8:00-9:00 Registration and coffee

9:00-9:10 Welcome

Remarks by Dean Ngaire Woods, Blavatnik School of Government

Location: Lecture theatre 1

9:10-9:45 What does the technological revolution mean for the future of government?

Remarks by Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, Republic of Serbia

Location: Lecture theatre 1

9:55-11:10 The technological revolution: the end of government as we know it?

Data is becoming the most important currency in the world, and, along with other aspects of rapid technological change, presents a potentially transformative opportunity for governments. How can governments not just navigate the rapidly evolving technological landscape but shape the future of government in the era of technological revolution?

A panel discussion with:

• Tera Allas, Senior Fellow and Director of Research, McKinsey Center for Government
• Theo Blackwell, Chief Digital Officer, Greater London Authority
• Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, Republic of Serbia
• Alexander J Diaz, Chief of Staff, Public Policy, YouTube
• Aaron Maniam, former Senior Director (Industry) at Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore; and DPhil in Public Policy Student, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
• Professor Benno Ndulu, former Governor of the Bank of Tanzania; and Academic Co-Director, Pathways for Prosperity Commission
• Diego Piacentini, Government Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, Government of Italy (on leave of absence from his position as Senior Vice President of International Consumer Business for Amazon)

Location: Lecture theatre 1

11:10-11:30 Coffee break

11:30-12:30 Parallel sessions

1. Transforming government

Around 80% of government efforts to transform fail to meet their objectives. What distinguishes the 20% that succeed? New research by the McKinsey Centre for Government distils five essential disciplines, ‘the five Cs’, that triple the likelihood of success.

A panel discussion with:

• Tera Allas, Senior Fellow and Director of Research, McKinsey Center for Government
• Mary Calam, Senior Expert, McKinsey & Company
• Martin Checinski, Associate Principal, McKinsey & Company
• Aaron Maniam, former Senior Director (Industry) at Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore; and DPhil in Public Policy Student, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford

Facilitated by: Professor Karthik Ramanna, Professor of Business and Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford

Location: Lecture theatre 1

2. From paralysis to preparation: charting pathways for inclusive growth

The Pathways for Prosperity Commission examines how to turn the potential risks of technological change into opportunities for inclusive development. How can high-tech solutions be harnessed for the benefit of developing countries rather than threatening jobs?

A workshop with:

• Dr Kamal Bhattacharya, Commissioner, Pathways for Prosperity Commission; and CEO and co-founder of Mojochat
• Dr Shantayanan Devarajan, Senior Director for Development Economics and Acting Chief Economist, World Bank; and Commissioner, Pathways for Prosperity Commission
• Professor Stefan Dercon, Professor of Economic Policy, Blavatnik School of Government and Department of Economics, University of Oxford; and Academic Director, Pathways for Prosperity Commission
• Dr Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa and Commissioner, Pathways for Prosperity Commission

Location: Seminar rooms 1-3

12:30-13:30 Lunch

12:45-13:30 Side event: After the bang, a whimper? A case study assessing the institutional integrity of the Georgian Tax Authority

A discussion hosted by the Blavatnik School’s Building Integrity Programme with Nika Gilauri, former Prime Minister of Georgia, and Rusudan Kemularia, former Georgian Deputy Minister of Finance and Blavatnik School MPP alumna.

Location: Group working room 9 (level 1) – max. 30 attendees

13:30-14:00 Why hasn’t better technology led to better government?

Remarks by Dr Shantayanan Devarajan, Senior Director for Development Economics and Acting Chief Economist, World Bank; and Commissioner, Pathways for Prosperity Commission.

In discussion with:

• Beth Blauer, Executive Director, Center for Government Excellence, Johns Hopkins University
• Sreeram Visvanathan, Managing Partner, IBM Global Business Services
• Dean Ngaire Woods, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford

Location: Lecture theatre 1

14:05-15:20 A people-centred approach to transforming public service

What are the most effective ways of improving civil service delivery, and which countries currently have the best civil services? How have countries’ efforts at reform actually affected civil servants’ ability to perform effectively? How are these reforms conceived, designed, and executed, and how does the process of reform influence its impact?

A panel discussion with:

• Beth Blauer, Executive Director, Center for Government Excellence, Johns Hopkins University
• Dustin Brown, Deputy Assistant Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President of the United States
• Charlene Chang, Senior Director, Public Service Division, Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore
• Rupert McNeil, Chief People Officer, UK Civil Service
• Dr Martin Williams, Associate Professor in Public Management, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford

Location: Lecture theatre 1

15:20-15:35 Coffee break

15:35-16:45 Parallel sessions

1. Establishing institutions of public integrity

With trust at an all-time low, there is a vocal demand to build ‘integrity’ in public institutions. However, what does ‘public integrity’ mean? Why is it important? And how do we build it?

A panel discussion with:

• Nika Gilauri, former Prime Minister of Georgia; Managing Partner of international consulting firm Reformatics
• Rt Hon Ben Gummer, former Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General in the UK government; and Fellow of Practice, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
• Andrew Goodman, Partner, McKinsey & Company
• Dr Nikolas Kirby, Research Fellow in Philosophy and Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford

Location: Lecture theatre 1

2. How can government commissioning achieve better outcomes?

Governments can spend billions outsourcing public services to the private and not-for-profit sectors. How can we ensure value for money? What evidence is there that payment for outcome delivers better value than traditional commissioning methods?

A panel discussion with:

• Dr Mara Airoldi, Director, Government Outcomes Lab, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
• H.E. Dr Amel Karboul, CEO, Education Outcomes Fund for Africa and the Middle East
• Caroline Mason, Chief Executive, The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

Location: Seminar rooms 1-3

16:55-18:10 Inequality: past, present and future

Inequality is increasing around the world. What is the distinction between material and social inequality? Can we build a ‘society of equals’ even in the face of economic inequality?

