The GovMaker Podcast

In this first interview of Season 3, Sarah Doyle reflects on her journey into the public sector and the insights she’s gained from working across government, as well as from her time at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose and MaRS Discovery District. We explore what  mission-oriented government  looks like beyond the theory: how public institutions build the capacity to work across...

New season, new intro! In this episode of the GovMaker podcast, hosts Nick Scott and Jason Pearman are joined by Pond Deshpande, Executive Director, Vanessa Paesani, to discuss the upcoming season and the 2025 GovMaker Conference in partnership with the Canadian Open Data Summit. The episode includes reflections on past seasons and a preview of what's to come in Season 3!

In this final episode of the GovMaker  podcast season two, we bring you an exclusive live recording from GovMaker 2024. Hosted by Nick Scott, this special episode features an insightful conversation with the newly elected Premier of New Brunswick, Susan Holt. During the discussion, Premier Holt reflects on her inspiring journey to the highest office in the province, sharing the pivotal moments and...

In this conversation, Nick Scott shares his experiences and insights on driving innovation and change within government. He discusses the importance of serendipity and how seemingly unrelated experiences and connections can come together to create opportunities. Nick also talks about the challenges he faced in changing the culture of government and the need for empathy and self-care in leadership...

In this conversation, Nick Scott questioned Jason Pearman about his Hero journey as a public servant. Jason breaks down the process of transforming government and shares his experiences in implementing innovative practices. He discusses the Open Policymaking Toolkit and the importance of providing the right level of information and technical assistance to professionals. Jason also highlights the r...

In this conversation, Honey Dacanay discusses the challenges and strategies for driving innovation in the public sector. Key themes include the impact of time pressures on innovation, the importance of leveraging political capital, and the need for effective leadership succession. Dacanay emphasizes understanding organizational readiness for change and empowering colleagues to take initiative. The...

In this episode of the GovMaker podcast, Jason Pearman and Nick engage with Marlie Kikiboom, who shares her journey from the Netherlands to Canada and her experiences in public service. Marlie discusses her work in ethnographic research, systemic design, and social innovation, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and knowledge co-production. She introduces the concept of the 'Ministry of Un...

In this conversation, Kelly Lamrock discusses the systemic failures of government as highlighted in his reports, 'How It All Broke' and 'What We All Want.' He emphasizes the need for significant reforms in public service, focusing on the importance of outcomes over outputs, the role of incentives, and the necessity of leadership that prioritizes collective goals. Lamrock advocates for decentralizi...

Our co-hosts Nick Scott and Jason Peerman are joined by Katie Davey, Executive Director of the Pond-Deshpande Centre, to discuss the central theme of this season's podcast, highlighting the need to transform public services and pave the way for the next generation of public servants. Join the conversation on the Pond-Deshpande Social media platforms and secure your spot today for GovMaker 2024 at...

In this engaging conversation, René Boudreau shares his journey in public service, highlighting his role in founding Brilliant Labs to drive innovation in public education. He discusses the significance of empathy and kindness in leadership, reflecting on his own experiences and failures. Boudreau advocates for empowering individuals within government to drive change and highlights the crucial rol...

In this conversation, Jason Pearman interviews Lauren Hunter about her extensive experience in public sector innovation. They discuss her journey into government, the challenges of bureaucracy, and the establishment of the Innovation Hub at Natural Resources Canada. Lauren shares insights on key initiatives like the Free Agent Program and the ADAPT team, as well as her current projects focused on...

In this conversation, Dr. Alex Ryan shares his journey into public service and transformation, discussing his experiences in the military, the founding of Alberta CoLab, and the challenges faced in public sector innovation. He emphasizes the importance of understanding complexity, the role of people in decision-making, and the need for adaptive learning in transformation efforts. Dr. Ryan reflects...

