Talk: Reimagining Public Administration: Trust, Creativity, and the Future of Governance

The challenges of our time are complex – climate change, digitalization, and societal transformation. Public administrations are at the heart of these developments and must remain capable of action. Yet, traditional bureaucratic structures often reach their limits. Creativity in administration is not an optional extra but a crucial skill for developing innovative solutions, strengthening citizen engagement, and making democratic processes more resilient.

In this session, we will engage with students and young professionals to envision the future of public administration. Terrance Smith, a U.S.-based creative bureaucrat, Bloomberg Public Innovation Fellow, and Chief Innovation Officer for Baltimore, will then reflect on the values of the Creative Bureaucracy Festival and its impact on his research on building trust in public institutions. He will also share insights from his current roles and discuss key global challenges facing the public sector in 2025 and beyond.