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Reimagining Government


A podcast from the Centre for Public Impact and Apolitical

Shining a light on government changemakers around the world


Governments are under increasing pressure to bring about the results people expect while remaining trusted and relevant. However, they are often not set up to respond to the complex challenges we face as a society.

This six-part podcast explores radical new approaches to addressing global issues such as the climate crisis, equitable healthcare provision and rebuilding trust with marginalised communities. By speaking with public servants and politicians at the heart of government, we’ll shine a light on how to reimagine government so it works for everyone.

Available on your favourite streaming platform. Subscribe below to be notified when each episode goes live.

Episode 1: A new vision for government


In this episode we lay out a new vision for government - where it needs to be improved, and introduce you to the people who have dedicated their career to enhancing public services for all.

Read the accompanying blog.

Featured in this episode:

  • Adrian Brown (Host) - Executive Director, Centre for Public Impact

  • Nachiket Mor - Visiting Scientist, The Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health 

  • Olli-Pekka Heinonen - Director General, International Baccalaureate Organization (formerly Director General of the Finnish National Agency for Education)

  • Donna Hall - Chair, New Local Government Network (formerly Chief Executive of Wigan Council, Greater Manchester)

  • Robyn Scott - Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Apolitical

  • Bruna Santos - Innovation Director, The National School of Public Administration (Escola Nacional de Administração Pública)

  • Luke Feeney - Mayor of Chillicothe, Ohio

Listen on Apolitical

Episode 2: Climate action in cities


In this episode, we explore how changemakers in city governments are addressing climate change - the barriers they face, the risks they are taking, and how they are finding local solutions to one of the most pervasive challenges of our time.

Learn more about how cities can lead the charge towards a net zero, resilient future here.

Read the accompanying blog.

Featured in this episode:

  • Adrian Brown (Host) - Executive Director, Centre for Public Impact

  • Josh Sorin (Host) - Global Director of Climate Action, Centre for Public Impact

  • Sadhu Johnston - Senior Advisor, Apolitical Government Climate Campus and former City Manager, Vancouver 

  • Thomas Osdoba - Programme Director, NetZeroCities

  • Lionel Dishon Murage - East Africa Field Representative, Seacology Foundation

  • Julia Hamilton - Team Leader of Digital Innovation, Wellington City Council

  • Alison Howard - Manager of Climate Change Response, Wellington City Council

  • Rohit T. Aggarwala - Chief Climate Officer and Commissioner of Environmental Protection, City of New York

Listen on Apolitical

Episode 3: Health and social care


What might new government approaches to health and social care look like? In this episode, we speak to changemakers who are putting the needs of those they care for first, and look at systems around the world that have transformed care.

Learn more about what reimagined health and social care services could look like here.

Read the accompanying blog.

Featured in this episode:

  • Adrian Brown (Host) - Executive Director, Centre for Public Impact

  • Katie Rose (Host) - Director for Europe, Centre for Public Impact

  • Michaela Berry - Service Manager in Children’s Services at a local authority in the East of England and Co-Director of Crescendo

  • Deidre Mulkerin - Director General, Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs, Queensland Government 

  • Jantirar Abay - Deputy Mayor of the City Administration and the Chairperson of the Addis Early Childhood Steering Committee, Addis Ababa

  • Dr. Stephen B. Thomas - Professor of Health Policy and Management and Director of the Center for Health Equity, University of Maryland

  • Nachiket Mor - Visiting Scientist, The Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health

Listen on Apolitical

Episode 4: A more equitable government


Once trust is broken, it can be hard to rebuild. In this episode, we highlight the legitimacy crisis facing government. We examine how government leaders are confronting racial justice and civil rights issues to forge a more equitable future, and how they are working to repair the broken relationship with historically marginalised communities across the United States.

Learn more about what governments can do to build their legitimacy here.

Read the accompanying blog.

Featured in this episode:

  • Adrian Brown (Host) - Executive Director, Centre for Public Impact

  • Jorge Fanjul (Host) - Program Director for Legitimacy, North America, Centre for Public Impact

  • Moana Uluave-Hafoka - Equity Manager, Mayor's Office, Salt Lake City

  • Michelle Mooney - Equity Manager, Mayor's Office, Salt Lake City

  • Candace Moore - Chief Equity Officer, City of Chicago

  • Christopher Samp - Director, Office of Disability Affairs, City of Detroit

  • Dessa Cosma - Executive Director, Detroit Disability Power

  • Scott Dean - Public Health Educator, Cincinnati Health Department

Listen on Apolitical

Episode 5: National government 2.0


What does it look like for national governments to adapt to the modern challenges we face today, and how can leaders share power with those best placed to act? In this episode, we explore what it takes to rethink government at a national level, and speak to the changemakers who are spearheading efforts around the world. 

Learn more about what a reimagined government could look like here.

Read the accompanying blog.

Featured in this episode:

  • Adrian Brown (Host) - Executive Director, Centre for Public Impact

  • Thea Snow (Host) - Director, Australia and New Zealand, Centre for Public Impact

  • Misha Kaur - Innovation Specialist, Observatory of Public Sector Innovation, OECD

  • Ruth Glassborow - Director of Improvement, Healthcare Improvement Scotland

  • Diana Hekerem - Head of Transformational Redesign Support, Improvement Hub, Healthcare Improvement Scotland

  • Olli-Pekka Heinonen - Director General, International Baccalaureate Organization (formerly Director General of the Finnish National Agency for Education)

  • Jolene Head - Director, Indigenous Procurement Policy, Public Services and Procurement Canada

  • Aaron Maniam - Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Information, Singapore Government

Listen on Apolitical

Episode 6: Global development


What might it look like to reimagine governance in global development where the Global South and Global North converge? In this episode, we shine a light on the people rethinking practices and challenging power dynamics in global development.

Learn more about what it could look like to reimagine global development. If you're a public servant or government official, we want to hear your examples and experiences. Head over to Join the Apolitical Q&A discussion, and share your experiences with public servants worldwide.

Read the accompanying blog.

Featured in this episode:

  • Adrian Brown (Host) - Executive Director, Centre for Public Impact

  • Morag Mwenya Neill-Johnson (Host) - Interim Co-director, Global Development Initiative, Centre for Public Impact

  • Javiera Godoy (Host) - Interim Co-director, Global Development Initiative, Centre for Public Impact

  • Julie Mwabe - Global Advocacy Team Lead, Global Partnership for Education (formerly Gender Advisor to the Executive Office of the President of Kenya)

  • Giulio Quaggiotto - Former Head, Strategic Innovation, United National Development Programme

  • Roopa Sahu - Member Secretary, Poverty & Human Development Monitoring Agency, Government of Odisha

  • Sanjay Purohit - Chief Curator, Societal Thinking

Listen on Apolitical

About Apolitical


Apolitical is the global platform for government that helps 150,000+ public servants in 170 countries build the knowledge, skills, and connections they need to solve the hardest challenges facing our societies. Our mission is to help build 21st century governments that work for people and the planet. Apolitical is proudly co-designed and funded by governments.

About the Centre for Public Impact


At the Centre for Public Impact, we have an emerging vision to reimagine government so that it works for everyone.

A global not-for-profit organisation founded by the Boston Consulting Group, we serve as a learning partner for governments, public servants, and the diverse network of changemakers who are leading the charge to reimagine government. We work with them to hold space to collectively make sense of the complex challenges we face and drive meaningful change through learning and experimentation.