Origin Story
How this proposal came to be
From conversations, frustrations, and a shared belief that the system can do better.
Observations & Frustrations
Years of observing innovation efforts rise and fall across the federal public service. Labs created then defunded. Reports written then shelved. Knowledge gained then lost.
The Conversations Begin
25+ hours of one-on-one conversations with public servants, academics, and former senior leaders. Patterns emerged: everyone saw the same problems, but no one had a mandate to fix them.
Writing the Proposal
Synthesizing conversations into a structured proposal. Drawing on academic research, international comparisons, and the lived experience of innovators across the system.
First Draft Shared
The proposal is shared publicly for the first time. Contributors review, provide feedback, and refine the ideas. The website launches as a companion to the document.
Iteration & Engagement
Incorporating contributor feedback, building broader support, and seeking pathways to pilot the concept. This is a living proposal — it evolves with input.
Why This Matters
This proposal wasn't born from a directive or a mandate. It was born from a simple observation: the federal public service is full of people trying to make things better, but the system isn't designed to support them.
Public servants innovate despite the system, not because of it. They work around procurement rules, navigate siloed structures, and rely on personal networks to share what they've learned. When they leave, the knowledge goes with them.
The proposal is an attempt to change that — to build the infrastructure for innovation that the system has always needed but never had.