GovTech and Public Sector Innovation Global Forum

08:30

Breakfast and Registration

09:00

Opening Remarks 

• Arturo Herrera, Global Director, Institutions Global Department, Prosperity, World Bank.

09:15

Setting the Stage: Rapid -Fire Session on Institutions and GovTech

09:45

Plenary 1 – Preparing the Public Sector for the AI Revolution: Institutional Key Enablers and Building Blocks

This session will explore the fundamental key enablers and building blocks for adoption of AI in government, including data governance, digital infrastructure, and workforce capabilities. It will share country experiences in integrating AI into public administration, highlighting key challenges such as algorithmic bias, cybersecurity, and ethical AI implementation.

Speakers:

• Rajiv Garodia, Senior Vice President and Global Head, Visa Government Solutions
• Kalpana Kochhar, Director of Development Policy and Finance, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Gulnora Rakhimova, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Uzbekistan
• Siim Sikkut, Managing Partner, Digital Nation, Former  Estonian Goverment CIO

Moderator:

Daniel Ortega, Lead Governance Specialist, Institutions Global Department, World Bank

10:45

Coffee Break

11:15

World Cafés - GovTech in Action: Lessons from Experience

Interactive sessions on innovative GovTech initiatives lead by Governments, the World Bank, and partner organizations across the World.

12:30

Lunch

13:30

Breakouts and Discovery Sprint

1: CivicTech for Government Responsiveness and Accountability

The breakout will discuss how CivicTech can enhance links and trust between citizens and governments, exploring the benefits of technologies for improved responsiveness, and the co-creation of services and policies.

• Olubunmi Agift Ajala, National Centre of AI and Robotics, Nigeria
• Catherine Nikolovski, Executive Director, Civic Software Foundation
• Lina Oueidat, ICT, Cybersecurity and AI Advisor, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Lebanon

Moderator: Oleksii Balabushko, Practice Manager Institutions, East Asia Pacific Region, World Bank.

2: Greening GovTech for a Sustainable Digital Transition

The breakout session will discuss how to reduce the carbon footprint of the digital transition in the public sector, namely through green procurement practices, green datacenters and multichannel service delivery.

• Florin Emanuel Hasler, Director, Open Data, Switzerland
• Ciro Pitangueira de Avelino, Advisor, Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services, Brazil
• Alisa Zomer, Assistant Director, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) GovLab, USA.

Moderator: João Ricardo Vasconcelos, Senior Governance Specialist, Institutions Global Department, Prosperity, World Bank.

3: Skills to sustain Public Sector Transformation

The breakout will emphasize enhancing workforce digital readiness, reskilling and upskilling employees for the digital era.

• Michael Downey, Director of Community, DIAL Open Source Center, UNDP
• Huynh Nhat Nam, Lecturer, Fullbright University, Vietnam
• Priya Vora, CEO, Digital Impact Alliance
• Pooja Warier, Chief Partnerships Officer, Apolitical.

Moderator: Joseph Kizito Mubiru, Practice Manager, Institutions, Latin American and the Caribbean Region, World Bank.

Discovery Sprint 1 - Partnering with the Private Sector to Digitalize Citizen Experiences

This session will discuss key pain points, benchmark global best practices, and co-design practical public-private partnership models for digital service delivery. Grounded in real-world case studies and guided by the Double Diamond design method, the session will foster structured collaboration and actionable takeaways.

15:00

Coffee Break

Special Remarks: Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister, Cabo Verde

15:30

Plenary 2 – Citizen-Centric Public Services in the Age of AI

The session will explore how new technologies such as AI are transforming public service delivery, making government operations more efficient, responsive, and community focused. It will examine how can strengthen citizen engagement, empower communities, and foster inclusive participation through transparent and participatory processes.

Speakers

• Hyejeong Lim, Principal Manager, Global ICT and Project Planning and Project Team,  National Information Society Agency, Korea
• Arbjan Mazniku, Minister of State, Prime Minister's Office, Albania
• Ott Velsberg, Government Chief Data Officer, Estonia

Moderator: Lisa Finneran is Director for Innovation at the World Bank Group

16:30

4: Public-Private Collaboration: Partnering for Innovation

This session will explore strategies and practices to strengthen GovTech partnerships that can drive transformative changes and improve public sector outcomes.

