Description:
The most popular AI Workshop in the NSW Public Sector is not about AI.
It is about the way you think, and what happens to your work when you learn to do it better.
Following on from his keynote session at the recent SAUG Summit, we're excited to announce that the Practical AI for Professionals Workshop is now open to SAUG members & will be delivered by Tim Wilkes of Pathos Services, in partnership with SAUG.
What this is
An AI Workshop that is Not a technology session. Not a demo. Not an SAP AI briefing. Not a vendor pitch.
This is a working session about the human capability that makes every AI tool useful in the first place: the way you think, decide, ask and communicate. Get that right and every AI tool becomes ten times more useful. Get it wrong and the smartest model on earth produces mediocre work.
There is a door most people never notice, because they are staring at the tool. This is the programme that shows you where the door is, hands you the key, and walks through it with you.
What you will learn - the three pillars;
- Think differently. How AI actually works, and why that changes what you can ask of it. The mind shift that turns "a slightly smarter Google" into a genuine thinking partner. What most people are missing, and why they are missing it.
- Work smarter. Live, hands-on prompting with the tools you already use. From single-line prompts to structured, multi-layered instructions that produce outputs worth using. Communication, personalisation, and the behavioural science that makes AI-assisted writing land with real people.
- Lead boldly. The leadership work. How to bring your team with you. AI ethics without the theatre. Practical strategies for building AI capability across your organisation, ethically and at pace.
What participants say
"Tim was a fantastic and engaging presenter. It wasn't just theory, we received great practical real work examples to use in our own world. Love all the resources as well."
"Learnt so much about prompting and 'controlling' the parameters. Didn't know it could be personalised at all let alone how to do it."
"Not to improve, but to say I have rarely seen such a comprehensive and useful set of resources to use after training, very pleased."
"Practical, understandable and useful."
What you leave with
- A working mental model of what generative AI actually is, so you never use it like Google again
- A personal library of prompting templates you have already built and tested in the room
- A rich repository of practical resources
- A leadership framework for building AI capability across your team, ethically and at pace
- The confidence that comes from having done it, not just watched it
Who this is for
Anyone in the SAUG community whose real work depends on the quality of their thinking, decisions or communication. Consultants. Analysts. Project managers. Functional experts. Team leads. Senior leaders.
Anyone who has heard enough about what AI could do and would like to know what to actually do with it.
Not a technical AI course. Not a vendor showcase. A working session for the professionals who have to make AI useful in their real week. Lunch and breaks are included.
About Tim
 |
Tim Wilkes
CEO and Chief Storysmith
Pathos Services
Tim is the Former Chief Storyteller and Head of Behavioural Economics at SAP. He announced Practical AI for Professionals from the SAUG Summit stage in June, in partnership with SAUG. The programme is currently the highest-rated AI training in NSW Government, delivered to hundreds of participants across public and private sectors. Stanford AI-Powered Leadership graduate. Long-standing friend of the SAUG community.
|
The details
- SAUG Member Rate (50% discount) = $950 ex GST per person
- Group size: capped at 16, first in, first served
- Includes: participant workbook, prompt library, post-session resource pack and lunch
FAQ
Is this an SAP AI course? No. This is not a product session and not a vendor pitch. It is about how to use AI, on any platform!
Do I need to be technical? No. If you can type, you can do this course.
Which AI tools will we use? All of the majors: Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini. Bring your own account or use one on the day.
I have already done AI training. Why this one? In every group to date, 100% of participants report gaining new insight, including people who arrived with prior AI training. One participant put it this way: "Learnt so much about prompting and 'controlling' the parameters. Didn't know it could be personalized at all let alone how to do it."
Can I bring a colleague? Yes, and we recommend it. Teams that learn together level up together. Seats are limited to 16 for the first session, so book early!
Can I claim this toward professional development hours? In most cases, yes. The session is six hours of structured, instructor-led learning, and most professional bodies (including PMI, ACS, CPA Australia and CA ANZ) allow members to self-assess relevant training against their CPD requirements. Every participant receives a certificate of completion stating the hours and learning outcomes. Check your own body's rules for specifics.
|
