Nesta Government Innovation Summit 2019

What is the event?

Join the conversation to re-imagine better public services at Nesta’s first ever Government Innovation Summit this September. We’ll be coming together for a full day of talks, workshops and panel discussions, with input from senior public servants and local government leaders. And we’ll be showcasing innovations from around the world that are set to become mainstream in the next few years, from new ways of using digital to the cutting edge of public engagement.

Who is speaking?

Hear from social entrepreneur Hilary Cottam on radical new forms of government; Shevaun Haviland, Head of Business Relations at 10 Downing Street; leading local government Chief Executive Joanna Killian; thought leader and former senior civil servant Rob Whiteman; and Francesca Bria, Barcelona’s Chief Technology and Digital Innovation Officer, whose ideas have been copied in cities across the world.

Learn about new forms of citizen engagement from the government’s lead on Citizen Juries Miriam Levin from DCMS and digital democracy expert Ben Fowkes from Delib. And get to grips with practical examples from around the world of how governments can use AI from Ben Hawes from Connected Places Catapult and Coline Cuau from CitizenLab.

There will also be workshops led by delegates from across Europe and experts from Nesta, including a session with CEO Geoff Mulgan. And we’ll be announcing more speakers in the coming weeks.

Who is it for and why should I come?

This one-day event in London is designed for anyone who wants to explore bold new ideas for the future of government. It’s especially relevant for civil servants, local government officers and other public sector policy leads, commissioners and service managers; as well as entrepreneurs and innovators in charities who interact with the public sector. You’ll come away inspired by new methods that might help you tackle challenges in your work today, and you’ll get the opportunity to connect and learn from other bold thinkers and innovators.

Your ticket will also include A handbook for government innovation, our practical guide to 20 methods you can start applying today.

What’s on offer?

The sessions on offer aim to get us all thinking about what radical new foundations we could lay for the future of government.

Come and hear the latest evidence and see policy ideas come to life, from how smart cities can use technology and data while maintaining the trust and support of citizens, to learning what skills public servants will need to tackle complex problems in the future. Join the debate around some of the big questions: do we need a new social contract for the 21st century? How can governments collaborate across sectors to tackle problems like inequality, homelessness and youth unemployment?

Or find out which digital tools are helping to re-engage the public with democracy, and contribute to an interactive session on how councils can create flourishing local economies.

View the preliminary programme

Timings

Registration will open at 9:00AM with the first session of the day starting at 10:00AM. The event will finish at 4:30PM with the opportunity to grab a drink and continue the conversation until 5:30PM.

Inclusivity:

We are working hard to make our events as inclusive as possible. We want to bring together a wide range of voices from a mix of organisations, regions and sectors to enable meaningful networking and diverse discussions.

For this event, we are offering a limited number of travel bursaries to support people within the UK who may otherwise find it difficult to attend. If you wish to apply for a bursary, please do get in touch with events@nesta.org.uk.