Digital Government Podcast

Latest Episodes:

From Digital Transformation to Economic Value Feb 19, 2025

Show notes

Digital transformation has long by now been a cornerstone of modern governance, reshaping how societies function and how services are delivered. How often, though, does the conversation evolve beyond efficiency gains and automation?

In this special episode, Kristina Mänd, Programme Director of the e-Governance Conference 2025, joins us to explore:
🔹 How digital investments can contribute to long-term economic development
🔹 Why governments must shift their focus from efficiency to impact
🔹 The role of public-private partnerships in building sustainable digital solutions
🔹 How to measure the true success of digital transformation
Under the theme “From Bytes to Benefits: Raising Prosperity Through Digital Transformation”, e-Governance Conference 2025 (May 28–29) challenges policymakers and digital leaders to think bigger, ensuring that technology creates real value for citizens, businesses, and governments alike.
Tune in now for an exclusive preview of the big conversations shaping the future of digital governance! And after listening, be sure to join us for dynamic discussions, and hands-on workshops at the e-Governance Conference!

Explore at egovconference.ee

How to motivate IT talent in the public sector Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

It is no mystery that the search for IT professionals to join the public sector’s ranks has come to be a full-fledged quest. Yet, next to being a challenge to address, it opens up opportunities for organisational growth, and also – perhaps – a few ways to rethink work.

On the table, there should be a real understanding of people’s wishes and expectations from work. Next to that, public administrations should considerately present potential prospects of all value that comes from working in the public sector. Which means, for the community at large.

In this podcast episode, Kadi Kanarbik, Senior Expert at e-Governance Academy outlines what makes recruiting and retaining IT talent effective, and the value propositions that the public administration should never forget to highlight.

Security Operations Centres Are a Boon to Cybersecurity Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

With cyber threats growing in sophistication and scale, organisations must rethink their strategies to safeguard digital assets and operational continuity. Security Operations Centers (SOCs) stand at the forefront of this effort, acting as centralised hubs where cybersecurity professionals monitor, manage, and mitigate threats.

The rise in cyber threats – estimated to have grown by 25% annually over the past half-decade – has amplified the importance of SOCs. In this podcast hosted by Merle Maigre, Head of Cybersecurity at e-Governance Academy, Margus Vaino and Martin Paas from Telia discuss the evolution, challenges, and opportunities surrounding SOCs – from the point of view of a major telecommunications player.

Acknowledging the rising importance of SOCs is only the beginning: the increasing complexity of cyber threats, and the essential steps required to build and sustain effective cybersecurity infrastructures, are all part of the roadmap to effective cyber defence.

AI in Government to Drive Prosperity and Innovation Jan 08, 2025

Show notes

The AI reckoning is here, and that’s not just based on announcements and latest releases from top corporate actors in the field. Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how governments serve their citizens, making processes more efficient, policies more targeted, and economies more dynamic.

Among experts, few understand this transformation better than Luukas Ilves, former Chief Information Officer of Estonia, and now Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine. You may find him where innovation is.

Drawing from his experience in two nations that are widely acknowledged as digitally advanced, he presents a compelling view of AI's transformative potential in governance. The challenges it brings, the practical steps needed to realise its promise – in this episode of the Digital Government Podcast, we do a deep dive into what the future holds for governments approaching AI.

Latin America’s Digital Future in Keywords, Needs, Priorities Dec 19, 2024

Show notes

Awareness of the benefits of digital transformation is increasing in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), as it is collaboration with international entities to drive projects forward. Year by year, this is laying down pathways for a more connected and inclusive digital government, with tangible benefits for the population and the economic area as a whole.

Miguel Porrúa, Lead Specialist on Digital Government at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), sat down with us to share some valuable insight into the evolution of digital government across LAC. Picking up on the post-pandemic momentum is essential to keep the ball rolling in the region. But all development projects and new initiatives must be tailored to local, national needs, and the key topics in governments’ focus across the area.

