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Introduction

As an interdepartmental network founded by and for neurodivergent public servants, Infinity strives to have open, accountable, and action-oriented leaders that enable it to further our network's mission and goals in the best way possible.  This can only be accomplished where there is a clear and well-defined governance structure, explained below.

Infinity is led by a five-member Steering Committee that seeks to guide Infinity's strategic direction, support Infinity's day-to-day operations, organize programs, events, and activities to further Infinity's mission and objectives, and spearhead Infinity's advocacy and collaboration with senior management and other GC networks and groups.   

Infinity is supported by an Executive Champion, who helps to advance Infinity's mission with senior leaders in government, and a Community Support Officer (SU-05).

Steering Committee

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**Table Title 2** Person's Name 2 Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Curabitur et lacus vitae felis elementum varius. Integer eget dui eu enim aliquet fermentum. Position: Senior Analyst Department: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, Department 2.

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Who is neurodivergent?

Someone is considered to be neurodivergent if they have a neurodevelopmental condition or difference, which affect how the nervous system develops, which in turn, shapes a person's emotion, learning ability, self-control, motor skills, and memory.  

This includes:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Communication disorders
• Down syndrome
• Epilepsy
• Learning disabilities (e.g., dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyslexia)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Motor disorders (e.g., dyspraxia, Tourette's syndrome)

The above list is not exhaustive and includes other conditions and differences not explicitly mentioned above.

What do neurodivergent people need?

The lived experience of being neurodivergent varies from person to person.  There's a saying that when you've met one neurodivergent person, you've met one neurodivergent person.  While the talents, skills, and experiences can differ, there are some common areas of need, which can include:

• Help with grasping non-verbal communication
• Making and keeping relationships (e.g. friends, co-workers)
• Managing changes to routine
• Planning and organization
• Time management
• Differences in sensory processing (e.g. lighting, sound, crowds)
• Navigating communication differences (e.g. difficulty with reading, math)

Executive champion

The Executive Champion provides advice and direction to the Steering Committee on planned programs and initiatives, and also advocates for Infinity's interests to senior management, including at government-wide roundtables or working groups that may impact Infinity.

Diane Allan

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Steering Committee

Co-Chairs

The two Co-Chairs provide strategic direction and leadership for Infinity, chair meetings, and serve as Infinity's primary liaisons to senior management, individual departments and agencies, and other GC groups and network.

Sancho Angulo

Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Jose Nieto-Moreno

Shared Services Canada

Vice Chair, Advocacy

The Vice Chair, Advocacy leads Infinity's advocacy efforts to senior management, individual departments and agencies, and advisory groups on proposals and decisions that may impact neurodivergent public servants.

Katherine Mitchell

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Vice Chair, Events and Community Engagement

The Vice Chair, Events and Community Engagement plans and helps implement Infinity's events, programs, and initiatives, providing opportunities for members and their allies to connect and exchange ideas.

Emma Ewart

Employment and Social Development Canada

Vice Chair, Communications

The Vice Chair, Communications helps to manage Infinity external communications, including its presence on GCtools platforms (e.g., GCcollab and GCxchange) and social media platforms, the development of communications products on behalf of Infinity.    They are also responsible for recruiting new members to Infinity and helping the Co-Chairs in reviewing and selecting appointees to the Expanded Steering Committee.

Dawson Youden

Statistics Canada

Vice Chair, Outreach and Partnerships

The Vice Chair, Outreach and Partnerships leads Infinity's recruitment efforts within the federal public service and helps maintain relationships with key external partners.

Melissa Valencia

Canada Revenue Agency

Vice Chair, Professional Development

The Vice Chair, Professional Development champions growth, mentorship, coaching, training, and empowerment of neurodivergent public servants, and organizes various events, initiatives, and programs to help advance current and aspiring public servants.

Annie Godon

Natural Resources Canada

Regional representatives

Regional representatives advocate for the needs and interests of neurodivergent public servants residing outside of the National Capital Region (NCR), with specific positions for the following regions:

Atlantic (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island)

Victoria Valeri

Employment and Social Development Canada

North (Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon)

Joshua Hunt

Public Prosecution Service of Canada

Ontario

Sarah Abdelhamed

Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions

Quebec

Laurence Dumont

Canada Revenue Agency

Pacific (British Columbia)

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Angela Striker

Correctional Services Canada

Prairies (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan)

Becky Schurman

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Lived experience representatives

Lived experience representatives help to ensure that a variety of lived experiences of neurodivergent people are represented in Infinity's activities and overall direction.

Andrea Cameron

Employment and Social Development Canada

Caroline Lafond

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Cecile Schneider

Canada Revenue Agency

Daniel Paulin

Correctional Services Canada

Justin Simard

Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada

Pierre-Luc Houde

Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Network representatives

Network representatives serve as a liaison to Infinity from another GC professional network or affinity group.

Meredith Richmond (National Managers' Community)

Canada School of Public Service

Student representative

The student representative represent the interests of students working in the federal public service to Infinity.

Makayla King

Veterans Affairs Canada