ACT Health paid $80 per person to cater for lunch and two snacks at a day-long leadership meeting in August, which also hosted a $10,000 keynote speaker.

Key points: Leadership meeting racked up $25k in costs

Leadership meeting racked up $25k in costs Opposition says $80 per person catering was excessive

Opposition says $80 per person catering was excessive Government says meeting brought leaders together, was worthwhile

Despite 139 staff attending the meeting, ACT Health catered for 170, leaving the catering tab at $13,600.

The Collaborative Leadership Forum, which was held in August to help shape a positive culture and discuss a planned restructure, was also addressed by keynote speaker, Dr Bruce McCabe, who charged $10,450 including GST.

Dr McCabe is described as well-known futurist, international keynote speaker and an "entrepreneur who is passionate about the intersections between people, innovation, and technology".

The forum was held in the Peninsula Room at the National Museum, which charged $850 for the room hire.

The $80 catering fee provided lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea.

Bruce McCabe, a futurist and international keynote speaker, was hired for the ACT Health event. ( Youtube: OnstageAUS )

Opposition Health Spokeswoman Vicki Dunne said the price tag showed ACT Health leaders were out of touch with the staff they manage.

"I can't imagine what they were eating," she said.

"The sort of boardroom lunch that most people would expect, would be a packet of biscuits, a plate of fruit, some cheese and some sandwiches and I think that $80 per head is a bit steep."

Mrs Dunne said she was concerned about money being diverted from health care to the meeting.

"I would rather spend the money on health than keynote speakers and $80 a head for catering," she said.

"Diverting money from health resources to love-ins by senior executives is not the way we get a better health system."

'Incredibly beneficial' meeting brought leaders together

ACT Health stressed the importance of bringing leaders together to manage the change associated with restructuring the department into two bodies, that comes into effect next month.

A spokeswoman said the meeting was also held to "refocus the leadership on their role in shaping a positive workplace culture".

"The leadership of ACT Health play a critical role in communicating with staff across the organisation and having everyone in the one place was incredibly beneficial, particularly given the process of change we are going through," she said.

Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris will today reveal the structure of an independent review in cultural issues in ACT Health, after months of allegations of bullying and harassment.

An ACT Health spokeswoman said improving the organisational culture was a major priority.

"The event was an investment in our staff to ensure that the leaders are not only equipped with the tools and the information that they need to successfully lead our staff but are also focused on the importance of positive workplace culture," she said.

ACT Health said the extra 31 people who were catered for could not attend due to operational needs.

The ABC was invited to attend an address by newly appointed Director General Michael De'ath at another leadership forum last week, where he urged leaders to invest time in their employees.

"The best thing you can do at the moment is invest time in your people, talk to them, explain to them, help them to understand," he told them.

"I'll continue to stand up for all of our workforce and ensure that the organisations as much as I'm able to influence the very, very best places to work that they possible can be."

He said ACT Health had "come a long way" in improving culture since the Canberra Hospital failed 33 key criteria to maintain its accreditation in March.

'Out of touch' with staff: Opposition

Mrs Dunne says the meeting showed the leaders had a lack of understanding about their work force.

"I'm pretty sure that it rankles with the people who are actually doing the work on the wards," she said.

"It would particularly rankle with the wardsmen who lost their tea room earlier this year.

"It isn't sympathetic to the culture of the people who are actually doing the work on the wards, in the offices, making the health system work, making the hospitals work, visiting people in the community.

"I think people who are prepared to spend $10,000 on a key note speaker and $80 a head on catering are out of touch with their workforce."

Futurist, writer and international keynote speaker

ACT Health said Dr McCabe presented a speech on the opportunities and innovations that exist in healthcare through the next 5 to 10 years.

"McCabe attended for a large portion of the day," the spokeswoman said.

"He delivered a lengthy and provocative presentation and engaged with a large number of participants both individually and in groups through the course of the day."

ACT Health said engaging Dr McCabe was about providing key professional development to staff.