WEBINAR: The Next Generation of Government Financial Management: Is Canada Keeping Up?
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April 2, 2026 -
2:00PM – 3:00PM
EST -
Virtual event
**This event has now concluded. If you missed it, you can watch the recording below to catch up on all the tips and insights.
The FMI National in association with FreeBalance is pleased to invite you to another high-value Professional Development Webinar
The Government of Canada has made significant progress in modernizing financial management systems and advancing digital comptrollership across departments. But around the world, a new wave of public financial management innovation is emerging. Governments are beginning to move beyond modern systems toward integrated financial data platforms, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence that support real-time fiscal insight and policy decision-making.
In several jurisdictions, finance leaders are experimenting with approaches that connect financial information across government, strengthen fiscal transparency, and embed AI and predictive analytics into financial oversight. These developments are raising an important question for many advanced governments: are modern systems enough, or is a new model of government financial management beginning to take shape?
Drawing on experience from national governments across multiple regions, this session will explore what has worked, what has proven difficult, and what lessons these emerging approaches may hold for Canada as it considers the next stage of digital comptrollership and public financial management.
Event details:
- Date: Thursday 2nd April, 2026
- Time: 02:00 PM – 03:00 PM
- Location: Online Webinar
- Earn 1 CPD credit
- Cost: Free
For more information, please contact: national@fmi.ca
Speakers
Manuel Schiappa Pietra
President and CEO, FreeBalance Executive Director, The Happier Way Foundation Supervisory Board Member, Tech Diplomacy Forum Advisor, Portuguese Presidency for the World Member, World Economic Forum New Champions Community Signatory, United Nations Global Compact
Manuel Schiappa Pietra is a global executive and purpose-driven leader with over 30 years of experience building and leading organizations across North America, Latin America, Europe and Africa.
Since taking the role of President and CEO at FreeBalance in 2006, Manuel has transformed the company into a leading provider of public financial management (PFM) solutions, helping 30 governments worldwide improve transparency, accountability, and citizen trust.
Manuel’s leadership is rooted in a deep commitment to fiscal transparency, anti-corruption, and sustainable development. Under his guidance, FreeBalance became a signatory of the UN Global Compact, reinforcing its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals. He also serves as Executive Director of The Happier Way Foundation, a non-profit organization promoting global well-being and mental health through education and collaboration.
An active and multilingual participant in international forums, Manuel has served as President of the International Consortium on Governmental Financial Management (ICGFM) and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s New Champions Community. In 2025, he was invited to join the Supervisory Board of the Tech Diplomacy Forum, a new platform developed in collaboration with UNESCO to shape international relations in the digital age. He was also appointed to advise the Portuguese Presidency on global engagement with the Portuguese diaspora, bringing leadership experience at the intersection of public fi nance, digital government, and international development. Through this role, he contributes to responsible innovation, inclusive prosperity, and strengthened collaboration between Portugal and its global community.
Manuel recently completed the prestigious Global CEO Program, an executive development initiative jointly delivered by IESE Business School and the MIT Sloan School of Management, focused on strategic leadership, innovation, and global business management.
A frequent speaker at global events, he was most recently invited to present in Davos on the topic of “Fragmentation or Coordination in Tech Governance”, at the World Leadership Forum in Warsaw, in Ottawa for FMI PD Week and the Tallinn Digital Summit in Estonia.
Manuel was named in the Tech Diplomacy Global Institute’s 2026 Tech Diplomacy Global 50, which recognizes the world’s most influential leaders advancing responsible technology policy, digital governance, and international cooperation. He continues to advocate for responsible governance, digital transformation, and social value creation.