Edge of Government Series
Creating Safe Space for New Ideas in a Risk-Averse Culture
In partnership with the UAE’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation
Tuesday, Jun 9, 2026
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Speakers
What to do next
- Catch up on the 12-minute highlights above or dive into the full recording
- Explore the Edge of Government hub to learn more about our partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation, including the Edge 50 list, case studies, interviews and upcoming masterclasses
- Register for the next Edge of Government masterclass: How to Scale Government Innovation Without Losing the Edge
Resources
Event Description
Working at the edge of government can be energising, but it can also feel isolating. Initiatives that challenge established ways of working often place emotional strain on the people leading them, particularly when resistance is subtle, progress is slow or success feels uncertain. To succeed, you need more than a good plan. You need the mental space and psychological safety to keep going.
This masterclass explores the human side of government innovation. We will discuss how to build resilience when your initiatives collide with rigid systems and how leaders can create "safe zones" for their teams to experiment without leaving individuals exposed.
Explore the Edge of Government hub to learn more about our partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation, including the Edge 50 list, case studies, interviews and upcoming masterclasses.
Image credit: Unsplash
Speakers
Abeer Tahlak
Director of Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation
UAE
Gwen Patrick
Financial Innovation Lead, Shorefast
Canada
Eunji Kang
Mission Holder / Co-director, Dark Matter Labs
South Korea
Abeer Tahlak, who supports the vision and agenda set in the UAE government to make the UAE one of the most innovative nations within both her roles as Director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation & previously the Director of Possibilities at the Ministry of Possibilities where she supports the Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs of the UAE in leading & managing the operations & the teams within both organizations.
Gwen Patrick, CPA is the Financial Innovation Lead at the Shorefast Institute, overseeing program execution and financial and economic toolset development. Her primary focus is Economic Nutrition, which is a tool developed by Shorefast and modelled after the practice of food nutrition labelling that shows where your money goes and what it pays for.
Eunji Kang, a Mission Holder and Co-director at Dark Matter Labs, who is leading work on civic technology and adaptive governance. Since 2016, she has designed digital tools, policy prototypes, and platforms such as Permissioning the City, helping governments test new approaches to licensing, space use, and participatory decision-making in complex urban environments.