• Soonmin Bae, Chief Responsible AI Officer, Head of AI Future LAB, Senior Vice President, Korea Telecom
• Andrew Cooke, Global Policy Lead, Microsoft
• Praveen Pardeshi, Chief Executive Officer, Maharashtra Institution for Transformation, Government of Maharashtra, India
• Kelly Ommundsen, Head of Digital Inclusion, Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum (WEF)

Moderator: Stela Mocan, Manager, Technology Innovation Office, World Bank Group

5: The Future of Cloud Computing in Public Sector Institutions

This breakout will explore the future of cloud computing, focusing on data sovereignty, AI, greening GovTech, and quantum computing, and their impact on institutional efficiency, security, and sustainability.

• Bushra Al Blooshi, Director, Cybersecurity Governance Risk Management, DESC, Government of Dubai, UAE
• Maximiliano Maneiro, Deputy Director, IT department at AGESIC, Uruguay
• Antoine Sebera, Government Chief Innovation Officer, Rwanda Information Society Authority

Moderator : Khuram Farooq, Senior Specialist Institutions Department, Prosperity Vice presidency, World Bank

6: GovTech for Transforming Service Delivery  

This session will focus on the potential of disruptive technologies for bridging the digital divide, enhancing service delivery, improving accessibility, and enabling more usable and convenient public services aligned with increasing citizens expectations.

• Birago Antwi-Agyei, Assistance Commissioner, Ghana Revenue Authority
• Clemens Denner, Policy Officer, Public Sector, Data & AI, Federal Chancellery, Austria

Moderator: Yiannis Theodorou, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

Discovery Sprint 2 – GovTech in Public Financial Management: Tackling Interoperability and Data Silos

Fragmented government systems hinder effective public financial management, leading to inefficiencies, limited transparency, and data silos. This sprint challenges participants to explore how better integration—through improved interoperability, data sharing, and innovative approaches—can enhance budgeting, spending, and financial oversight while strengthening accountability and reducing inefficiencies.

18:00

Networking Cocktail

19:30

End of Day 1

08:00

Breakfast

08:15

Overview of Day 1

08:30

Plenary 3 –Leveraging Technology to Reimagine Core Government Systems

The session will explore how emerging technologies can be leveraged to reimagine and enhance core government systems, improving efficiency and service delivery. It will highlight the role of policy frameworks, legal structures, and governance models in ensuring responsible AI adoption and addressing emerging risks in AI-enabled decision-making.

Speakers

• Akhil Arora, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Department, Government of Rajasthan, Finance Department, India
• Antonio de Palmas, Microsoft, Vice President Global Market Development.
• Alan Jiménez, Vice Minister of Public Administration, Ministry of Public Administration, Dominican Republic
• Barbara Ubaldi, Senior Director, Government innovation and AI, Tony Blair Institute.

Moderator

• Tracey Lane, Practice Manager, Global Institutions Department, World Bank

09:30

7: Enhancing a Data-Driven Public Sector

This breakout session will show how governments can build a data-driven public sector to strengthen institutional capacity and enhance service delivery, focusing on the roles of data governance, open government and interoperability, and the application of advanced data analytics.

• Ayanda Hlatshwayo, Acting Chief Data Analytics Officer, National Treasury of South Africa
• Louise Holden, Global Head, Partnerships, Government Solutions, VISA

Moderator: Chiara Bronchi, Manager of the Public Institutions Data and Analytics Unit, World Bank Group

8: Tackling Corruption with Technology

This breakout will explore innovative approaches—whether through transparency, data-driven oversight, or frontier technologies—to strengthen integrity and reduce corruption risks in government operations.

