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UK opposition to meet with civil servants ahead of general election
Senior politicians in the UK’s opposition Labour party will start talks with civil servants on how they would run government should they win the election later this year, having been granted permission by prime minister Rishi Sunak. Access talks, as they are known, are a routine feature of British democracy. The meetings allow shadow ministers…
New Zealand set for public service headcount reductions as National Party moves to form government
The opposition National Party is to form the next government in New Zealand after the party won enough seats to form a coalition to remove the incumbent Labour party from power. According to voting tallies reported by the New Zealand Herald, preliminary results suggest National will win 50 seats, up 17 from the last election.…
Letter from Ottawa: diagnosing the elements of Tired Government Syndrome
Parliament has returned in Canada for what’s likely a final session before the election. If history is any guide, the government will find it hard to make progress before the election – and whoever wins will need to look afresh at public sector reform The most memorable aspect of the summer of 2023 in Canada…
Australia’s top public servant leaves post after Labor election victory
Phil Gaetjens has left his post as Australia’s top public servant after the country’s incoming prime minister signalled he was prepared to dismiss him. Labor leader Anthony Albanese had indicated that he would remove Gaetjens from the post, despite an overall pledge not to sack public servants as part of an effort to improve relations…
Social media platforms pledge to combat fake news ahead of Brazil election
Eight social media platforms have signed individual agreements with Brazil’s Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE) pledging to fight the spread of disinformation ahead of the country’s presidential election in October. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, YouTube, Google and Kwai have signed deals in which they commit to work with electoral authorities to identify and weed out…
New Canadian government faces US$1.97bn class action lawsuit
After the polls close in the Canadian federal election scheduled for 20 September, the newly-formed government will have to decide its next steps on a C$2.5bn (US$1.97bn) class action lawsuit brought by its black federal workers. Alleging decades of systematic and institutional racism, the class action – filed in the Federal Court of Canada in…
All change in Canadian top jobs as election looms
The top of the Canadian civil service has seen major changes this week, including new appointments as deputy clerk of the Privy Council and head of the Privy Council Office. Following an announcement by prime minister Justin Trudeau in early August – made days before he called a general election for late September – Nathalie…
Challenges to US election are ‘anti-democratic’, says former Republican House Speaker
Republican legislators’ attempts to challenge states’ electoral college votes are “anti-democratic and anti-conservative”, former Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has said, arguing that attempts to “sow doubt about Joe Biden’s victory strike at the foundation of our republic”. In a statement, Ryan criticised the declared intention of some Republican legislators to object to electoral…
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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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