Jean-François Gauthier, a vision for the future of public services through open government

Jean-François Gauthier, who specialized in management consulting for the Quebec City firm Loran Technologies, is concerned about the interaction between the government and citizens. His professional experience enabled him to understand the needs of citizens and the constraints of a public system.

He is worried about the lack of public confidence in their representatives and civic disengagement. Jean-François and his family witnessed a coup in Haiti in September 1990. Two weeks of constant gun shots around his house in this country opened his eyes. He knows how we too easily take democracy for granted, how precious it really is.

Jean-François believes in leveraging technology to render public services more efficient. During a strategic consulting assignment at the Treasury Board of the government of Quebec, he became aware of the potential of open government. An "awesome discovery", he said. He realized that technology tools available today can be integrated to a government within a structured approach, something useful to increase public confidence. Jean-François sees how transparency and information flow increases public trust, improve policy makers accountability, and can increase the level of performance of public agencies. He likes how open government brings a unifying vision of business that can help meet the challenges of government budget constraints.

Jean-François also has a keen interest in developing multilateral partnerships that will support development of open government initiatives in the French speaking countries. He's a founding member of recently launched Democratieouverte.org.

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― Mon cheminement vers le gouvernement ouvert http://edgeryders.ppa.coe.int/share-your-ryde/mission_case/mon-cheminement-vers-le-gouvernement-ouvert

Pedro Prieto-Martin, a vision of enhanced municipal e-participation

It takes courage and strength to dare to dream. Pedro Prietro-Martín is "at the service of his dreams". He followed his heart's desire. "I actually feel that I couldn’t do anything else! Everything seems to fit now so clearly… that I couldn’t help but follow this way. I have to chase my dream."

Pedro is the founding president of the Asociación Ciudades Kyosei (www.ckyosei.org), a civic organization whose aim is to foster civic engagement by means of ICT technologies. Founded in 2006, it is the oldest Spanish NGO devoted to the promotion of (e)Participation. Pedro is responsible for creating a virtual system for municipal citizen participation, suited for developed, as well as developing countries.

He created a model that provides citizens and politicians tools promoting a stronger citizen incidence at the municipal level, which is where the interaction representative-represented is easier and closer. Pedro realized there is a need for new tools and methods which enhance the ability of citizens and politicians to work together in solving their daily problems, and thus promote a renewal of politics. A true democracy needs to be guided by an intense and constant dialogue between politicians and the citizens.

Pedro saw he needed to move further from the dualism expressed in the "top-down"/ "bottom-up" opposition, and go in the direction of a "kaleidoscopic governance", with multiple actors and stakeholders involved. Pedro realized that the requirements needed to support participation... just started to converge.

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―Creation of Kyopol system http://edgeryders.ppa.coe.int/share-your-ryde/mission_case/creation-kyopol-system-aka-symbiotic-city-internet-catalyst-civic-engag