Dominic Rochon Articles
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Making government digital transformation happen in Canada: a look ahead
Governments across the world are working to make digital transformation happen in order to improve services for citizens and support government priorities. This transformation is not just about implementing technology; it requires getting the right skills, culture, policies, and processes in place to capitalise on the benefits of data, AI, and digital tools. Following last…
Canadian public service leaders reshuffled by PM Mark Carney
Prime minister Mark Carney has reshuffled the top ranks of the leadership in the public service of Canada in what is the second major shakeup in less than three months. In an announcement made on 4 March, Carney announced changes that are intended to “support the strong, effective delivery of priorities and results for Canadians”.…
New GGF research: Canadian public servants report digital progress but ‘persistent’ barriers remain
More than half (53%) of Canadian public servants say their organisation’s digital capability is stronger than it was 12 months ago, according to new research from Global Government Forum (GGF). A further 40% say it is unchanged, while 7% report it has weakened. Overall, the research indicates that digital transformation is moving forward, but key…
Accelerating government transformation: Takeaways from AccelerateGOV 2025
More than half (53%) of Canadian public servants say their organisation’s digital capability is stronger than it was 12 months ago. A further 40% say it is unchanged, while 7% report it has weakened. Overall, the research indicates that digital transformation is moving forward, but key barriers remain. At the same time, expectations around artificial…
Rising to challenges by exploiting technological advance: Innovation 2026 Bitesize Insights
As we approach this year’s Innovation conference and exhibition, taking place on 24 and 25 March 2026 in London, we asked the event’s speakers to tell us what innovation-related topics they’re most looking forward to discussing – and the insights that will help drive their priorities forward in the months ahead. Here, we pull together…
‘Let’s push forward together to address public service challenges’: Canada CIO sets out how to make most of tech at AccelerateGOV conference
Dominic Rochon, the deputy minister and chief information officer of the Government of Canada has urged public servants to use technology to address the challenges facing the public service as he opened this year’s AccelerateGOV conference. Providing the opening keynote of the conference, which brought together public servants from around the world with an interest…
AccelerateGOV showcases how to make transformation happen in government
Public servants from across the Government of Canada and beyond will gather in Ottawa today to hear and share insights on how digital transformation is driving improved public services. Now in its fourth year, AccelerateGOV brings together public servants from around the world with an interest in digital government transformation, with sessions focusing on making…
2024 wrapped: revisit Global Government Forum’s top podcasts
From remembering the heyday of the UK Digital Academy to looking ahead at the hurdles public service leaders face in 2025, here’s our pick of the best podcasts from this year. A retrospective of the UK Digital Academy Early in the year, the Global Government Forum podcast team took a train from London to Leeds…
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Dominic Rochon Research
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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