Civic Punks

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.