Virtual event
Mastering Cross-Department Collaboration
Exclusively for public servants and policymakers
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2025
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Speakers
What to do next
- Catch up on the 9-minute highlights above, or dive into the full recording
- Join the Project Management in Public Service Community
- Check out our upcoming event How to Rebuild Public Trust
Resources
- Event Transcript
- A paper by Dr Olga Siemers: New development: Addressing wicked policy problems through cross-government collaboration—Insights from the UK context
Join the Project Management in Public Service Community
The Project Management in Public Service Community is a collaborative space designed for public servants to hone project management skills across global government. Connect with peers, share insights and resources and discover practical strategies to deliver impactful projects that result in better public services.
Event Description
Getting things done across departments isn't just about coordination — it’s about building the right relationships, navigating power dynamics and aligning goals without formal authority. While the challenges are many, success stories show it’s possible to break silos and deliver outcomes that serve the bigger picture.
For public servants and policymakers, cross-departmental work is increasingly the norm — whether it’s implementing complex policies or addressing cross-cutting issues. This session will unpack the real mechanics of running such projects: how to lead without hierarchy, communicate across mandates and manage competing timelines.
A panel of experienced practitioners will share examples and lessons from their own projects, illustrating what works, what doesn’t and how to adapt strategies to your own context.
Interested in how Apolitical can support you and your organisation? Learn about collaborating with us.
Image Credit: Pexels
Speakers
Kitty Wooley
Retired Civil Servant
United States
Dr. Olga Siemers
Senior Lecturer in Public Policy in the School for Government at King’s College London
United Kingdom
Lourdes Aceves
Director of Health & Wellbeing at the National League of Cities
United States
Kitty Wooley, a retired civil servant, had a second career in U.S federal government after first serving as a college financial aid director. She began as part of a San Francisco team that provided oversight of financial aid administration at universities in four states to ensure that billions of dollars were capably managed to help students pay for college as intended. Later positions in Washington, D.C. involved data analysis and risk management, project management, decision support, and translation between IT staff and program officers. Special projects included biweekly communication with 450 early adopters of a radically new national financial aid processing system and leadership of three interagency flash mentoring events for young budget staff in the executive branch. The Senior Fellows and Friends network she founded after work in 2003 continues to foster an atmosphere of trust that adds value through conversation and relationship among public service leaders at every level.
Dr. Olga Siemers, is an Associate Professor in Public Policy in the School for Government at King’s College London. Her research is at the intersection of government policy, decision-making and risk management in the context of global uncertainty and digital transformation. She is currently embarking on the 'Hidden Impacts' research project. This innovative project aims to build an AI-powered decision-support tool for government to enable more integrated resource allocation, helping policymakers move beyond siloed departmental thinking towards a truly holistic and forward-looking approach to public spending. Beyond her research, Olga plays a vital role in professional development within the UK Civil Service. She serves as the Programme Director for the Executive Master of Public Administration and PG Diploma for Professional Policymaking specialised programmes, that are offered to government officials through the UK Civil Service Policy Profession, aimed at enhancing their policymaking skills and expertise.
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