Reinventing Government: Insights from Adrian Brown

What does it take to reinvent government for the 21st century? Adrian Brown, the former Executive Director of the Centre for Public Impact, joins us to share his vision. With two decades of experience driving transformation across the UK government and leading roles at BCG, McKinsey, and Harvard Business School, Adrian has insights that every changemaker needs to hear.
🎙️ Highlights from this episode:
• The secrets to creating resilient governments by learning from failure.
• How to rebuild trust between citizens and public institutions.
• Why innovation is the key to navigating an uncertain future. Get ready to be inspired to think differently about the future of government. ✨


00:00 - Intro
02:19 - Most Receptive Countries to Innovative Approaches
05:47 - Balancing Human-Centered Design with Innovation
09:36 - Embracing Forward-Thinking Innovation
14:03 - Necessary Changes in Incentive Structures
17:50 - What’s Proven to Be Effective
21:59 - Public Service and Innovation
25:06 - The Role of Creativity in Shaping the Future
28:17 - Personal Incentives and Motivation
34:22 - Key Advice for Aspiring Innovators
37:08 - Discovering Your Superpower

Adrian Brown is the former Executive Director of the Centre for Public Impact, where he led initiatives to transform how governments operate and engage with citizens. With over 20 years of experience in government performance and transformation, Adrian has held multiple roles within the UK government, including positions at the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit, Strategy Unit, and as a policy adviser in the Prime Minister’s Office.



Before joining the Centre for Public Impact, Adrian was a Principal at The Boston Consulting Group and a Fellow at the Institute for Government. He also served as an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company. Adrian holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Master of Arts in Management Studies from the University of Cambridge.



Adrian is passionate about fostering innovation and resilience in government through learning from failures, building trust, and strategic long-term thinking.