Agenda 2026

Monday 14 September 2026

18:00 – 19:00

Welcome Reception

Introductions.

19:00 – 21:30

Opening session

Exploring the evolving role of finance ministries

In response to the changing world order and geopolitical pressures, finance ministries face an increasing need to show systemic leadership and help all of governments understand the changing geoeconomic and geopolitical issues they face.

This session will look at the evolving role of finance ministries in taking this stewardship role.

In this session, we will discuss the additional factors that finance ministries need to contend with – from trade wars, protectionism and increases in defence spending – and how they can better plan for more scenarios – and help all of government understand the trade-offs.

Presentation and discussion

Discussions take place over dinner

Tuesday 15 September 2026

09:00 – 10:30

Beyond budgeting: moving from financial planning to delivering outcomes

Despite navigating complex global pressures and rapid digital change, the core responsibility of finance ministries remains focused on deciding how limited public resources are allocated.

However, as part of their increasingly important stewardship role, finance ministries are focusing on both becoming more agile on resource prioritisation while maintaining fiscal discipline.

To achieve this, it is crucial that finance ministries improve understanding of the impact of public spending to better allocate funds and measure what works.

This session will look at how governments can do this. It will share insights on best practice in how to use public value assessments and performance budgeting frameworks to prioritise spending.

Including presentations and discussion

Session followed by a refreshment break

11:00 – 12:30

Economic resilience – finance ministries in the driving seat?

Economic resilience – the capacity of economies to withstand, adapt to, and recover from increasingly frequent and severe shocks, such as geopolitical conflicts, technological disruptions and climate change – is of growing importance.

Energy shocks and supply-chain pressures, which are often interconnected, represent different types of shocks with distinct impacts on inflation, output and long-term economic stability.

Finance ministries are central to building economic resilience, as well as reviving and driving growth. They act as gatekeepers to government expenditure and shape the structural direction of national economies through fiscal policy, public investment and regulation.

What lessons can finance ministries share as need for resilience grows?

Including presentations and discussion

12:30 – 13:30

Lunch

13:30 – 15:00

Firing up finance ministry digital transformation

As the pressures governments face are so significant, finance ministries around the world recognise the need to leverage digitalisation, including artificial intelligence, to improve efficiency.

However, the digital maturity varies widely across finance ministries, with legacy systems and fragmented data constraining performance in many jurisdictions.

This session will look at how finance ministries can make better use of data and AI to become more efficient – and also how to address data quality and security concerns that hinder the use of technology.

Including presentations and discussion

Session followed by a refreshment break

15:30 – 16:30

Future-proofing finance ministry talent

Governments around the world are facing what has been described as a ‘war for talent’, driven by factors including tight public sector budgets, increased competition with the private sector, and shifts in working patterns since the pandemic.

Finance ministries are particularly exposed to these challenges as central departments and at the same time the type of skills they need is evolving.

In this session we will discuss how government can ensure they have the skills they need – and how finance ministries can ensure they provide engaging work and more varied career paths and opportunities for growth.

Including presentations and discussion

16:30 – 16:45

Conclusions and next steps

Summit concludes at 16:45