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Ontario’s Pay Equity Office unveils a hidden inequality in new report on the gender pension gap
A new groundbreaking research paper, Understanding the Gender Pension Gap in Canada, published by Ontario’s Pay Equity Office with Dr Elizabeth Shilton, long-time feminist litigator, labour lawyer, and pension expert, finds that although Canada’s retirement income system is recognised as one of the strongest in the world, not all Canadians are benefitting equally. While retirement…
Canada’s public sector beating private sector on narrowing the gender wage gap, report finds
Canada’s public sector gender pay gap is half that of the private sector, according to a new report from research institute the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), which also explores the reasons behind this. CCPA senior economist David Macdonald examined hourly pay levels in 2023, adjusting them for 15 factors such as age, education…
Sixty senior officials speak out about ‘toxic’ behaviour towards women at UK defence department
A group of women working in senior civilian roles at the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) have described a culture “hostile to women as equal and respected partners”, in which instances of abuse, sexual assault and harassment are widespread. In a letter sent by the group to the ministry’s permanent secretary, and seen by…
Menopause at work: the symptoms – and what support your organisation should provide
To mark World Menopause Awareness Month and Global Government Forum’s recently-launched women’s network, here we give an overview of the menopause symptoms you or your colleagues might suffer with – and the workplace support policies governments and civil services are, or should be, implementing “Early onset dementia, osteoporosis, ringing in my ears when I’m stressed,…
Exclusive: progress being made on gender equality in the public sector but obstacles remain, Global Government Forum survey finds
Nearly 60% of officials say that progress has been made towards gender equality since they joined the public service, but barriers including childcare and insufficient mentoring opportunities are still holding back women’s careers, a Global Government Forum survey has found. Overall, 58% of public service respondents say they have seen significant progress towards gender…
Australian federal agencies urged to address sexual harassment in the workplace
Australian government departments have been asked to begin implementing policies that address sexual harassment in federal workplaces. The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) called on agencies to start work now, ahead of legislation due to go into force in December that will require all employers nationwide to take “reasonable and proportionate” measures to eliminate sex…
Civil service launches menopause policy in drive to support staff
The Northern Ireland Civil Service is to step up its support for women going through the menopause with a new policy and programme to raise awareness and understanding, and outline the support available. The policy was published last week, and Northern Ireland Executive finance minister Conor Murphy, whose department has responsibility for HR for the…
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Discover independent research reports, surveys and in-depth studies from Global Government Forum and knowledge partners, exploring the most important issues facing governments and the public sector. Our research provides practical insights and evidence-based recommendations for senior civil servants, policymakers and public sector leaders. Our reports combine exclusive survey data, expert analysis and interviews with government leaders from around the world to help public sector organisations improve performance, inform policy and deliver better outcomes for citizens.
Empowering Public Servants to Make Confident, Informed Decisions with Data and AI
Governments around the world are working hard to extract – and act upon – the insights held in their vast data stores, and to embrace AI and the promise it holds for innovation and transformation. At the same time, economic pressures and constrained budgets are compelling public servants to do more with fewer resources, while governments are called to respond quickly and effectively to complex challenges.
Against this backdrop, data and AI can help those working in government both to streamline their workflows and make fast, informed decisions. This in turn drives efficiency and can unlock productivity gains – and ultimately lead to improved performance and better services for citizens.
Global Government Forum surveyed over 600 civil servants worldwide to understand how data and AI are being used in government decision-making and where there are further challenges and opportunities.
Read this report for insight into how governments are using data and AI in decision-making today and the potential for the future; the major challenges to using data and AI in decision-making and how to overcome them; and how AI agents can be used in decision-making.
The report includes examples of data and AI in decision-making from countries including the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, the US, and more.
(Published September 2025)
Making Government Work: Five Pillars of a Modern, Effective Civil Service
Around the world, governments are dealing with substantial challenges – from economic stagnation to the transition to net zero, military conflicts and cyber threats. Governments are also grappling with shifting geopolitics and the rise of populism – and all of these factors are set against the emergence of new technologies, including generative AI, which have the potential to fundamentally transform every aspect of society, but which also pose huge ethical, security and regulatory questions for the public sector.
The Making Government Work: Five pillars of a modern, effective civil service report was undertaken to help identify the key characteristics needed in a modern public service, with priorities ranging across leadership, digital service delivery, workforce development, cross-departmental integration, and citizen trust.
This report has been covered by publications around the world including the Financial Times, BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Ottawa Citizen, Fed Manager, the Mandarin and the i newspaper.
(Published August 2024)
The Future of the Finance Ministry
From setting tax rates and financial regulations that create the ground rules for national economies, to allocating – and tracking – spending for public services, finance ministries occupy an essential role at the centre of government. Geopolitical crises have reinforced the importance of finance ministries, as they tackle both immediate shocks and long-term trends such as ageing populations, the digital transition, and the impact of moves to net zero.
Against this backdrop, this global research explores what the future finance ministry looks like and how to prepare for it.
Based on interviews with 10 senior leaders from finance ministries – led by John McCarthy, chief economist in Ireland’s Department of Finance, working with Ian Hall, editor, Global Government Finance, and Richard Johnstone, executive editor, Global Government Forum – the study identifies four key themes: the evolving role of the finance ministry in response to uncertainty; the shift to more flexible finance systems that support outcomes; digital transformation and the growth of AI; and the battle for talent and trust.
(Published May 2026)
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