Civic Punks

In another episode of Rent Free—the series where I ask people which ideas live rent free in their heads—I sit down with Charles Mcivor to talk about the article that has most shaped his thinking: “The Housing Theory of Everything.” Written by John Myers, Sam Bowman, and Ben Southwood, the piece explores how housing affordability quietly shapes everything from economic growth to inequality to politics. It’s one of those ideas that, once you see it, you start noticing it everywhere. You can read the article here: https://worksinprogress.co/issue/the-housing-theory-of-everything/ Charles also writes a fantastic daily newsletter on innovation: https://innovationinthenews.substack.com/

Government today is full of tensions. Move fast… but protect democratic accountability. Experiment with new ideas… but keep critical systems stable. Use powerful new technologies… that we don’t fully understand yet. In a fascinating paper called “Signals from Apolitical Day,” the States of Change network looked for patterns emerging from conversations with public servants around the world. What they found was a picture of governments operating under seven powerful forces — speed, complexity, emotional pressure, politicisation, conflict, identity shifts, and rising expectations. But the most interesting insight wasn’t the forces themselves. It was the tensions public servants are navigating every day. In this podcast I break down the key ideas from the paper and explore what they reveal about the moment governments are in right now. If you care about public service, policy, or how governments adapt to a rapidly changing world, this is a conversation worth having. In this podcast • The 7 forces reshaping government today • Why the speed of change is outpacing the reflexes of government • How complex problems are pushing institutions into new territory • The emotional weight many public servants are carrying right now • Why innovation in government is really about navigating tensions • The emerging capabilities governments need to operate in uncertainty • Why institutions may need to learn and adapt in real time Read the original article Signals from Apolitical Day — States of Change 👉 https://states-of-change.org/stories/signals-from-apolitical-day-2025  

AI is dramatically challenging governments all over the world. Singapore is on the leading edge of this. How are they thinking about AI in Government? What can we learn from them? I reference this fantastic podcast by Ezra Klein on AI, definitely check it out as well: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6obzprTBpR6MosWu5vsua5?si=44ede13d15054d71

I am finally starting to wrap my head around my time in Singapore. It was a week jam-packed full of conversations with people at the centre of reimaging government, and also those who are rebelling against government and building something different on the fringes. There will be more to come, but here are my earliest thoughts.

Have we broken innovation? This is a question that Ian Montgomery explores in his killer article "The New Rules of Innovation." In it Ian explores how we have let innovation become swallowed up by the system and in the process, have it lose its transformational potential. Join me as I go down the rabbit hole with this banger of a Montgomery article. Here is the link if you want to read it yourself: https://nowornevermoments.substack.com/p/the-new-rules-of-innovation-goodbye

Hiring is one of the things government seems to suck at. It takes way too long, the salaries are often not competitive, and job descriptions are confusing and not helpful. Yet, if we can't hire well, we are unable to bring in the talent we need to deliver on our ambition, or really anything. In this video, I explore a book chapter by Robert Gordon, Executive Vice President for State Initiatives, exploring some experiments in fixing hiring in government. You can read the full report here: https://www.statesforum.org/january-book/government-hiring/

Another Public Sector Network - Government Innovation Week is in the books. What did we learn? How is digital sovereignty shaping the conversation? We are going through some of the deepest cuts to public sector jobs in well over a decade. AI was all over the agenda but how did the conversations play out?  In this episode I explore these questions through interviews with people on the ground in day two and my own in depth analysis.

I recently came across Rebecca Mbaya’s African Innovators series, which spotlights changemakers reshaping Africa’s tech, data, and AI landscape. It’s thoughtful, grounded, and well worth your time. In this video, I zoom in on her profile of Pombili Paula Haitamba, a data analyst from Namibia. It’s genuinely one of the best pieces I’ve read on what data analysis actually means in practice, not just the technical side, but the human and political dimensions too. I was so impressed that I immediately sent it to my old graduate supervisor and suggested he add it to his data analysis course reading list. Take a look, watch the video, and let me know what you think. Here is the article: https://reamby.substack.com/p/pombili-paula-haitamba-on-the-work And Rebecca Mbaya's substack: https://reamby.substack.com/  

Hi everyone, what an amazing evening to launch the dream that is Civic Punks. My friend Mike was kind enough to record the speech I gave, and I wanted to share it here. Thank you everyone who came to support this project!

What idea has shaped your work for decades? For Ryan Androsoff, it’s Wiki Government by Beth Noveck. In this conversation, Ryan shares how that book continues to influence his thinking on digital government, collaboration, and reform in Canada. Some ideas don’t just inspire you. They rewire you.

What if government were your new best friend? A companion who walked with you and made your life easier and better. Anticipating your needs and pointing you towards supports and opportunities, not to sell you things but to help you with your own goals. Helping launch my new series - Now You Know, an exploration into the debates and ideas shaping the future of government - is the reflection from one of my nerdy gov heroes Sir Geoff Mulgan. In his peice, "Can Government be a Companion?" Geoff explores four examples where government could be a kick-ass companion: 1) Health, 2) Skills and Jobs, 3) Money, 4) Your Local Community. Read the whole article here: https://geoffmulgan.substack.com/p/the-companion-state

Public Sector Network’s Digital Leadership Day for the Government of Canada is officially in the books. So what happens when you put 100+ senior public servants and partners in a room and ask one deceptively simple question: What does digital leadership actually look like in Canada right now? You get sharp debates. Honest reflections. A few uncomfortable truths. And, thankfully, a lot of practical ideas. I pulled together some of my takeaways, along with reflections from others, from Day 1 of Government Innovation Week. If you care about where the Canadian public service is headed in a world of AI, sovereignty questions, and rising expectations… it’s worth a look.

This is the question Becky Miller asks in her blog series that made waves in the UK this fall. This is my short reflection on this series and why I think everyone should read it. Don't take my word for it. Check out the series here: https://medium.com/ghs-government-human-service/introducing-ghs-780df7abd537

2024 was a global reckoning. Across countries and political divides, voters sent the same message: government isn’t working — and it needs to change. But change to what? In this launch episode of Civic Punks, Derek Alton explores one of the most important questions of our time: what does better government actually look like — and who is building it? For 17 years, Derek has worked inside and alongside governments. Now he’s traveling the world to meet the people quietly reshaping the system from within — the reformers, builders, and “Civic Punks” who refuse to accept the status quo and are working to make government fit for the future. This podcast dives into the ideas, experiments, failures, and breakthroughs shaping the next era of public service — in formats that are accessible, human, and real. If you care about climate, housing, healthcare, AI, inequality — you care about government. Let’s go behind the scenes and see who’s building what comes next.

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 🎥 Subscribe for more interviews on public sector innovation.