CSPS Digital Academy/CSPS Digital Accelerator/Demo Day - Panelist Biographies

Demo Day Panelists

Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) Accelerator teams will be pitching their problem and solution in front of a panel composed of public service executives. The panel will provide feedback to teams on two levels:

• The quality of their pitch
• Their problem and proposed solution

For the first cohort of the CSPS Digital Accelerator, we are honoured to welcome the following executives as members of our feedback panel:

	Michel Bastien Director General, Individual Returns Systems Directorate, Canada Revenue Agency Michel started his career in the public service with Revenue Canada in 1996 and has held positions of increasing responsibilities during the years that followed. From 2008 to 2017, he has occupied executive positions in various divisions within the Information Technology Branch; more precisely with the National IT Support, the External Service Management, the Business Suite Assessing Systems, the Branch Business Management and the Portals & e-Services Divisions. In March 2017, he was appointed as the Director General of the Client Computing Services Directorate at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and he moved laterally in November 2019 to take over the lead as Director General of the Individual Returns Systems Directorate. Michel holds a Bachelor degree in Political Science, a certificate in IT Project Management and a Computer Management diploma.
	Stephen Burt Assistant Deputy Minister, Data, Innovation and Analytics, Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces Stephen Burt is the Assistant Deputy Minister (Data, Innovation, Analytics) for the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces, and the chair of the federal Chief Data Officer Council. As an organization, ADM(DIA) works to ensure that data are leveraged in all Defence programs to enhance capabilities and decision making, and to provide an information advantage in military operations. He holds an undergraduate degree in history from the University of Ottawa, and a Master’s in Public Administration from Queen’s University.
	Wendy Luciani Director of Partnerships, Canada Digital Services Wendy Luciani currently serves as the Director of Partnerships for the Canadian Digital Service within the Government of Canada, where she leads service delivery and consulting efforts, to help departments change how they design and deliver federal services. Ms. Luciani has extensive experience working in government and non-profit service transformation initiatives. Wendy most recently led efforts at the Canada Border Services Agency, to transform service delivery for air travellers replacing paper based processing through the design and deployment of next-generation kiosks and the eDeclaration mobile app. Wendy is a former recipient of the Public Service Award of Excellence for Citizen-focussed Service Delivery and holds a degree in History from the University of Ottawa and a Masters of Communications and Technology from the University of Alberta.
	Vik Pant Chief Scientist and Chief Science Advisor, Natural Resources Canada Vik is responsible for providing strategic direction to build capacity within NRCan’s scientific community, promoting a departmental vision for S&T and assessment of future needs. This involves leadership in developing and advancing S&T priorities, providing strategic policy advice on horizontal science issues and opportunities to ensure strong linkages between science and policy communities, and promoting effective engagement of S&T activities.  Vik is responsible for accelerating the creative application of innovative digital technologies including Artificial Intelligence, to enhance NRCan’s ability to conduct research and analysis, as well as provide evidence-based policy advice that is supported by advanced analytical techniques.   Vik earned a doctorate from the Faculty of Information (iSchool) in the University of Toronto, a master's degree in business administration with distinction from the University of London, and a master's degree in information technology from Harvard University, where he received the Dean’s List Academic Achievement Award. Vik joined NRCan from the MaRS Discovery District, a technology start-up accelerator in Toronto, where he was a Senior Technical Advisor of Applied Artificial Intelligence. Prior to that, he held progressively strategic positions in leading software enterprises including Oracle, SAP and Open Text.