Civic Punks

There is so much exciting stuff happening in New Brunswick when it comes to public sector innovation!

In November I had the chance to attend the Canadian Open Data and GovMaker Summit in Fredericton and interview many of the attendees. This episode includes a collection of those interviews from the summit floor. It starts though with the pregame show I recorded with fellow Nerdy Gov Podcaster and founder of GovMaker Nick Scott as well as our interview with Vanessa Paesani the Executive Director, Pond-Deshpande Centre, host of this years summit.

Before the lights go up at Government Innovation Week, let’s talk about what actually matters.

In this pre-game show, I’m joined by Joy Chatwell from the Public Sector Network to pull back the curtain on how Government Innovation Week (Federal, Ottawa 2026) was designed, what themes are shaping the agenda, and why this moment feels significant for the Canadian public sector.

If you’re attending, this episode will help you dial in on the storylines worth tracking, the tensions to watch, and the conversations that could quietly shape what happens next. If you’re not there in person, this gives you the context you need to follow the coverage I’ll be producing from the conference floor.

We’re talking:
• The big themes emerging in Canadian public sector reform
• Where innovation is gaining traction, and where it’s stuck
• Why this week matters in the broader transformation story
• What to listen for in keynotes, panels, and hallway conversations

Think of this as your field guide before the doors open.

More on the event:
https://publicsectornetwork.com/events/government-innovation-week-federal-ottawa-2026/

Let’s get ready.

What happens when you take away the agenda, the speakers, and the carefully curated programme—and just let public servants talk?

In this episode, I dive into UKGovCamp, one of the most unusual—and surprisingly effective—events in the world of public service. It’s an unconference: no preset sessions, no keynotes, and no guarantees, other than the fact that you’ll end up in thoughtful, sometimes messy, often brilliant conversations with people who care deeply about making government work better.

UKGovCamp is chaotic by design. But it’s also incredibly well-orchestrated—and that tension is exactly what makes it work.

I’m joined by James Cattell, one of the key people behind UKGovCamp, to unpack how this model came to be, why it’s lasted, and what it gets right that more traditional conferences often miss. We talk about trust, curiosity, community, and why creating the right conditions matters more than controlling outcomes.

If you’re interested in better ways of bringing public servants together—and what this could mean for the future of government—this conversation is for you.

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.

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 framework—covering 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

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