PAST & FUTURE MEETINGS

Profession in Perspective Global Conferences

Countries around the world are facing similar public sector management challenges. Profession in Perspective was initiated in 2005 as a network to bring together senior practitioners in the area of senior public servant management and development from around the globe.

Through annual meetings, such as the conference being organized in Ukraine in September 2009, this network of senior executives gathers to share knowledge and expertise, to discuss new ideas and common public sector management challenges, as well as to learn from one another’s experiences.  Past meetings have included: the Netherlands (2005), Finland (2006) and Canada (2008).  The host country for the annual meeting has the responsibility of setting the theme for the gathering and framing the proposed discussion.

2005 Profession in Perspective in the Netherlands: "Profession in Perspective - the art of strengthening top officials in a changing society" 

Context:

On 23-25 November 2005 the Netherlands hosted a conference called "Profession in Perspective - the art of strengthening top officials in a changing society. Most participants qualified it as a huge success. The conference was visited by 55 colleagues from 19 different countries. The objective was to find out if there are common grounds to establish a network on the issue of developing senior executive managers in central government. And clearly there is. The executives present at the meeting agreed on that.

They expressed their intention to meet each other again. Some countries offered to host a next meeting: Finland in 2006, Italy in 2007, and Canada in 2008.

2008 Profession in Perspective in Canada: “Working in the Public Service of 2025”

Context:

Most public administrations are the product of the civil service bureaucratic model that emerged during the latter part of the 19th century. The model helped countries face rapid changes associated with the industrial revolution.

To this day the core values of this model — respect for the rule of law, a commitment to serve the public interest, an expectation that public servants will exhibit integrity, probity and impartiality — remain fundamental characteristics of the public service. The model is based on a number of conventions, including multiple separations: between political and professional activities; between policy and service delivery; between citizens and government. It advocates the use of minimal discretion by public servants operating under strictly prescribed rules (anonymity and neutrality among them), within vertical, hierarchical power structures.

Just as yesterday’s society faced imposing challenges during the industrial revolution, today’s public service must be responsive to dramatic challenges. Globalization, the knowledge economy, the need to protect the environment, public-private partnerships, changing citizens’ expectations, the aging population and workforce, are among the factors that are putting pressure on the public sector throughout the world.

In the face of these trends, does the current civil service model need adjustments at the margin, or should we drive its evolution, building on the strong foundations of the past? As leaders of the civil service of our respective countries, what changes and shifts should we shepherd now in order to serve citizens throughout the 21st century?

Past meetings

Future meetings