The GovMaker Podcast

In this episode, we speak with New Brunswick's child, youth & seniors' advocate, Kelly Lamrock. Kelly shares his insights and experiences from his time as a cabinet minister, including the importance of stakeholder engagement, the difficulties of balancing competing interests, and the need for patience in achieving lasting change. We also discuss the role of technology in education, the impact of COVID-19 on the education system, and the potential for positive change that can emerge from the current crisis. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in education policy reform.

In this podcast episode, Nick Scott chats with Mayor Kate Rogers, former Managing Director of the NB Social Policy Research Network about her experience working with the organization. Kate reflects on the founding of the organization and the importance of building personal relationships to its success. She discusses how the network could have had even greater impact had it been more fully utilized and supported. Kate also shares her memories of former MP Andy Scott, who was instrumental in the creation of NBSPRN. She describes him as a genuine and giving person, always eager to learn and open to having his mind changed. This conversation is a trip down memory lane for Kate and a great insight into the importance of research networks and personal relationships in driving social policy change.

In this podcast episode, John McLaughlin, former president of the University of New Brunswick, shares his insights on the importance of network governance in solving complex societal challenges. McLaughlin emphasizes the need to connect people with different perspectives and expertise to collaborate and generate innovative solutions. He also discusses the challenges faced by government leaders in driving change and the need for a new generation of leaders to bring a different set of values to the table. McLaughlin reflects on the legacy of Andy Scott, and his unique ability to bring together different communities and motivate them to be something greater than they would be apart.

Welcome to the first episode of GovMaker: The Podcast! In this episode Nicholas Scott and Katie Davey discuss the legacy of New Brunswick Social Policy Research Network. They talk about how NBSPRN came to be, its mission, and the impact it had on the province of New Brunswick. They also share their personal experiences working with NBSPRN and how it influenced the work at the Pond-Deshpande Centre. Finally, they discuss the GovMaker conference, which emerged out of NBSPRN's efforts to build open government networks to advance its mission, and its upcoming 2023 edition. The episode also previews some of the upcoming guests who will be interviewed as part of the series, including the mayor of Fredericton, a former university president, and a former minister of education and social development. Get your tickets for GovMaker 2023 here

Welcome to GovMaker: The Podcast, a series exploring open policy and public sector innovation. Over the next 10 weeks, we have the privilege of discussing a very unique organization: the New Brunswick Social Policy Research Network. The late Honourable Andy Scott founded this organization to advance an innovative approach to public policy-making. With a focus on cross-sector collaboration, and evidence-based policy, the network played a significant role in shaping our thinking about how public policy is developed. We hope you'll join us!