Connecting, Collaborating, and Leading at the Creative Bureaucracy Festival

One key avenue for this engagement is Salzburg Global’s partnership with the Creative Bureaucracy Festival (CBF). This annual convening brings together “creative bureaucrats” from around the world to explore creative solutions for strengthening public administration. The festival’s focus on experimentation, collaboration, and new perspectives closely aligns with the goals of the Public Policy New Voices Europe program. Thanks to this partnership, Fellows can attend the festival and host their own workshops and discussions.

Bernd Fesel, Festival Director of the Creative Bureaucracy Festival, noted that "bringing emerging leaders from Salzburg Global's Public Policy New Voices Europe program into this space is essential. The future of public policy and administration is being shaped by those who bridge disciplines, challenge assumptions, innovate regulations and leadership, and find practical and creative ways to turn ideas into action.”

On June 5, 2025, the Creative Bureaucracy Festival returned for its eighth edition in Berlin, welcoming more than 2,100 participants from government, politics, civil society, and other change-making organizations. More than 200 speakers from over 30 countries shared bold ideas, practical tools, and inspiring experiences across four stages and five workshop spaces.

Among the attendees were 15 Fellows from the Salzburg Global Public Policy New Voices Europe program, representing both current and previous cohorts. Their presence highlighted the growing reach of the fellowship and the continued engagement of these Fellows in international policy spaces. Beyond the sessions themselves, one of the most meaningful aspects of the festival for Fellows was the opportunity to connect across program cohorts.

Eoin Raftery, a Fellow who attended CBF, found the interdisciplinary nature of the festival particularly inspiring. “Attending the Creative Bureaucracy Festival was genuinely horizon-expanding. As it combined speakers from a very diverse set of disciplines - from bureaucrats to designers and academia - in a horizontal and highly interactive space, it allowed me to really engage creatively on the big puzzles that I’m seeking to address in my own work,” he noted.

Several Fellows also took on active roles in shaping the festival’s discussions. Eden Tadesse and Metkel Yosief, members of the third cohort of Public Policy New Voices Europe in 2024, hosted a unique cruise workshop on "Generating Democratic Legitimacy." The workshop took place aboard a small boat on the Spree River, where a group of participants reflected on how bureaucratic systems can evolve to become more legitimate, inclusive, and responsive.

Reflecting on the experience, Eden said, “CBF is such a unique space where public sector innovators come together to reimagine systems, question the status quo and co-create more inclusive futures - something I’m deeply passionate about. Hosting a workshop on rethinking colonial-rooted governance was both challenging and rewarding, and being recognized with the Best Cruise Workshop award for the second year in a row made the experience even more meaningful.” The session was once again a fan favorite, marking the second consecutive year that Eden and Metkel received the festival’s Best Cruise Workshop award. They have already been invited to host another workshop at CBF in June 2026.

Other Fellows also contributed to the festival program. Amal Abubakar, Alexander Vogt, and Romina Grigore held a panel discussion titled “DEI at a Crossroads: Charting the Future in a Divided Landscape.” Their discussion explored how organizations and policymakers can continue advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts amid shifting political contexts and funding realities.

For Romina Grigore, speaking at the festival marked an important professional milestone. She reflected, “This experience had a big impact on me, especially because it was my first time speaking on a stage at an international event. I had the chance to meet and listen to many inspiring and influential people, which was both exciting and motivating. What made it even more special was the encouragement I received - many people supported me, especially knowing that I’m young and it was my first time.”

Meanwhile, Luis Felipe Alvarez Vega and Sophia Kaur Badhan led an interactive workshop titled “Dear 2050: Notes on Climate Justice.” Participants were invited to imagine more equitable climate futures and consider how today’s policy decisions can shape those outcomes. Felipe emphasized the importance of spaces that bring policymakers and innovators together, saying, “It was great and inspiring to connect both with my Salzburg cohort and with other professionals in a field that I am passionate about... In the case of public policy and bureaucracy, many of the problems are not unique to the context of a community or a country, so it’s important to create spaces like that to explore solutions and innovation together. I was honored by the opportunity to host a meetup and talk about climate at such an interesting event.”

Over the past five years, each Public Policy New Voices Europe cohort has had the opportunity to attend the Creative Bureaucracy Festival. As the network grows, the event has become a recurring gathering point where Fellows can reconnect, exchange ideas, and continue building professional relationships.

For many Fellows, the experience reinforced the sense of belonging to a wider community of emerging policy leaders. Amal reflected on this atmosphere of collaboration, saying that "being able to communicate with and meet my fellow cohort at the CBF was incredible. The atmosphere was rife and full of energy and passion for a developed policymaking future. It was so great to share ideas and connect over things ranging from being a joyous citizen to the importance of climate and DEI when approaching policy."

For Benson Innocent Edobor, the experience highlighted both the value of innovative public administration and the strength of the Salzburg Global network. He commented that “attending CBF was both breathtaking and transformative for me because I had the opportunity to explore the value of creative bureaucracy as a more effective alternative to rigid systems. Meeting both new and returning Fellows made the whole experience feel like I belonged to something greater. We felt what it was to be like a community amid the crowd and I cherished every moment spent together.”

Similarly, Ianira Vieira emphasized the many informal moments of connection that shaped the day, saying, "the Creative Bureaucracy Festival was memorable because there were so many opportunities to meet new people and learn about their interests. In addition, the fact that I was able to meet more Fellows during the day made it even better.”

For Fellows in Public Policy New Voices Europe, gatherings like the Creative Bureaucracy Festival offer a platform to share ideas, contribute to policy conversations, and build relationships with peers and practitioners.

As Fellows from multiple cohorts come together in spaces like these, the impact of the program extends beyond a single fellowship year. Returning Fellows share experiences with incoming Fellows, strengthen their professional networks, and this growing community of policy leaders continues to tackle the challenges facing public policy in Europe.