From 28 July to 1 August 2025, StateUp, Comunitas—a Brazilian civil society organisation that connects public and private sectors to strengthen governance, public leadership, and the design of citizen-centred public services—and the Møller Institute at Churchill College, University of Cambridge,. convened a five-day executive leadership programme in Cambridge and London for a senior Brazilian cohort. The focus: how digital government, innovation ecosystems, and practical collaboration across sectors can support resilient economies and public services.
The cohort spanned federal, state, and municipal government alongside senior figures from Brazil's private sector.
In Cambridge, participants examined how research moves into practice. Site visits to the Ray Dolby Centre provided context on frontier science, while discussions with Cambridge Enterprise and IdeaSpace explored the “connective tissue”—IP, capital and capabilities—that carry ideas into public-purpose products and services.
Sessions featured Dr Tanya Filer, StateUp; Professor Michael Kenny and Professor Andy Neely OBE, University of Cambridge; Dr Julian Huppert, former MP and Director of the Intellectual Forum at Jesus College Cambridge; Dr Rob Doubleday, Executive Director of the Centre for Science and Policy. Working sessions considered leadership for digital government, data for resilient places, and how to approach digital public infrastructure with care.
"An exceptional experience. It's a great privilege to learn from such a diverse group of professors and speakers about what it truly takes to build an innovation ecosystem — bringing together public sector leaders, legislators, and changemakers from across the board."
Programme participant
In London, attention turned to how innovation is built and governed in practice. With Robert Walls, Global Head of Product & Solutions at Visa Government Solutions, the group discussed public-value financial innovation and the conditions that enable it. Time at Lloyd’s of London and Lloyd’s Lab opened up how risk is understood and managed in an innovation-intensive setting.
A closing conversation at London City Hall considered education in the age of AI and what this implies for institutional capability and public trust. The group also had the chance of being welcomed by a variety of leading actors of the Greater London Authority.
Luke Marshall-Waterfield, Acting Chief Digital Officer for London, and colleagues from the London Digital Team who set out London’s approach to data and connectivity as critical infrastructure—including the Data for London platform, LOTI’s collaboration model, and Talk London’s digital engagement service and results on trust, reach and participation.
Mete Coban MBE, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, and Nadeem Javaid MBE, Mayoral Director, Global Relations and Communities, joined for a candid exchange on political leadership for digital delivery and resilience —how boroughs cooperate, measure public value, and maintain public confidence during change.
"This was an incredible opportunity to meet people doing meaningful work in the public sector in Brazil — and to learn from those researching and leading real-world innovation in the UK. I leave inspired and grateful, ready to return home and keep working to change our country for the better."
Programme participant
"It was a highly productive week. We combined rigorous theoretical learning with practical discussions on public transport, education, and government management. It was a real moment of reflection — a chance to pause and rethink administrative practices and governance relationships."
Programme participant
StateUp and Comunitas will return to Oxford and London later this year for a second edition, bringing a new cohort of senior Brazilian public and private leaders to the UK. Organisations interested in participating or hosting similar programmes should get in touch.
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