CSPS Digital Academy Events/Annual Digital Government Forum 2022 - Speaker Biographies

Speaker Biographies for Annual Digital Government Forum: The Need to Build Modern Services for All

November 22, 2022 | 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM (ET)

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We have a great event planned for you and are in the process of finalizing the speakers. They will all be added momentarily.

Speaker Biographies

	Erica Vezeau (Master of Ceremonies) Director General, Digital Academy, Canada School of Public Service Erica Vezeau is the acting Director General of the Canada School of Public Service’s Digital Academy. She joined this team in March 2021 to support its mandate to help public servants gain the knowledge, skills, and mindsets they need to succeed in the digital age. She has over 15 years of previous private- and public-sector experience in program administration, service delivery, and strategic planning with a special interest in digitally focused projects to modernize business processes and improve government services.
	Marc Brouillard Chief Digital Officer, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Marc Brouillard is the Chief Digital Officer for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in the Government of Canada. He has also served as Chief Technology Officer and acting Chief Information Officer of Canada at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. Marc also served as deputy departmental CIO and acting departmental CIO at Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. Prior to joining the Government of Canada, Marc was VP of Business Development for a local eCommerce Services start-up. Prior to that, he spent 13 years at MONTAGE IT Services, a division of MTS/Allstream, where he held numerous positions in technology consulting and business development. Marc provides strategic leadership in pursuing world class excellence in digital transformation, data and information management, and cyber security. He has had a long and successful career as a senior public and private sector executive in information management and technology.
	Andrea Guertin Managing Director, Bridgeable Andrea is the Managing Director of Bridgeable, a Canada-based service design consultancy that uses human-centred design tools and tactics to transform experiences. As an award-winning designer, change manager, and innovation strategist, she's worked across real estate, healthcare, and finance industries. She's committed her career to help executives navigate the power of design. Andrea uses creativity and a structure of systems analysis, design thinking, and attention to human dynamics to guide teams toward their transformation.
	Raj Thuppal Chief Digital Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister, Digital Services and Transformation, Transport Canada As of April 1st 2021, Raj Thuppal joined Transport Canada (TC) as the Chief Digital Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister of Digital Services and Transformation. Prior to this, Raj was the Chief Technology Officer at Shared Services Canada (SSC) where he was responsible for modernization of IT infrastructure and Cyber Security. For four years prior to this, as the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of Networks, Security and Digital Services, Raj was responsible the consolidation and reengineering of GC data networks and digital services across Canada and internationally, supporting 400,000 users in 43 departments. Raj also served as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Cyber and Information Technology Security at SSC for approximately three years. After joining the public service in 2003, Raj worked in various management roles at the Department of National Defence and the Canada Revenue Agency. Before this, he held various engineering roles in the private sector at Marconi/FORE Systems in Ottawa. Raj holds a Master’s Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Memorial University of Newfoundland, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from India.
	Kelly Acton Assistant Deputy Minister, Digital Policy and Performance, Office of the Chief Information Officer of Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat Kelly Acton is the Assistant Deputy Minister of Digital Policy and Performance in the Office of the Chief Information Officer of Canada at the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), providing enterprise level guidance on instruments and performance linked to the digital agenda, in the fields of service, security and access to information. Kelly was previously Assistant Secretary of Strategic Communications and Ministerial Affairs at Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS). Prior to her arrival at TBS, Kelly held executive positions in communications, in IM/IT, strategic policy and regulatory affairs at Innovation, Science and Industry, as well as various leadership positions at what was then Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. Kelly works in an engaging, multidisciplinary way, with a broad perspective informed by work in both the public and not-for-profit sectors on a range of public policy issues. Kelly holds a degree in Journalism and Political Science from Carleton University, and an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
	Wendy Luciani Executive Director of Partnerships, Canadian Digital Service Wendy Luciani is the Executive Director of Partnerships for the Canadian Digital Service, within the Government of Canada. At CDS, she leads service delivery and consulting efforts; helping departments change how they design and deliver federal services. Ms. Luciani has extensive experience leading government and non-profit service transformation initiatives. While at the Canada Border Services Agency, Wendy led the transformation of service delivery for air travelers, by replacing paper based processing with digital service delivery using 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, and lives with her two sons in Ottawa, Ontario.
