One year ago, at the Public Sector Excellence (PSX) forum, we brought together industry leaders to have honest conversations about the future of the public sector across capability, technology, sustainability, and risk.
Today, those conversations matter even more. A year on, many of the themes we discussed continue to shape how public sector organizations think about performance, resilience, and long-term value. The dialogue remains relevant, and in many areas, even more pressing.
Our one year onwards report synthesizes the core discussions and lessons from the forum alongside reflections of today, together offering strategic guidance and key takeaways for building a future-ready public sector under on four core pillars: Capability, Technology, Sustainability, and Risk.
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Core pillars
To ensure long-term success, the public sector must build robust human capital and institutional capacity to meet future challenges. Discussions at the forum explored how the public sector can develop leadership, skills, and governance structures that are future-ready — with a focus on how great leaders inspire action, manage large-scale reforms, and cultivate innovative leaders.
In this chapter you will find insights from Dr. Munir Eldesouki on why leadership is built on creating strong teams and empowering others, not just about being the loudest voice. We pulled lessons from Dr. Bander Alsajjan and Dr. Mohammed Alabdulaali on leading through crisis with agility and collaboration. We also highlighted the unique responsibility of public sector leaders in delivering outcomes that improve everyday life for citizens with H.E. Hekia Parata. Ismail Alani called for systematic leadership development across the public sector to prepare for the future. Concluding with Ruth Harris’s emphasis on the importance of trust, empowerment, and creating a safe space for innovation and growth.
Technological advancement is at the heart of modern public sector transformation. From AI to digital services, technology provides powerful tools to enhance service delivery, boost efficiency, and improve accessibility. The forum explored how governments can leverage technology to build a resilient and future-ready public sector.
We share in this chapter insights from H.E. Mr. Ahmad Alhakbani on Saudi Arabia’s e-government journey and driving impact through digital transformation. We discover more about the Blueprint for Intelligent Economies with Brenda Walker and Mazhar Hussain. We also dive deep into Dr. Basma Al Buhairan’s session on scaling AI education and preparing the workforce for future jobs. Dean Grandy emphasized that all transformation must be data-driven. Finally, Turki Badhris explored the leadership role in guiding ethical and secure AI adoption.
The public sector plays a leading role in driving sustainability — balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship and social well-being. Discussions at the forum explored strategies for embedding sustainability into governance, financing green initiatives, and promoting public-private collaboration.
In this chapter, we further explain the relativity of think slow, act fast concept, emphasized by Prof. Bent Flyvbjerg. We include insights from Eng. Hashim Al Dabbagh on why sustainability is critical to preserving Saudi Arabia’s natural resources and long-term strategy. Stephen Beatty highlighted the importance of investing in future-proof infrastructure. Mike Driver called for greater transparency and action on climate change. James Black emphasized building decision-making processes that can withstand uncertainty and future challenges.
Public sector organizations face increasingly interconnected risks — from geopolitical instability to cyber threats. The forum examined how governments can build resilience and agility to navigate today’s volatile risk landscape.
Throughout this chapter, we share insights from Dr. Andries Terblanche on using dynamic risk assessment to navigate uncertainty. Stefano Moritsch and the need for building anti-fragile systems that strengthen through disruption. Dr. Mohammed Aldhoayan focused on identifying and preparing for critical impacts, not just black swan events. Prof. Bent Flyvbjerg warned of the risks of human bias and the need for resilience planning, especially when integrating AI into decision-making.
From embedding sustainability into policy structures to managing risk with agility, and from adopting responsible AI to developing exceptional leaders — the journey is ongoing. To dive deeper into the insights and strategies discussed at the Public Sector Excellence Forum, download the full report.
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