BrazilPolicymakers and experts convene at KPMG’s Public Sector Excellence Forum in Riyadh
Over 400 public sector officials, policymakers, and industry leaders gathered at the Public Sector Excellence Forum 2025, where host KPMG handed them valuable insights into the trends and developments shaping the future of the public sector.
Held in Riyadh, the Public Sector Excellence Forum featured keynotes and thought-provoking sessions provided by over 25 local and international speakers, including Abdullah Al Fozan, KPMG’s CEO in the Middle East, who in his opening note emphasized the importance of excellence and collaboration in the public sector, in order to achieve economic, societal and community goals.
“Excellence in the public sector is not just an end goal but an ongoing process that requires a clear vision, effective collaboration, and shared commitment. Challenges exist, but when efforts are united and institutions work together, they can easily be overcome,” said Al Fozan.
High-profile speakers from Saudi Arabia’s public sector included Munir Eldesouki, President of KACST, who was interviewed by entrepreneur Mansour Alsanooni on how great leaders inspire action, and Suliman AlRumaih, Group CEO of SALIC who delved deeper into securing food, water, and energy sustainability.
Bent Flyvbjerg, Professor at the IT University of Copenhagen and author of the study on project management, ‘How Big Things Get Done,’ took a data-driven approach to large-scale projects and presented critical insights into the successful delivery of such projects.
Four key themes
Four panels were hosted, focused on the themes of capabilities, technology, sustainability and risk.
The panel on capabilities featured Bander Alsajjan (Director General at the Institute of Public Administration), Mohammed Alabdulaali (Assistant Minister at Ministry of Health), Hekia Parata (Former New Zealand Minister of Education, Minister of Energy and Resources and Minister for Women), who discussed how to build exceptional leaders during disruptive times.
Ismail Alani, Head of Government and Public Sector at KPMG in the Middle East who also sat on the panel, emphasized the importance of foresight in public sector leadership: “Exceptional leadership is not about reacting to change but anticipating it. In today’s rapidly evolving world, public sector leaders must embrace agility, innovation, and strategic foresight to drive meaningful impact.”
The technology panel explored human capital and AI-driven governance models – emphasizing AI adoption, workforce upskilling, and cybersecurity in public sector transformation, while the sustainability panel discussed financing models for sustainable development – and featured Hashim Al Dabbagh, CEO as Aseer Development Authority and Stephen Beatty, Chairman of the Advisory Board at the National Center for Privatization.
The fourth theme, risk, was approached with two sessions, on predictive risk management tools, and the anticipation of systemic shocks – black swans and unknown unknowns, featuring Mohammed Aldhoayan from the National Cybersecurity Authority and an expert in risk assessments and geopolitics.
Anne McElvoy, Executive Editor at Politico, and Adrian Monck, Senior Adviser to Abu Dhabi's Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence moderated the forum’s sessions.
Also at the event, KPMG launched its ‘Blueprint for Intelligent Economies’, a publication which among others presents a framework for how AI technology can be leveraged for the benefit of the public good. The blueprint was presented by KPMG leaders Brenda Walker (Global Head of Government) and Maz Hussain (Head of AI for the Middle East).
Hanan Alowain, Partner in the Government and Public Sector of KPMG, closed the event by reflecting on the forum’s insights, emphasizing the shared commitment to progress, resilience, and collective prosperity.