Launch of uResidency welcomes the world to digital Ukraine Dec 11, 2024

Show notes

It is a major step towards global digital integration, the one coming from Ukraine. The country recently launched its uResidency programme in September 2024. With that, the country aims to open up to international entrepreneurs who seek to establish and operate businesses in a vibrant digital economy. Without the need for physical presence – sound familiar?

Don’t call it an Estonian spin-off, though. Ukraine’s uResidency has its own winning features on considerably decreasing bureaucracy, taxation, and benefitting from all the country’s recent advancements in online services.

Oleksandr Bornyakov, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, and Andrii Piskun, Head of e-Services at e-Governance Academy in Ukraine, share insights on an initiative that welcomes the world into Ukraine’s digital sphere.

Impact, evolution, and growth in 10 years of Estonia’s e-Residency Nov 27, 2024

Show notes

Estonia’s e-Residency program turns ten years old, and we join in the celebrations with a deep dive into what’s been, so far, a very exciting path. As one of the international golden children of Estonia’s digital and global economic policy, the e-Residency program has changed, evolved, and grown. In the digital space, ten years are no short time.

From government start-up, to world-known solution for digital entrepreneurs and location-independent workers. To explore the program’s journey, we sat down with Katrin Vaga, Head of Global Communication for e-Residency. Speaking milestones, tangible benefits of the initiative, and navigating as much global trends and cultural shifts.

Back in Tallinn for the fifth Cyber Diplomacy Summer School Nov 13, 2024

Show notes

As the fifth Tallinn Cyber Diplomacy Summer School currently taking place in Tallinn, attendees reflect on a year of diplomacy in cybersecurity. Some of them, too, having gone from participants to speakers. The program, organised annually, is designed to bridge theoretical understanding and hands-on experience in cyber diplomacy, and for Claudio Peguero and Alban Andreu, the Summer School has turned out to be a point of growth and community-building.

Claudio Peguero is Ambassador and Advisor on Cyber Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic. Alban Andreu, instead, Policy Officer in the Strategic Affairs and Cybersecurity Department of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

In this podcast episode, the two alumni-turned-speakers share their experience during and after the coursework, and how the previous year’s learnings played a role in their diplomatic work. Yet a testament to the Summer School’s role in shaping effective and adaptive cyber diplomacy leaders.

Podcast 🎧 & blog: Turks and Caicos have big plans on digitalisation Oct 30, 2024

Show notes

Can a group of Caribbean islands become the Estonia of the region, looked up to on digital transformation and service delivery? E. Jay Saunders thinks so – for both citizens and businesses. He is the former Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, Investment, and Trade of the Turks and Caicos Islands. And at the 10th e-Governance Conference, by all rights took part in a panel on enlightened digital leadership.

In this episode, Saunders takes us through what digitalisation means for small countries in the area. Between breaking down barriers to better access digital markets, and providing citizens with a 24/7 experience of government that has nothing to envy from what they see in countries – on paper and volume of state revenue – with larger availability of resources and capital.

Securing the Vote: Building Trust in Election Results Oct 16, 2024

Show notes

"2024 is the biggest election year in human history. Half of the world’s population – some 3.7 billion people – have the opportunity to vote this year across 72 countries.” So notes Merle Maigre, Head of Cybersecurity at e-Governance Academy, on host duties for this podcast episode on securing elections.“Voting is at the very heart of democracy, making it vital that we safeguard the integrity of elections.” October, being Cybersecurity Awareness Month, provides the perfect backdrop to discuss these issues. Maigre is joined in the conversation by Priit Vinkel, Senior Expert at e-Governance Academy and former head of the State Electoral Office, and Tonu Tammer, former head of Estonia's CERT and Associated Expert of e-Governance Academy.
Elections are no longer solely about paper ballots and polling stations with sliding curtains. So what to look out for, in order to safeguard them in the digital era?

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