This article is written by Derek Alton, Community Insights Lead, Apolitical.

During my university years, my eyes were opened to the significant challenges we confront. These complex, multifaceted issues require equally complex and multifaceted solutions. This drew me to governments, representing the combined strength and collective will of society.

Digital transformation was about more than just adopting new technology; it required a fundamental shift in the very processes and workflows at the core of government operations.

The challenge was that governments everywhere were struggling. They were 19th-century institutions using 20th-century tools and processes to try and solve 21st-century challenges. This realisation sparked a journey spanning over 15 years (so far), dedicated to figuring out how to better equip governments to tackle these monumental challenges.

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A few years later, I got the chance to enter the realm of government work. I quickly recognised that the intersection of government and technology presented a tremendous opportunity for transformative change. Digital transformation was about more than just adopting new technology; it required a fundamental shift in the very processes and workflows at the core of government operations. However, there was a noticeable divide between those of us striving to enact change within the government and the broader system, which seemed to dismiss digital innovation as a mere trend or buzzword.

Enter, FWD50

In this environment, the then CIO of the Government of Canada, Alex Benay, who was also my boss, challenged us to establish an event that would forge connections between public servants and the ongoing global digital revolution. This initiative blossomed into FWD50, an annual event that has played a significant role in shifting this cultural paradigm, attracting leading thinkers and practitioners from around the world and various sectors.

By providing public servants with the necessary tools, practices and implementation strategies, we could expedite this digital transformation, truly getting it into the water supply.

With a foothold in the digital revolution, the next challenge was to scale these efforts. How do we embed this new digital paradigm into the fabric of governmental operations? The transition from early adopters and innovators to mainstream adoption is crucial for achieving a significant impact.

The opportunity for public servants

This is where I found the potential of skill development to be particularly intriguing. By providing public servants with the necessary tools, practices and implementation strategies, we could expedite this digital transformation, truly getting it into the water supply. Apolitical, as a global social learning platform tailored for public servants, is ideally positioned to drive this change. I joined the team in June 2022 as their Community Insights Lead and haven’t looked back.

The year 2023 marked the opportune moment to weave together these two realms. This is why the partnership between Apolitical and FWD50, and the resulting creation of the Digital Skills Stream for this year’s conference, is so exhilarating.

The skills you need for digital transformation

But how do you lay a solid foundation for digital transformation, what key areas should we focus on?

Firstly, let’s tackle the essentials: How can we support managers in developing digital skills within their teams? Policy serves as a central lever for governments, but how is it reshaped in a digital world? To delve deeper, we must move beyond tools to address cultural habits and routines, embedding digital transformation at its core. How can we cultivate a digital culture within an analogue institution? Finally, it’s time to look ahead. The AI revolution is upon us, but how can public servants leverage this powerful new toolkit in a manner that is both effective and secure?

Our Digital Skills Stream is designed to explore these questions in four workshops designed to give people practical tools that they can apply in their jobs today. Dive in to learn how you can be a part of this transformative journey.

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(Image credit: Unsplash)