LIST OF PANELS

This panel seeks papers, both qualitative and quantitative, which explore how state elites (deputy ministers, permanent secretaries, Chief executives of state corporations etc., and senior policy staff) understand and respond to the changing political and economic context in which they function. Specific issues could include state elite perceptions and framing of challenges such as public service renewal, fiscal constraints, policy capacity, labour relations, managing the public service-political relationship, role in constructing and managing new governance relationships with non-state actors, and policy priority determination.

The expanding role and powers of the centre of government has meant that those occupying key positions at the apex of state institutions provide an increasingly pivotal role in managing and planning. The rising interest in public sector leadership is a reflection of this. The Institute of Public Administration of Canada, the Institute of Public Administration Australia, and the Institute of Public Administration New Zealand have recently completed a broad-based survey of national and sub-national public service leaders. Through this panel the results of this survey-based research will be presented. In addition, this panel seeks to deepen our knowledge of state elites, both the executive cadre as well as policy workers, by inviting papers, both qualitative and quantitative, which explore how state elites (deputy ministers, permanent secretaries, Chief Executives Officers of state corporations, senior policy staff and so forth) understand and respond to the changing political and economic context in which they function. Specific issues could include state elite perceptions and framing of challenges such as public service renewal, fiscal constraints, policy capacity and policy work, labour relations, managing the public service-political relationship, e-government, accountability and policy priority determination.