Joint Solutions for Government Transformation Across Nations: A Thai–German Exchange

Thai Delegation Photo
Thai Delegation Photo
CBF Thai Delegation Photo

Digital tools can change how governments work but what does it take to make those changes last? On 22 September 2026, a Thai delegation joined the Creative Bureaucracy Festival, DigitalService and Dark Matter Labs at the Falling Walls Foundation offices in Berlin to discuss this shared challenge. The visit formed part of a dialogue programme on state modernisation and digitalisation organised by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.

Following a welcome from Andreas Kosmider, Managing Director of the Falling Walls Foundation, Festival Director Bernd Fesel moderated a conversation spanning administrative reform, public trust and the practical work of improving services.

Beyond Digital Tools

A central theme was how to connect digital transformation with changes in the way institutions operate. Participants discussed the challenges of working across departmental boundaries, developing staff capabilities and designing services around people’s needs. The exchange highlighted how organisational structures and established working practices can shape the success of new technology.

Anke Obendiek, Research Manager at DigitalService, contributed perspectives on implementation and institutional learning. From Dark Matter Labs, Györgyi Gálik, City Transitions Co-Lead, and Florian Franik, Service Designer, shared insights into collaborative governance and human-centred service design.

Public trust and inclusion were also central to the discussion. Who can access digital services, and who risks being left behind? Participants considered the costs and practical barriers facing rural communities, alongside questions about AI, personal data and confidence in public systems. They also explored the role of local government in responding to communities’ priorities.

Perspectives from Thailand

The Thai delegation contributed experience from politics, public administration, justice reform and academia. Participants included:

  • Sorawong Thienthong, Deputy Leader of the Pheu Thai Party and former Minister of Tourism and Sports.
  • Veerayooth Kanchoochat, Member of Parliament and Deputy Leader of the People’s Party.
  • Wisit Wisitsora-at, member of the Public Sector Development Commission and former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.
  • Radaphat Chongthammakun, Deputy Secretary-General of the Office of the Administrative Courts of Thailand.
  • Pailin Phujeenaphan, Dean of the Faculty of Political Science and Public Administration at Chiang Mai University.
  • Patawee Chotanan, Chairperson of the Creative Urban Solution Center at Ubon Ratchathani University.

Turning Exchange into Action

The conversation returned to a question that also guides our work: how can international learning support change in everyday administrative practice?

For the Creative Bureaucracy Festival, part of the answer lies in connecting people facing similar challenges and creating opportunities to learn from their experience. As we approach our tenth anniversary in 2027, we are expanding these opportunities through a year-round international learning community.

We thank the Thai delegation, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and our contributors from DigitalService and Dark Matter Labs for sharing their experiences and questions. We look forward to continuing the dialogue.

Published: 12 October 2026

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nathan Hayduk is Senior Programme and Partnerships Manager at the Creative Bureaucracy Festival in Berlin, where he curates the international programme and develops partnerships with public institutions, policymakers and civil society organisations. His work focuses on public-sector innovation, international cooperation and new approaches to collaboration between government and civil society. He previously held roles with the U.S. Commercial Service and the U.S. Department of State and holds a master’s degree in International Relations and Cultural Diplomacy. His published research examines transatlantic vocational exchange.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE BUREAUCRACY FESTIVAL  

Public administration, too, has excellent, creative solutions for almost every challenge facing society — the Creative Bureaucracy Festival brings them to the stage and the people behind them into conversation. The festival, in the words of its President Charles Landry, stands for the shift from a "No, because" culture to a "Yes, if" culture that embraces new ideas with enthusiasm. Through the presentation of the Creative Bureaucracy Awards, the festival also aims to strengthen the public reputation of administration. The Global Forum of Public Service Leaders, which begins on the day before the festival, is the annual gathering of public sector leaders from around the world. The Young Bureaucrats Event addresses the next generation of creative talent in the public sector. More infomration can be found at https://creativebureaucracy.org/.