Virtual event
How to Solve Complex Policy Problems
Exclusively for public servants and policymakers
Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025
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Speakers
What to do next
- Catch up on the 8-minute highlights above, or dive into the full recording
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Resources
Join the Global Policymaking Community
The Global Policymaking Community is an online space for policy practitioners worldwide to explore, develop, and implement flexible policies that adapt to changing needs and disruptions.
Event Description
Some policy problems just won’t budge. Whether it’s boosting tax compliance, improving public safety or encouraging sustainable behaviour, the hardest challenges often unfold in messy, unpredictable contexts.
This case study-led session explores how public servants can design and deliver effective policy in the face of complexity. Drawing on global examples, we’ll examine how clearly defined objectives, adaptable strategies and human-centred implementation can lead to real-world results.
Join experienced practitioners and researchers as they reflect on what it takes to make progress on difficult issues. Through real-world insights and lessons learned, attendees will gain practical tools and new approaches to improve their own policy design and delivery.
This event will take place on Zoom. Joining instructions will be displayed once you register. The event will be recorded and the recording will be sent to all registrants. It may also be made available on Apolitical's platform for other members of our community to enjoy.
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Image Credit: Pexels
Speakers
Flora Finamor Pfeifer
Executive Director of the Brazilian Institute of Behavioural Sciences
Brazil
Anna Pietikainen
Senior Policy Analyst, Public Governance Directorate, OECD
France
Bruno Rizardi
Cofounder of Catálise Social Innovation Studio
Brazil
Flora Finamor Pfeifer, holds a bachelor in Economics from the University in São Paulo (USP) and a Masters in Public Administration and Government from Fundacao Getulio Vargas (FGV). She is a Behavioral Scientist working in applied projects to social impact, with experiences in the public and private sectors. Her main focus is on health related domains, with especial regards to health promotion and well-being, and behavioral public policy. She currently works as a consultant for the Mind, Behavioral, and Development team (eMBeD) at the World Bank and is the Cofounder and President Director of the Brazilian Institute of Behavioral Sciences. She is one of the organizers of Bescy's interest groups in Global South and Behavioral Systems and a Professor at Insper and JAMSE school. She has recently published a book on Behavioral Sciences and Running and carries other writing projects, including the newsletter a Moving Mind.
Anna Pietikainen, has over 20 years’ experience advising governments with the OECD and the United Nations. As Head of the Regulatory Policy Division, she leads the Organisation’s work supporting member countries’ regulatory reform and better regulation agendas through its Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC). In this position, she has launched the OECD Better Regulation in the Digital Age (BRIDGE) and Simplifying for Success (S4S) Initiatives. Previously she managed the secretariat of the OECD Network of Economic Regulators (NER), spearheading work on the governance of regulators and leading performance reviews of agencies across OECD member countries.At the OECD she also held positions at the Development Centre and the Sahel West Africa Club. Prior to joining the OECD, she worked at the United Nations - International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Anna is a political scientist with degrees from the London School of Economics and Sciences-Po Paris. She speaks Finnish, English, French and Spanish.