In this episode of GovMaker, Nick Scott and Jason Pearman engage in a deep conversation with Rebecca McSheffery, the Director of NouLab in New Brunswick. They explore Rebecca's journey from her early passion for equity to her impactful work in public sector innovation. The discussion highlights the importance of resilience, community engagement, and the need for change agents within government. Re...

In this first episode of the GovMaker Podcast Season 2, hosts Nick Scott and Jason Pearman engage in a deep conversation with Ryan Androsoff, a digital government expert and CEO of ThinkDigital. They explore Ryan's journey into public sector innovation, the challenges of government bureaucracy, and the importance of user-centric design in government services. Ryan shares insights on building the C...

Join Nicholas Scott as he interviews Dr. Christian Bason, a global leader in public sector innovation and design. Christian shares his journey and highlights the relevance of human-centered design in government. They discuss the clash between design principles and bureaucracy, emphasizing the need for collaboration. The conversation also explores the evolution of innovation, from evidence-based po...

Join Nicholas Scott in a captivating conversation with Professor Jenny Lewis, a leading thinker in public policy and public administration. Discover the lasting impact of new public management, the transformative effects of COVID-19, and the crisis of expertise within policy functions. Explore the vital role of universities in rebuilding capabilities and engaging in impactful policy work. Gain val...

Join host Nick Scott in a captivating conversation with Dr. Gayle MacDonald as they explore the vital collaboration between academia and government. Discover the challenges, stereotypes, and misconceptions that hinder this partnership, and gain insights into successful initiatives that have transformed policies and research. Explore the importance of trust, communication, and the role of boundary...

Join Nicholas Scott in a thought-provoking interview with Dr. Ted McDonald, Executive Director of NBIRDT, as they discuss the journey of the New Brunswick Social Policy Research Network. This conversation explores the challenges and successes in establishing an infrastructure that supports evidence-based policy making, breaking down silos, and fostering collaboration between academia and governmen...

Nicholas Scott chats with former Premier of New Brunswick, David Alward. They discuss the significance of collaboration and bridging boundaries to advance social progress. The conversation highlights the importance of connecting Canadians, researchers, students, startups, and the local ecosystem to foster social change. David also emphasizes the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and th...

In this episode, Judy Wagner, former Clerk of the Executive Council of Government of New Brunswick, shares her insights on evidence-based policy-making. She highlights the importance of engaging stakeholders, being iterative in policy development, and building relationships with academics to inform policy decisions. Wagner also emphasizes the need for funding for evaluation components within proje...

In this episode, Nicholas Scott speaks with Claire Morris, the first board chair of NBSPRN and former clerk of the executive council in New Brunswick, about SPRN's mission, which was to connect academic researchers, students, and government staff to collaborate and develop evidence-based public policy. They also talk about the challenges of achieving this mission, as well as the potential gap left...

In this episode of the GovMaker podcast, City Councillor Greg Ericson shares his thoughts on the New Brunswick Social Policy Research Network (NBSPRN) and its impact on social policy in the province. Ericson highlights the importance of evidence-based policies and the role that the NBSPRN plays in bringing together diverse perspectives to develop comprehensive and effective solutions to complex so...

In this episode, we speak with New Brunswick's child, youth & seniors' advocate, Kelly Lamrock. Kelly shares his insights and experiences from his time as a cabinet minister, including the importance of stakeholder engagement, the difficulties of balancing competing interests, and the need for patience in achieving lasting change. We also discuss the role of technology in education, the impact...

In this podcast episode, Nick Scott chats with Mayor Kate Rogers, former Managing Director of the NB Social Policy Research Network about her experience working with the organization. Kate reflects on the founding of the organization and the importance of building personal relationships to its success. She discusses how the network could have had even greater impact had it been more fully utilized...

In this podcast episode, John McLaughlin, former president of the University of New Brunswick, shares his insights on the importance of network governance in solving complex societal challenges. McLaughlin emphasizes the need to connect people with different perspectives and expertise to collaborate and generate innovative solutions. He also discusses the challenges faced by government leaders in...