• Mbinison Dorette Ratsiavahana, Director of Public Accounting, Treasury Department, Ministry of Finance, Madagascar
• Irina Sprenglewski, Senior Manager, SAI Governance Department, INTOSAI Development Initiative
• Saleiman Umar, Director General, Ministry of Finance, Somalia

Moderator: Francesca Recanatini, Lead Economist, World Bank

9: Fostering Digital Public Infrastructure

The session will focus on how to enhance government services through robust digital public infrastructure such as digital identity, digital payments, and data management.

• Julia Pomares, Co-Founder and Regional Lead LATAM, The Global Initiative for Digital Empowerment, Argentina
• David Eaves, Associate Professor and Co-Deputy Director, UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, UK
• Aaron Snow, Advisor, International Government Transformation, AWS
• Gilbert Mure Tupana Matura, Director, Smart Government Directorate, Executive Office of The President, Kenya

Moderator: Harish Natarajan, Practice Manager, Financial inclusion and Infrastructure, World Bank

Discovery Sprint 3 - Customizing Public Services on the Basis of Life Events

Public services often operate in silos, making it difficult to deliver seamless support at key life moments for citizens. This sprint challenges participants to explore new ways—whether through better coordination, data sharing, or innovative tools and new technologies—to break down agency barriers and create more responsive, user-centered services.

11:00

Coffee Break

11:30

Plenary 4 –  GovTech & Impact in Government Operations

This session will explore how GovTech and AI can be utilized to enhance operational efficiency in government services and processes. Participants will discuss innovative solutions and real-world applications to address key government challenges based on experiences from the different regions of the world.

12:30

Lunch & Innovation

14:00

Innovation Challenge

The Innovation Nexus: Public and Private Sectors Uniting for Impact

Speakers:

• Carlos Orjales, Senior Program Manager, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, Switzerland
• Lennig Pedron, CEO, Trust Valley, Switzerland
• Anthony Sarpong, Commissioner General, Ghana Revenue Authority

Moderator: Shiho Nagaki, Senior Public Sector Specialist. Institutions Department, World Bank

14:30

Breakout and Discovery Sprint

10: Digital Procurement for Efficient and Accountable Governments

This session will explore how digital procurement enhances transparency and accountability, focusing on fraud detection and data-driven supplier performance evaluation.

Speakers:

• Meseret Meskele Ayano, General Director, Federal Public Procurement and Property Authority, Ethiopia
• Thomas Kojo Bondzi, Deputy Director of Management Information Systems, Public Procurement Authority, Ghana
• Maria Francesca Montes, Undersecretary and CIO, Department of Budget and Management, Philippines
• Adina Popescu, Head of Analysis and Public Policy Department, National Public Procurement Agency, Romania

11: Cybersecurity in Core Government Systems

The session will delve into the evolving landscape of cyber threats in the public sector and the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing security measures, discussing solutions to protect sensitive data and ensure robust cybersecurity.

Speakers:

• Judith Chilombo Kunda Beene, Director, Information and Communication Technology, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Zambia

12: GovTech to Enhance Tax Administrations

This session will highlight the importance of data governance and data quality for the use of AI to support internal processes and improve taxpayer services.

Speakers:

• Rahima Begum, Additional Secretary, Finance Division, Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh
• Jerome Duperrut,Director, Economic Analysis and International Institutions, SICPA
• Julia Shepeleva, Deputy Commissioner, Federal Tax Service, Russia

Discovery Sprint 4 –  GovTech for Optimizing Public Investments and Securing Assets

Governments must optimize public investment and asset management, yet outdated processes limit efficiency and adaptability. This sprint challenges participants to identify key bottlenecks and explore how emerging technologies could enhance decision-making, transparency, and long-term value.

15:30

Plenary 5 - GovTech Global Partnership for a Future-Ready Public Administration

The session will discuss the expanding network of global partners involved in the GovTech Global Partnership, engaging attendees on how to further enhance collective efforts towards a coherent, inclusive, and sustainable digital transformation of public sectors worldwide.

• Roby Senderowitsch, Practice Manager, Governance & Institutions – Public Administration, World Bank

16:15

Closing Remarks

• Arturo Herrera, Global Director, Institutions Global Department, Prosperity, World Bank