Delivering Better, Together: Inside Auckland Council’s Transformation

How do you change the way a council of over 10,000 people works while delivering services to nearly half of New Zealand’s population? In this online event we shine a light on the transformation underway at Auckland Council, not in buildings or budgets but in how people work together to deliver value for their community. Nicky Jones joined us recently and shared a glimpse into this bold shift: new ways of working across strategy, leadership, governance, and teaming. It’s a shift happening in a complex public organisation and it holds valuable lessons for both private and public sector leaders. This isn’t transformation for its own sake, it’s about building a more connected, adaptable, and people-centred council that can keep pace with the needs of a fast-changing city and region. This event is especially relevant for those in local or central government, complex service organisations, or anyone working with legacy systems and layered stakeholder environments. Speakers: Nicky Jones As Auckland Council’s Programme Manager for Strategic Programmes, Nicky Jones is leading the ways of working transformation for how the council delivers better services to Auckland's residents. She's a real champion of applying agile principles in new ways to the public sector and brings fresh thinking to how local governments can balance the delivery of better outcomes and wellbeing to her community. Craig Renshaw As Lead Advisor Strategic Programmes at Auckland Council, Craig Renshaw is helping shape how the organisation aligns investment, strategy, and delivery across one of New Zealand’s largest and most complex portfolios. Craig brings deep experience in public sector transformation and is passionate about enabling more transparent, outcomes-focused decision-making. His work supports Auckland Council’s shift toward more integrated, adaptive ways of working that better serve the region's growing and diverse communities. Hosted by Ruma Dak, Senior Consultant, SSH Ruma is passionate about helping teams and leaders embrace change and work smarter in fast-paced environments. With a strong foundation in both technical and people-focused roles, she empowers individuals and teams to adapt, collaborate, and drive measurable outcomes. Ruma combines her coaching and facilitation skills to design effective ways of working that enable organisations to thrive amidst complexity and transformation.