A panel discussion with:

• Professor Amy Bogaard, Professor of Neolithic and Bronze Age Archaeology, University of Oxford
• Sir Clive Cowdery, Founder and Chairman, The Resolution Group
• Professor Jonathan Wolff, Blavatnik Professor of Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford

Location: Lecture theatre 1

18:10-19:00 Drinks reception with our knowledge partner, McKinsey Center for Government

8:30-9:00 Registration and coffee

9:00-9:10 Welcome

Remarks by Dr David Fine, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company

Location: Lecture theatre 1

9:10-9:35 Keynote address

Keynote address by Jennifer Musisi, Executive Director, Kampala Capital City Authority, Uganda

Location: Lecture theatre 1

9:40-10:50 The future of politics

Traditional political parties are beset by a host of challenges to their dominance, while new technology provides the promise of new means for citizens to get involved in politics. When these trends collide, what does it mean for the future of parties and the future of political participation?

A panel discussion with:

• Professor Pepper Culpepper, Professor of Politics and Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
• Professor Jane Green, Professor of Political Science and British Politics, University of Oxford
• Miguel Lago, Co-Founder and President of Meu Rio
• Benjamin Snow, CEO, Civocracy

Location: Lecture theatre 1

10:50-11:05 Coffee break

1:05-12:05 Parallel sessions

1. Escaping the fragility trap

Cutting extreme poverty in half is one of the greatest achievements of the last three decades. But in too many of the world’s poorest countries, progress is completely stuck. Can fragile states, where conflict and corruption blight citizens’ life chances, escape the ‘fragility trap’?

A panel discussion with:

• Rafat Ali Al-Akhali, Fellow of Practice, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
• Professor Sir Paul Collier, Professor of Economics and Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
• Dr Serge Michailof, Associate Researcher, Institute of International and Strategic Relations (IRIS)
• Dr Kathryn Nwajiaku, Head of the Secretariat, International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding, based at the OECD

Location: Lecture theatre 1

2. Informing citizens

How can civil society and the media in emerging economies keep voters informed and influence incumbent politicians? Can this be done effectively and safely in the current polarised political environment?

A panel discussion with:

• Davey Alba, senior technology reporter, BuzzFeed News
• Anjali Bhardwaj, Founder, Satark Nagrik Sangathan (Society for Citizens’ Vigilance Initiative)
• Dr Julien Labonne, Associate Professor in Economics and Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford

Location: Seminar rooms 1-2

3. How digital platforms can transform public service delivery

An interactive case-study discussion to explore the promises and challenges of using digital platforms to address voids in public service delivery.

A workshop with:

• Jamie Drummond, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Global Strategy, ONE
• Prashant Mehra, Founder and Social Entrepreneur, I Got Garbage
• Krishnakumar Natarajan, Executive Chairman, Mindtree
• Dr Jeffrey W Talley, Vice President, Global Public Sector, IBM Global Markets; and Lieutenant General, US Army, retired

Location: Seminar rooms 3-4

12:15-13:15: Parallel sessions

1. Money on your mind: addressing decision-making challenges of poverty

Being poor not only limits material resources, but puts pressure on psychological resources. How does poverty affect decision-making, and how can we help achieve better outcomes for people in poverty?

A panel discussion with:

• Alissa Fishbane, Managing Director, ideas42
• James Kirkup, Director, Social Market Foundation
• Professor Anandi Mani, Professor of Behavioural Economics and Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
• Faisel Rahman, Managing Director, Fair Finance

Location: Lecture theatre 1

2. Can catalytic climate action work?

What can we understand about changes in the international climate regime, and what do they mean for other areas of world politics? What wider lessons for governance can we can draw from the Paris Agreement?

A panel discussion with:

• Dr Thomas Hale, Associate Professor in Global Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
• Dr Bronwyn Hayward, Associate Professor, University of Canterbury
• Dr Angel Hsu, Assistant Professor of Social Sciences, Yale-NUS College

Location: Seminar rooms 1-2

3. The future of taxation

What are the trends that will shape public revenues over the next twenty years? In this interactive workshop, participants will be invited to consider policy and operational innovations that can help governments maintain current and future expenditure commitments.

A workshop with: Jonathan Dimson, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company

Facilitated by: Professor Karthik Ramanna, Professor of Business and Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford

Location: Seminar rooms 3-4

13:15-14:15 Lunch

14:15-15:30 The future of free markets: capitalism in an age of populism

Milton Friedman famously argued that economic freedoms yield political freedoms. But countries like China and Russia may prove otherwise. Meanwhile, support for free markets in the West has declined. How did we get here, and what is the future of free markets?

A panel discussion with:

• Professor Diane Coyle, Bennett Professor of Public Policy, University of Cambridge
• Jonathan Dimson, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
• Professor Karthik Ramanna, Professor of Business and Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
• Sreeram Visvanathan, Managing Partner, IBM Global Business Services
• Li Xin, Managing Director, Caixin Media

Location: Lecture theatre 1

15:30-15:45 Coffee break

15:45-17:00 The future of global trade cooperation

How should we change the global trading system to be sustainable and inclusive? What does a progressive trade policy look like and can we rewrite the rulebook of global trade to better benefit the historically disadvantaged?

A panel discussion with:

• Commissioner Ailish Campbell, Chief Trade Commissioner, Canada
• Dr Emily Jones, Associate Professor in Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
• Justice David Unterhalter, Judge, High Court of South Africa; and member of World Trade Organisation’s Appellate Body (2006-2013)
• Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen, Permanent Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark

Location: Lecture theatre 1

17:00-18:00 Closing remarks and drinks reception

Remarks by Dean Ngaire Woods, Blavatnik School of Government