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Government spends more money than any other business or sector. It is one of the most powerful levers we have to tackle the great challenges of our time, to shape markets and improve communities. Yet it is broken. But it doesn't have to be. Join Lina Svensburg, Marcela Jabor and myself as we dig into the exciting world of procurement and the innovations that are transforming how government spends its money.In this first episode, meet my two co-hosts, what drove them to procurement and what our goals and aspirations are for this podcast.
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In this episode, I sit down with Tamara Zakharia to explore insights from her recent report from the UN on the enabling conditions for public sector innovation in emerging economies. We dive into her practical and thoughtful frameworkâcovering everything from strategic direction and governance models to the internal and external enablers that help innovation take root and thrive. Whether you're working in government, policy, or global development, this is essential listening for anyone trying to support change in complex contexts.Read the full report here: https://publicadministration.desa.un.org/projects/strengthening-national-capacities-design-and-implement-public-sector-innovation-strategy
đ„ Subscribe for more interviews on public sector innovation.
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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For my final dispatch from Samarkand, I reunite with Caroline Star from the School of International Futures â this time in the breathtaking Registan Square. We reflect on a week full of inspiration, connection, and big ideas at the UN Public Service Forum. Caroline shares highlights from her foresight workshop, and we both take a moment to appreciate the powerful closing talk by Robyn Bennett that left many of us deeply moved. Itâs a fitting end to a beautiful week in a city full of history and hope for the future of public service.
âš Watch Robynâs talk here: https://www.youtube.com/live/jI3Gq77GmrI
âš Subscribe for more Civic Punks dispatches and future adventures in government innovation.
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In this special dispatch from Samarkand, Iâm joined by Almero Oosthuizen from the Western Cape Government (South Africa) and Alejandra Rodas Gaiter from the Innovation Lab for BogotĂĄ (Colombia). Together, we reflect on our experience speaking at the closing plenary panel: Innovation Labs in Action. We dive into some big themes:
đ§ Shifting mindsets inside government
đ± Moving from ego-centric to eco-centric innovation
đïž Why real change needs structures that go beyond the lab
Itâs honest, hopeful, and a little bit punk â a fitting wrap to an incredible forum.
âš Hit subscribe for more behind-the-scenes dispatches from the world of public sector innovation!
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As we wrap up an incredible few days in Samarkand, I sit down with the brilliant Robyn Bennett, whose closing repertoire reflection was a highlight for many at the forum. In this conversation, Robyn shares the key themes, big ideas, and quiet moments that stood out â from innovation and inclusion to the unexpected connections that made this gathering so memorable. Itâs a thoughtful close to a week full of learning, laughter, and global public service energy.
âš Watch Robynâs full talk here: https://www.youtube.com/live/jI3Gq77GmrI âš
Subscribe for more Civic Punks dispatches and behind-the-scenes conversations.
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What happens when a country treats employment as a public good, not just a market outcome? In this episode of Something Coolâa CivicPunks series that spotlights bold thinkers reshaping the public sectorâI sit down with Kate Phillip, Program Lead for South Africa's Presidential Employment Stimulus Program, one of the most ambitious public employment programs in the world. South Africa is facing a deep unemployment crisis. But instead of leaving it solely to the market, Kate and her team asked a radical question: What if government took direct responsibility for creating meaningful work? The result? A nation-scale initiative thatâs not only creating jobsâbut reshaping how we think about state capacity, dignity, and development. We talk about:
How the program came to beâand why the President got involvedWhat it takes to build something like this within governmentThe principles behind âcreating work that serves the public goodâLessons for other countries grappling with unemployment or precarious workKateâs work challenges the status quoâand offers a blueprint for governments around the world.
âEmployment is too important to leave just to the market.â â Kate Phillip
đ§ Listen in. Be inspired. Learn how public servants are building better futures.
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Another dispatch from the Creative Bureaucracy Festivalâthis time from the official podcast studio in Berlin! I sit down with Dr. Louis Klein, head of the International Federation for Systems Research, for a wide-ranging conversation that spans continents and big ideas. We talk about his work supporting education reform in Morocco, the growing breakdown of trust in public systems, and why systems thinking matters more than ever. Itâs also Louisâs first time at the Festivalâso we dig into his impressions, the energy of the community, and what gives him hope for the future of bureaucracy done better. A rich and thoughtful conversation from the heart of Berlin.
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In this episode of Civic Punks at the Creative Bureaucracy Festival, I sit down in the festival's "official" podcast studio with Mikko Annala from Demos Helsinki. We discuss the bold work that Mikko and his team are doing to reimagine how institutions operate in the 21st centuryâfrom building new governance models to driving systems-level change. We dig into his partnership with Apolitical, The Transition Collective, and TIAL to create a global community on Reimagining Public Institutions. We also take a moment to reflect on the evolution of the Festival itselfâand Mikko shares his hopes for what comes next for the public sector, and for the community of changemakers growing around it. If you care about the future of government, this oneâs for you.
đ„ Subscribe for more from the frontlines of Creative Bureaucracy.
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In this episode from my time at the Creative Bureaucracy Festival, I sit down with Dr. Alex Ryan to unpack some of the key insights from the recent gathering of the States of Change Network. Alex shares three powerful tensions the group exploredâtensions that could shape how we respond to the unravelling of key systems in our society. From the future of democracy to the role of institutions, this conversation is a thought-provoking look at what comes next and how changemakers can navigate complexity with care and courage. This oneâs for anyone thinking deeply about public sector innovation, systems change, and the kind of leadership the future demands. đ§ Subscribe for more conversations from the frontlines of Creative Bureaucracy.
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Join me in this first episode of my series exploring why Canada has slipped from 3rd to 47th in the UN E-Government rankings. I sit down with Viet Vu, co-author of the DAIS Report, "Byte-Sized Progress: Assessing Digital Transformation in the Government of Canada." Access the full report here: http://bit.ly/4hlUlQh Note: The report initially referenced Canada's 2023 ranking at 46th. By 2024, the ranking had further declined to 47th.
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đš Major Update Alert! đŹđ§ The UK just dropped its biggest digital government announcement in over a decade! Dive into this four-part series to understand what happened and why it matters. đ„ In this first episode, I dissect the "State of Digital Government" report, a brutally honest look at the current state. I'll guide you through the crucial insights and lay the foundation for the UK's ambitious digital trajectory. đ Up next: Video 2: https://youtu.be/5wIWUlRSayw Video 3: https://youtu.be/4PYzlqfzdDk Video 4: https://youtu.be/M4b7kWbN5O8 đ Subscribe for my videos exploring public sector innovation in the UK and around the world. đ Essential Reads:
Report - State of digital government review (https://shorturl.at/GlHxx) Report - A blueprint for modern digital government (https://shorturl.at/wW4Sn)
Video - A blueprint for modern digital government ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugvrHtn2STQ&t=0s)
Report - Revolution not Evolution (https://shorturl.at/luRuF)
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In this podcast, I share my thoughts on the most important trends from 2024 that are impacting public service. I'll also share my top picks for the must-read books and must-listen podcasts for public servants around the globe. To cap it off, I discuss the critical developments I'm keeping an eye on for 2025 that could shape our work in the public sector. Don't miss out on these insights to stay informed and at the front edge of our field!
