The Golden Square: Strengthening Our Profession, Supporting Our People

Hello PPMA members and friends

As I begin my term as President of the PPMA, I have been reflecting on the challenges and opportunities facing our profession and the vital role that HR and OD leaders play across public services.

The world around us continues to change at pace. Organisations are navigating significant financial pressures, increasing service demands, workforce challenges and a rapidly evolving legislative and political landscape. Expectations around workplace culture, employee wellbeing, inclusion and governance have never been higher.

There has never been a more important time for the public service people profession to have a strong, confident and influential voice. That is why I am pleased to introduce the Presidential theme for 2026–2028: The Golden Square.

The Golden Square is built around four interconnected pillars that I believe are fundamental to the future success of our organisations and our profession:

Civility, Dignity and Respect
Creating workforce cultures where people feel valued, supported and do the same for the people we serve so that we are all able to thrive.

Governance and Statutory Responsibility
Ensuring that people professionals are enabled to ensure organisational governance and decision-making is not optional and a fundamental safeguard.

Professional Standards and Agility
Supporting HR and OD professionals to develop, adapt and respond to the changing needs of our workforce and communities.

Workforce Leadership
Championing the strategic role of people leadership in delivering better outcomes within public services.

These four pillars are not separate priorities. Together, they form a framework for strengthening our profession and enhancing the contribution that HR and OD professionals make across public services every day.

Over the coming months, we will be bringing the Golden Square to life through a series of focused workstreams led by our Vice Presidents and supported by our PPMA ambassadors and growing network of members.

These workstreams will focus on key areas including governance, professional standards, dignity and respect, membership growth, and regional engagement. They will provide opportunities for members to contribute, share expertise and help shape the future direction of our profession.

The success of the Golden Square will not be measured by a single campaign or initiative. It will be measured by the strength of the conversations we have, the partnerships we build, the standards we champion and the impact we make together.

PPMA has always been at its strongest when members come together to share ideas, challenge thinking and support one another. I hope the Golden Square will provide the platform for exactly that.

I look forward to working with our Board Members, Vice Presidents, Ambassadors, Members and Partners as we embark on this exciting journey of change ahead together.