Leading into Tomorrow

With climate change intensifying, bringing higher human and financial costs, governments must step up their efforts to both mitigate its risks and adapt to its impacts.

The challenges and opportunities this poses are the focus of this episode. Joining host Tim Smith are Dr. Matthew Bell, EY Global Leader of Climate Change and Sustainability Services, and Ruth Ahchow, EY Global Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader for the Government and Public Sector.

Their discussion includes the benefits of closer working with the private sector, why government policies need to be long term and predictable, and the wide-reaching positive outcomes of decarbonizing fast for economies, communities and the environment. 

Government Risk Radar is a mini-series that provides expert insights and practical strategies to help government and public sector leaders tackle an evolving risk landscape. It accompanies the EY report on the top 10 risks for the sector in 2025, which you can download as a PDF or listen to in audio format here. 16 mins

How can governments adopt digital technologies while regulating their use and supporting innovation?

That’s the question Permenthri Pillay, Partner, Business Consulting, EY Australia, and EY Regional Digital Government Leader, Oceania, and Thomas Erwin, EY EMEIA AI & Data Leader, address in this episode. They tell host Tim Smith about the complexities of digitalization for governments and the risks of falling behind. They also share positive examples of artificial intelligence (AI) governance and collaboration, and explain why, with budgets and workforces shrinking, investing in digital infrastructure is governments’ best bet.

Government Risk Radar is a mini-series that provides professional insights and practical strategies to help government and public sector leaders tackle an evolving risk landscape. It accompanies the EY report on the top 10 risks for the sector in 2025, which you can download as a PDF or listen to in audio format here. 22 mins

Take aging populations, add low birth rates, and you have a shrinking workforce and skills gaps that risk hampering economic growth.

How governments can help address these impacts is the topic of discussion in this episode, hosted by Tim Smith. Rosalin Acosta, National Practice Leader for Labor and Workforce Development, Ernst & Young LLP, and Dr. Carlo Chiattelli PhD, EY People Consulting Leader for EU Institutions, share insights from their geographies. They also discuss how aligning education better with workforce opportunities, as well as with artificial intelligence (AI), could help governments close the gap between supply and demand for labor.

Government Risk Radar is a mini-series that provides expert insights and practical strategies to help government and public sector leaders tackle an evolving risk landscape. It accompanies the EY report on the top 10 risks for the sector in 2025, which you can download as a PDF or listen to in audio format here. 24 mins

In this episode, Oliver Jones, EY Global Geostrategy Leader, and Jan Kallmorgen, Senior Partner, EY Strategy and Transactions, explore how governments can manage geopolitical complexity with host Tim Smith.

They discuss the factors driving the current complexities and the unique role of governments as they both act in, and are affected by, that environment. They also suggest strategies for mitigating cyber and supply chain risk while encouraging future investment. And Oliver explains why, when it comes to sustainability, geopolitics could keep driving change for the better.

Government Risk Radar is a mini-series that provides expert insights and practical strategies to help government and public sector leaders tackle an evolving risk landscape. It accompanies the EY report on the top 10 risks for the sector in 2025, which you can download as a PDF or listen to in audio format here. 17 mins

How can governments keep their finances sustainable in a world of high public debt, rising interest rates and persistent inflation? By shifting their focus from inputs (expenditure) to impacts (public value) — and by viewing themselves as drivers of growth and potential growth.

That’s the big message of this episode, in which Mark MacDonald, EY Global Public Finance Management Leader, and Gregory Daco, EY-Parthenon Chief Economist, Ernst & Young LLP, discuss all things public money with host Tim Smith. You’ll also learn the three supply-side factors governments should focus on, and when increasing spending could be more effective than making cuts.

Government Risk Radar is a mini-series that provides expert insights and practical strategies to help government and public sector leaders tackle an evolving risk landscape. It accompanies the EY report on the top 10 risks for the sector in 2025, which you can download as a PDF or listen to in audio format here. 17 mins 

In this episode, Dr Naveen Thomas PhD and Dr Harvey Lewis PhD, both Technology Consulting Partners at EY, discuss artificial intelligence (AI) past, present and future with host Tim Smith.

Their conversation covers everything from the first ever chatbot to why the future will be humans, AI and robots collaborating to solve society’s challenges. For governments, they recommend taking a “thinking fast and slow” approach. Fast: Get the basics right and experiment. And slow: Envision a future and plan how you’ll get there.

This is the first of three episodes in which Naveen and colleagues explore fast-changing AI technologies and how they could impact people in business and society. It’s part of the AI in Government mini-series, where government and public sector innovators dive into the transformative potential of AI in the public sector. Listen in to discover the possibilities AI offers for a better, more connected society. 20 mins

To effect real and wide-reaching change, government organizations need to get behind the big-ticket outcome of adopting artificial intelligence (AI): efficiency.

In this episode, EY Technology Consulting Partner Dr Naveen Thomas PhD and Alex Bennett, EY EMEIA Microsoft and AI Leader, tell host Tim Smith how people are currently using AI at work. They also discuss the role of muscle memory and the need for government organizations to build confidence and boost engagement through "disciplined freedom," hyperpersonalized communication and role modeling.

This is the second of three episodes in which Naveen and colleagues explore fast-changing AI technologies and how they could impact people in business and society. It’s part of the AI in Government mini-series, where government and public sector innovators dive into the transformative potential of AI in the public sector. Listen in to discover the possibilities AI offers for a better, more connected society. 19 mins

From raising literacy standards to eradicating diseases, artificial intelligence (AI) could transform society as we know it. But with these technologies evolving rapidly, it’s government’s job to continually test, measure and audit those they deploy. So they’re as accurate, fair and unbiased as possible.

That’s the main takeaway from this fascinating conversation between EY Technology Consulting Partner Dr Naveen Thomas PhD and Neil Bacon, EY Partner and Business Development Leader. In it, they share their insights, hopes and fears with host Tim Smith, and suggest action for governments to take.

This is the third of three episodes in which Naveen and colleagues explore fast-changing AI technologies and how they could impact people in business and society. It’s part of the AI in Government mini-series, where government and public sector innovators dive into the transformative potential of AI in the public sector. Listen in to discover the possibilities AI offers for a better, more connected society. 21 mins

How can governments help businesses realize the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) while gaining the maximum value from these game-changing technologies themselves? By creating a thriving AI ecosystem that works for government, business and citizens.

In this episode, Kiren Kumar, Deputy CEO of Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), shares three steps to building such an ecosystem. He also gives examples of how the IMDA implements these steps, including by pre-approving AI solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Manik Bhandari, EY Partner and AI and Data Leader for ASEAN, joins Kiren for this enlightening conversation. The big takeaway: Just get started and grasp the opportunities of AI. These technologies are going to be a huge augmentation to companies if they play it right. But if they don't start playing at all, they will be disrupted.

In the AI in Government mini-series, government and public sector innovators dive into the transformative potential of AI in the public sector. Listen in to discover the possibilities AI offers for a better, more connected society.  19 mins

How can universities balance their innovation culture with applying artificial intelligence (AI) in safe, compliant, ethical and effective ways? Our host Tim Smith speaks to Christine Burns, CIO at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, and Alison Cairns, EY Oceania Education Leader.  15 mins