@derekalton.bsky.social
Community Insights Lead for Apolitical by day, Civic Punk by night. Passionate about helping make government work better. Obsessed with all things digital/open government and Public Sector Reform. Community Insights Lead for Apolitical
What are Civic Punks?
Today I was able to cross something off my bucket list. To be interviewed by @suzannahb.bsky.social on the @civilserviceworld.bsky.social podcast! Such an honour.
Learn more about Civic Punks by listening: www.civilserviceworld.com/more/podcast...
[Nice to see this up and running] Civic Punks is a movement for people reimagining government civicpunks.com Kudos @derekalton.bsky.social
17.02.2026 08:02 — 👍 6 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 0
@jacattell.bsky.social thank you for sending the books. Sorry for leaving that on your shoulders.
Ps love the standup. Keep them coming. Might steal your idea
Personal stand up for Wednesday 11 February 2026, featuring The Financial Conduct Authority, The Pensions Regulator, Joe Craig and @derekalton.bsky.social.
11.02.2026 09:10 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 3 📌 0
UKGovCamp makes no sense on paper.
No agenda. No speakers. No script.
And yet… it works.
I sat down with @jacattell.bsky.social to unpack why this unconference keeps producing some of the best conversations in public service.
🎧📺 youtu.be/7rqxCpcwde4
I watch way too much YouTube, but was frustrated by the lack of good videos about how to make government better.
So I started making them as an experiment.
100 videos later, here is a reflection → youtu.be/PLQJOyGPj6Y
So excited for this. I am just fine tuning my talk as we speak!
10.12.2025 10:16 — 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0Good shout, I need to get better at using Bluesky! It will be my resolution for this month
10.12.2025 10:15 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
🚨 6PM WEDS 10 DECEMBER 🚨
Join us @tpximpact.com (& online) for the last @transformgovtalks.bsky.social of 2025:
- Caroline Star, School of International Futures, on Governing Beyond the Now: Why Policy Needs a Long View
- @derekalton.bsky.social, Civic Punks, on A Journey Into the Future of Govt
Rachel Coldicutt presents at the eleventh TransformGov Talks
Katy Beale presents at the eleventh TransformGov Talks event
A huge thank you to @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social @katybeale.bsky.social for great presentations @transformgovtalks.bsky.social tonight
Video etc to follow www.transformgov.org.uk
Sign up for our 10 December event @tpximpact.com (in Whitechapel) with @derekalton.bsky.social luma.com/1b6pmysz
@bluesky.sboots.ca kicking ass and taking names to help launch this year Canadian Open Data and Govmaker Summit.
Sooo good as always Sean
03.11.2025 17:32 —
👍 2
🔁 1
💬 0
📌 0
Missing @bluesky.sboots.ca at this years @fwd50conf.bsky.social but Doug is rocking the boots button
03.11.2025 17:32 — 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 2 📌 0
Check out this digital gov mixer on Nov. 5th. So excited to catch up with old friends to make new ones! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/digital-co...
@robbutler.com @bluesky.sboots.ca can you use your magic to help spread the word through the GC space!
#ApoliticalDay was very good. I hope it expands to more people next year. Also some good shots of @edent.tel and @derekalton.bsky.social in this amongst others 😄.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNSm...
This week: thinking about what helps govs build innovation muscle, why AI assistants could change public service, and how we find agency again when hope feels thin.
🎬 Weeknotes: youtube.com/shorts/S3RAy...
#CivicPunks
People sit in rows, smiling for the camera.
A bordered square rotated slightly clockwise, inside which are the words, "One Team Gov".
Work in or around the #PublicSector? Fancy a breakfast time natter, and optional co-working day?
The last 3 #OneTeamGov North #Manchester meetups of 2025 are on Tuesday:
🐝 21 October,
🐝 18 November,
🐝 16 December.
Sign up via www.eventbrite.com/o/hosted-by-...
Weeknotes Sept. 14 - Breaking bubbles and working in the open
Sorry, I know this is late, but here is my weeknote from last week.
Inspired by conversations with Thea Snow about breaking out of bubbles, and the weeknotes of the @gianduran.bsky.social
Check it out: youtube.com/shorts/_NFNg...
Here is the full article, give it a read, it's worth it: demos.co.uk/research/dog...
15.09.2025 22:01 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
🚨 New series launch: Briefing Room 🚨
In 3 minutes or less, I’ll be breaking down key works on government innovation.
First up: Sir Geoff Mulgan’s DOGE Done Better.
📺 Watch my short summary here: lnkd.in/ebzJxXcX
And don't forget to like and subscribe for more.
Full Article in Comments
🚨 6PM, WED 24 September 🚨
Join us at the MoJ or online
* Dr Moira Nicolson & Holly Marquez "Failing Forward: Why Planning for AI Disasters Unlocks Breakthrough Innovation"
* Ben Sauer "Always Be Creating Clarity: Daily habits for strategic storytelling"
luma.com/sm09nslz
Please share! Thanks 🙏
Come join us and help grow the community of cool people doing cool stuff in government here in the uk
12.09.2025 16:02 — 👍 0 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
🍺🍹🍷🥛 TGT Summer Drinks!! 🥛🍷🍹🍺
Join us at 6pm on Wednesday the 27th of August at the Buckingham Arms for the first TransformGov Talks Summer Drinks.
Network, chat and put the world to rights - we'd love you to join us.
lu.ma/sdzpnfl9
Join Isabel Serval and I for @apolitical.bsky.social Scanning Club—fun, practical foresight for public servants.
🌍 Next one’s July 29, theme: Climate.
Watch the teaser: www.youtube.com/shorts/L5Md6...
Join us: apolitical.co/events/futur...
Hop into the community: apolitical.co/en/communiti...
A huge thank you to @antonioweiss.bsky.social & Defra's Becky Miller for great presentations at @transformgovtalks.bsky.social this week (on AI, and serious games and evidence/policymaking respectively) - catch up here medium.com/@transformgo...
We're back on Wed 16 July lu.ma/6hvitdyr
While in South Africa for a friend’s wedding, I took time to learn about their public service. It shares a lot with Canada and the UK. Check out this quick explainer—including the fascinating Batho Pele white paper.
🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbPZ...
What questions do you have about South Africa?
Building Successful Communites of Practice with Emily Webber Coming soon, sign up now for a discount at launch. Learn how to form, grow, supercharge and measure communities of practice in or across organisations An online self-paced course at https://tacit.pub/onlinecourse
Exciting news! I'm launching my brand new online self-paced course very soon.
With videos, reading, and hands-on activities, learn how to identify, form, grow, and supercharge communities of practice in and across organisations.
Sign up now to receive a discount at launch tacit.pub/onlinecourse
The @publicdigital.bsky.social round-up email is excellent (I highly encourage people to subscribe) but it is frustrating that they don't publish an online version which means I can't share a link with all the great info with anyone.
28.04.2025 23:31 — 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
🚨 EVENT KLAXON! 🚨
The next @transformgovtalks.bsky.social event will be at the MoJ and online on Weds April 30th with the following great speakers.
* Catherine Day - cross-government participatory methods forum
* Cabinet Office Test, Learn and Grow team
Register here : lu.ma/c3wlyoz0
🚨 EVENT KLAXON! 🚨
The next @transformgovtalks.bsky.social event will be at the MoJ and online on Weds April 30th with the following great speakers.
* Catherine Day - cross-government participatory methods forum
* Cabinet Office Test, Learn and Grow team
Register here : lu.ma/c3wlyoz0
