Common Ground: Delivering Public Services Across the Island
Around 80 senior public service leaders from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland came together in the beautiful setting of Hillsborough Castle for a thought-provoking discussion on cross-border collaboration and public service delivery.
The event was built around The Irish Times' Common Ground initiative. Mark Hennessy, Ireland and Britain Editor at The Irish Times, led an engaging discussion, exploring the thinking behind the initiative and its relevance to public service leadership.
Conversations throughout the afternoon were facilitated by Judith Gillespie, CEf Chair, and Tomás Ó Síocháin, Chair of the Association of Chief Executives of State Agencies. Together, they brought perspectives from both jurisdictions, highlighting the opportunities and challenges of working across borders.
Professor Sir Ian Greer, Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast, and Diarmuid O'Callaghan, President of Dundalk Institute of Technology, shared the story of their landmark collaboration, offering valuable insights into how an ambitious cross-border partnership can be turned into reality.
Gina McIntyre, Chief Executive of the Special EU Programmes Body, reflected on her extensive experience of cross-border working and shared practical lessons from leading collaborative initiatives across the island.
There was a real richness to the discussions around the tables, with participants taking the opportunity to make new connections, share experiences and learn more about the work taking place beyond their own organisations and jurisdictions.
A recurring theme throughout the afternoon was the importance of building trust. Effective collaboration takes time, strong relationships and a willingness to understand different perspectives. Creating space for these conversations is a vital part of public service leadership.
There was also a strong appetite to learn more about existing cross-border initiatives, what they are achieving and how organisations are working together to overcome the practical barriers that inevitably arise when operating across boundaries.
Making progress often starts with something simple: taking the time to meet, listen, ask questions and learn from one another.
That is Common Ground.