Digital Government. Beyond the hype

If digital is the answer, can somebody repeat the question?

Digital government is a hot topic these days. Governments across the world are wondering what the disruptive potential of digital technologies means for them and how they can shift towards a more digital operating model. Even though digitally-oriented public services may provide a variety of benefits, such as increased efficiency and transparency, the road is full of obstacles. Former governments have been setting out a series of specific and practical actions for reform. However, today's problems cannot be solved with yesterday’s solutions. Organisational transformation starts with a personal transformation, and a shift to a culture which fosters innovation.

In this We Invite for You session, Chris Van der Auwera, Chief of Staff at the Cabinet of the Minister of Public Services, will share his vision on the government of the future in a digital world. More specifically, he will zoom in on the initiatives which are being taken, and the lessons learned from these initiatives. Moreover, Chris will talk about the change levers towards a digital government.

Agenda

BIO CHRIS VAN DER AUWERA, Chief of Staff of Minister Steven Vandeput, Minister of Public Services

Chris Van der Auwera started as Chief of Staff to the Minister for Public Services, Minister Vandeput in 2014. Before his move to the federal Policy Unit, he was an entrepreneur helping companies to crack the digital collaboration code. Chris worked as Program and Change Manager for leading companies such as VRT, McKinsey, De Post and Siemens, and he was active in the management of the launch of companies/divisions within subsidiaries of international companies. Some highlights were the launch of the first Belgian internet provider in Belgium (Belgium Online, 1996), the launch of the first ASP-services (Belgacom, 1998), the launch of a new telco in Germany and the Netherlands (Belgacom, 2000) and the founding of a utility provider (WattPlus, 2002). Chris is passionate about business model innovation, new leadership approaches and challenging today’s status quo. He has a Master in Commercial and Financial Sciences from KU Leuven (Antwerp), a European Business Certificate in Marketing from the University of Applied Sciences of Pforzheim (Germany) and an additional MBA in General Management from Vlerick Business School. Chris also attended the Startathlon course at Sirris.