The Department of Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform recently hosted a conference “Better Public Service – Shaping the Workforce of the Future” which was held in the Printworks Dubin Castle. Pascal O’Donoghue the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform was in attendance on the day and opened the conference. The ED&I team hosted a stall on the day to promote and highlight publicjobs.ie and our links to the workforce of the future. The team had great engagement with attendees and shared information on some of the important work of the ED&I team including our inclusive routes programs and our innovation fund project to reimagine the reasonable accommodations process.
The master of ceremonies of the day was our Innovation Fund partner, global educator, campaigner, and CEO of Tilting the Lens Sinéad Burke. Sinéad also moderated a panel discussion “Wired Differently – Neurodiversity and the Changing Workplace”. The theme of this panel is to understand neurodiversity in the workplace, with practical insights on how employers can create more inclusive workplaces. Sinéad was joined by our head of ED&I Siobhán McKenna who spoke about inclusive recruitment practices, workplace accommodations, what is working well within the public service and the challenges that are currently being faced. Alongside Siobhán, founder of As I Am, Adam Harris spoke to the audience regarding the ways in which we can create a better understanding of neurodiversity in the workplace along with the benefits and the challenges that neurodivergent employees and organisations endure. The final speaker on the panel was Sandra Healy, founder, and CEO of Inclusio, who gave an insight into the data surrounding neurodivergent people within the workplace and what is happening internationally within this space.
Michelle Noone, head of senior executive recruitment at PAS, moderated a panel discussion on Upskilling and Reskilling for the Future of Work via Apprenticeships. This panel discussion provided insights into the recently launched Public Service Apprenticeship plan, exploring the potential of apprenticeships in shaping a skilled workforce with practical examples and innovative approaches from public service employers. A video was shared in which our CEO Margaret McCabe gave an insight to the value of this apprenticeship programme. Julie Hoey, Client Relations Manager within PAS was a prominent speaker in the video as she recounted her experience in participating in the apprenticeship programme and why people should consider it as a route into the civil service. Michelle was joined by Andrew Brownlee, CEO SOLAS, Peter Davitt CEO of Fastrack to IT, and Mary O’Donoghue Director, Office of the Government Chief Information Officer.