The GovMaker Podcast

Nicholas Scott chats with former Premier of New Brunswick, David Alward. They discuss the significance of collaboration and bridging boundaries to advance social progress.

The conversation highlights the importance of connecting Canadians, researchers, students, startups, and the local ecosystem to foster social change. David also emphasizes the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the critical role of diplomats in ensuring essential supplies for Canada.

The interview further explores the need for timely access to research and knowledge in government decision-making. The discussion also touches on the leadership qualities demonstrated by individuals like Andy Scott, who championed social progress and stood up for his beliefs.

This discussion shares insights into the power of bridging boundaries, cultivating long-term visions, and fostering collaboration across different sectors to drive positive change in social policy.

In this episode, Judy Wagner, former Clerk of the Executive Council of Government of New Brunswick, shares her insights on evidence-based policy-making. She highlights the importance of engaging stakeholders, being iterative in policy development, and building relationships with academics to inform policy decisions. Wagner also emphasizes the need for funding for evaluation components within projects and programs. Finally, she pays tribute to the late Andy Scott and his passion for making New Brunswick a better place through evidence-based policy-making.

In this episode, Nicholas Scott speaks with Claire Morris, the first board chair of NBSPRN and former clerk of the executive council in New Brunswick, about SPRN's mission, which was to connect academic researchers, students, and government staff to collaborate and develop evidence-based public policy. They also talk about the challenges of achieving this mission, as well as the potential gap left by NBSPRN as it ends its operations. Claire shares her memories of Andy Scott, a former member of parliament and key figure in the network's creation, and reflects on his impact and legacy. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining the network's relationships and pathways for future collaborations.

In this episode of the GovMaker podcast, City Councillor Greg Ericson shares his thoughts on the New Brunswick Social Policy Research Network (NBSPRN) and its impact on social policy in the province. Ericson highlights the importance of evidence-based policies and the role that the NBSPRN plays in bringing together diverse perspectives to develop comprehensive and effective solutions to complex social issues. He also addresses the challenges facing the NBSPRN, such as limited funding for social policy research in the province. Despite these challenges, Ericson believes that the NBSPRN made a significant impact on social policy in New Brunswick and created a more just and equitable society for all New Brunswickers. Tune in to learn more about the importance of the NBSPRN and its work in advancing social policy initiatives in the province.

In this episode, we speak with New Brunswick's child, youth & seniors' advocate, Kelly Lamrock. Kelly shares his insights and experiences from his time as a cabinet minister, including the importance of stakeholder engagement, the difficulties of balancing competing interests, and the need for patience in achieving lasting change. We also discuss the role of technology in education, the impact of COVID-19 on the education system, and the potential for positive change that can emerge from the current crisis. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in education policy reform.

In this podcast episode, Nick Scott chats with Mayor Kate Rogers, former Managing Director of the NB Social Policy Research Network about her experience working with the organization. Kate reflects on the founding of the organization and the importance of building personal relationships to its success. She discusses how the network could have had even greater impact had it been more fully utilized and supported. Kate also shares her memories of former MP Andy Scott, who was instrumental in the creation of NBSPRN. She describes him as a genuine and giving person, always eager to learn and open to having his mind changed. This conversation is a trip down memory lane for Kate and a great insight into the importance of research networks and personal relationships in driving social policy change.

In this podcast episode, John McLaughlin, former president of the University of New Brunswick, shares his insights on the importance of network governance in solving complex societal challenges. McLaughlin emphasizes the need to connect people with different perspectives and expertise to collaborate and generate innovative solutions. He also discusses the challenges faced by government leaders in driving change and the need for a new generation of leaders to bring a different set of values to the table. McLaughlin reflects on the legacy of Andy Scott, and his unique ability to bring together different communities and motivate them to be something greater than they would be apart.

Welcome to the first episode of GovMaker: The Podcast!

In this episode Nicholas Scott and Katie Davey discuss the legacy of New Brunswick Social Policy Research Network. They talk about how NBSPRN came to be, its mission, and the impact it had on the province of New Brunswick. They also share their personal experiences working with NBSPRN and how it influenced the work at the Pond-Deshpande Centre. Finally, they discuss the GovMaker conference, which emerged out of NBSPRN's efforts to build open government networks to advance its mission, and its upcoming 2023 edition. The episode also previews some of the upcoming guests who will be interviewed as part of the series, including the mayor of Fredericton, a former university president, and a former minister of education and social development.

Get your tickets for GovMaker 2023 here

Welcome to GovMaker: The Podcast, a series exploring open policy and public sector innovation. Over the next 10 weeks, we have the privilege of discussing a very unique organization: the New Brunswick Social Policy Research Network. The late Honourable Andy Scott founded this organization to advance an innovative approach to public policy-making. With a focus on cross-sector collaboration, and evidence-based policy, the network played a significant role in shaping our thinking about how public policy is developed. We hope you'll join us!