Associate Professor Leslie Cannold and Dr Matt Beard are the co-authors of the Ethics in Action series published in The Mandarin.
As ethicists within Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership, Matt and Leslie draw on timeless wisdom, pairing it with the contemporary context and challenges of leadership in Australia.
Ethics in Action was produced in partnership with The Mandarin.
All articles mentioned here were originally published on The Mandarin and associated channels.
When we talk to the leaders from the Australian Public Service who come through Cranlana, we learn what’s important to them.
The 14 cabinets that make up Australia’s Federal Government are joined by roughly 90 State Government departments. Councils and shires make up over 500 Local Government Areas, which often have their own unique structures depending on the needs of the community.
We consider the sheer magnitude of departments and jurisdictions that make up the three tiers of Australia’s Public Service (APS) to help frame the complexity that is central to being one of its leaders. Our team is privileged to support those who take part in Cranlana programs in their ethical leadership development.
On the individual level, we see connections sparked between public service workers who can tap into an undiscovered process or new way of thinking when they speak to someone outside of their immediate professional circles.
On a systemic level, we have built an understanding of the ethical dilemmas that are most challenging for leaders in the APS. We get a chance to provide guidance in the face of defining ethical failures that we consider to be culture-shaping and use such moments to recognise how ethical leadership capability can be a tool for positive change.
Our recent partnership with The Mandarin provided us with an exciting way to synthesise 30 years of field work. A channel where we could funnel what we know to be important and formative for leaders in the APS into articles we hope become food for thought and triggers for ethics in action.
This archive takes you through the Ethics in Action in series, which launched in February 2025. We hope you enjoy seeing how Cranlana’s methodology applies to the public sector and extend our gratitude to The Mandarin and its team for the chance to contribute.
“Australia’s public servants face unprecedented challenges. From AI integration to considering communities hit by cost of living challenges to the energy transition and climate response, the need for robust ethical capability has never been greater.”
– The Mandarin
Embedding integrity as a core APS value goes beyond compliance
PART ONE | February 26, 2025
The ethics and integrity train is leaving the station. That’s good news for the public service.
Author: Dr Matt Beard
Responding to people who bring their whole self to work
PART TWO | March 5, 2025
Public servants face demoralisation when priorities shift, requiring leaders to balance passion, professionalism, and wellbeing.
Author: Associate Professor Leslie Cannold
Stewardship means public servants mastering ethical framing
PART THREE | March 12, 2025
Sophists’ ethical reframing offers lessons for public servants in helping to navigate political volatility and rebuilding trust.
Author: Dr Matt Beard
Ethics of innovation and the unprecedented challenge of AI
PART FOUR | March 19, 2025
AI’s rapid evolution demands ethical leadership, regulatory foresight, and public trust to safeguard human-centred values.
Author: Associate Professor Leslie Cannold
Power is a key driver of action in Canberra. Can it be a force for good?
PART FIVE | March 26, 2025
Ethical public servants harness power wisely, preparing for conflict with courage, integrity, and “go-to-hell money.”
Author: Associate Professor Leslie Cannold
Does the public service know itself?
PART SIX | April 2, 2025
Public servants must recognise, question, and reshape the ethical currents shaping their institutions’ integrity.
Author: Dr Matt Beard
Systems aren’t fixed – they’re healed. What does this mean for ethical leadership?
PART SEVEN | April 9, 2025
Enduring change emerges from within — through lived relationships, not imposed structures or distant interventions.
Author: Dr Matt Beard
To be trustworthy, the public service needs to trust wisely
PART EIGHT | April 16, 2025
Ethical governance depends on mutual trust, not control, especially when responsibilities are shared across sectors.
Author: Dr Matt Beard
The Mandarin is Australia’s leading resource for the public sector, curating daily news, commentary, analysis and expert advice for its readers.
In June, Dr Matt Beard will feature at the The Mandarin Live in Sydney, where the theme is Building a better public service. To explore the sessions and find out more about The Mandarin Live, visit their website:
