Derek Alton

My name is Derek Alton. For the past 17 years, I've been focused on one central question: how to make government work better. That journey has taken me from academia and civic activism to working alongside and inside governments, and most recently to my role as Community Engagement Lead at Apolitical, where I helped build and connect global communities of public servants.

Over that time, I've been continually inspired by the people I've met who are pushing for change alongside and inside government — thoughtful, pragmatic, and determined reformers who care deeply about public service and its impact on society, I call these people Civic Punks.

We are now at a significant moment of change for governments. In response, I am spending 2026 travelling the world to explore the future of government and the people shaping it. I'll be documenting this journey through short videos and podcasts to share promising ideas and highlight the work of practitioners on the front lines.