This year’s CIPFA International conference, in partnership with the Center of Excellence in Finance (CEF), took place in Zagreb, Croatia on 10–11 June.
This summer, CIPFA partnered with CEF to deliver the fifth annual conference on Trust in Public Finance: Perceptions versus Practice in Zagreb. In collaboration with the European Commission Representation in Croatia, the two-day event brought together over 100 public finance professionals from 20 countries.
The theme of trust
Trust is the cornerstone of public finance. Without it, even the strongest systems lose credibility. Yet across Europe and beyond, that trust is under strain. Political instability, economic pressures and governance failures have left many citizens questioning whether public money is truly managed in their best interests.
One thing was clear: trust is not a soft value. It is a strategic asset. To rebuild it, governments and institutions must look beyond compliance and place greater focus on integrity, prevention and meaningful engagement.
Further exploration
CIPFA International Director Khalid Hamid explored this more following the conference: Rebuilding trust in public finance requires a prevention-first mindset.