he successfully led the Northern Territory Public Sector through a period of transition and supported the delivery of new government priorities.
In 2020, Ken was awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM) for outstanding service to children and families. In 2022 he received the IPAA NT Fellowship Award for outstanding contributions to the public service and to IPAA NT.
Ken has consistently demonstrated strategic leadership, policy innovation, and a deep commitment to serving Territorians. He is widely respected for his impartial, principled, and courageous leadership style, always upholding the highest standards of professionalism and public accountability.
Ken retired from the Northern Territory Public Service on February 2025, concluding an extraordinary 47-year career defined by service, vision, and enduring impact on the Northern Territory.
Please note: The Institute of Public Administration Australia WA (IPAA WA) is managing this event on behalf of IPAA NT. As such when you register, your receipt and some communications may come from IPAA WA.
You may register up to 10 people online from the ‘Register Here’ button above, but if you want to register more than 10 or if you have any questions about registering for the event, please contact IPAA WA on 08 9360 1400 or email eao@ipaawa.org.au
About the David Hawkes Oration
Named in honour of David Hawkes, a long-serving President of IPAA NT, the Hawkes Oration pays tribute to his exceptional contributions to the field of public administration. David played a vital role in creating innovative practices that put the Northern Territory at the forefront of the public sector during the 1990s.
With an illustrious career, David served as the Commissioner for Public Employment for thirteen years, becoming the longest-serving Commissioner in Australia upon his retirement. His influence extended beyond his tenure, as he played a significant role in developing redeployment and voluntary redundancy arrangements within the Australian Public Service. These arrangements were later used to good effect in the territory over many years to manage structural change.
Find out more about the David Hawkes Oration and view past Orators here.