	Sidra Mahmood Open Data Lead, Chief Data Officer, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) Sidra leads the open data presence for the Government of Canada's fourth largest department, ESDC. A service designer at heart with design roots, Sidra is committed to using data and empathy-driven design practices as well as policy analysis to improve the usability of critical government services. Their goal is to simplify digital processes to create meaningful participatory opportunities for public engagement with governance, while embracing the spirit of transparency and openness. Prior to this role, they were a recipient of the 2020 Code for Canada Fellowship and a proud founding member of the City of Toronto’s Open Data program. Sidra has lived all over the world but now calls Toronto home. They are an avid hackathon participant, digital accessibility SME, and frequent speaker at UX, open source, and civic tech conferences. In their spare time, they enjoy DJing, camping, and are the proud pet parent of two retired racing greyhounds.
	Jean-Noé Landry Former Executive Director, OpenNorth.ca; Obama Scholar 2021-2022; Senior Fellow, Canadian Urban Institute; Jean-Noé Landry is a social entrepreneur, Canadian climate activist, international open data movement leader. He recently completed the Obama Scholars 2021-2022 program at Columbia University in New York City where he was actively engaged in the Climate School’s Decarbonization, Climate Resilience, and Climate Justice Network, delivered presentations at the Earth Institute and Columbia Global Centers, while being locally involved in several environmental justice initiatives with WE ACT For Environmental Justice in Harlem. Back in Canada, he is currently leading the creation of a new climate-focused inter-university data studio at Concordia University, in Montreal, advising the establishment of a new local civil society alliance co-creating a common civic agenda on the ecological transition with the Ville de Montréal, and supporting strategic initiatives at the Center for Open Data Enterprise (CODE) on climate relevant data ecosystems and environmental justice in partnership with the Bezos Earth Fund, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and Open Data Watch. Between 2015 and 2021, Jean-Noé was CEO of Open North, a Montreal-based non-profit that advises communities and governments of all sizes on data governance and sharing, digital transformation and open technology strategies. During this time, Open North grew from a civic tech start-up to a multi-disciplinary international non-profit organization specializing in the ethical and collaborative use of data and tech. Prior to his leadership role at Open North, from 2002-2012, Jean-Noé worked in Canadian politics as a campaign manager trainer and campaign director after spending more than a decade with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the United Nations working alongside pro-democracy civil society and political leaders in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Russia, Kenya, Tunisia, and Ukraine. Jean-Noé holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of Humanities at Carleton University in Canada and a master’s degree in philosophy from Trinity College Dublin. He was also a Fellow in Community Leadership in Justice at the University of Ottawa’s Center for Law, Technology and Society. He’s currently a Senior Fellow (Climate Data and Governance) with the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), recently joined the latest wonderful cohort of coaches at the Institute for Change Leaders, and co-coordinates the international Obama Climate Leaders alumni network. Jean-Noé is frequently invited on national and international competition juries, data ethics working groups, and professional training schools and academies, such as the GovLab’s Data Stewards Academy and the Canada School of Public Service’s Digital Academy.
	Tamreen Arif Senior Policy Advisor, Canadian Digital Services Tamreen is always interested in finding new ways to turn complex problems into inclusive & equitable policy solutions. Raised in Montreal, she's called Edmonton (Treaty 6) home for the last nine years. Tamreen has worked in policy roles in the non-profit sector and all three levels of government. She has worked on a wide range of policy topics ranging from land-use planning in the North to rural economic development in southern Alberta. She joined CDS in October 2021 as a Senior Policy Advisor. In her spare time, you can find her in Edmonton's River Valley or searching for the best poutine in town.
	Manu Kabahizi Consulting Digital Practitioner, Canadian Digital Services Manu is a consultant at CDS helping various programs across GC deliver digital services that meet user needs using best practices. In a career spanning 22 years and over 20 countries, Manu has founded several technology businesses, led R&D for software products, and advised international agencies, such as UNICEF and UNFAO. Prior to joining CDS, Manu was a co-founder and Chief Technology Officer for Ulula, a role in which he oversaw research, development and delivery of a Software as a Service platform used by international business (such as Apple, Nike, IKEA and others) to monitor human rights abuse in global supply chains.
	Charlyne Lefebvre-Paillé Senior Advisor, Research & Design, Canadian Digital Services Born in Shawinigan, Charlyne has a background in Industrial Design and Human-Computer Interactions and completed a master's degree in Service Design from the Royal College of Art in London. She has worked in service design consultancies and IBM Watson Health. She acted as the Design Research Lead for Government Health and Human Services, collaborating with 30+ federal, state and local agencies. At CDS, she is a Senior Consultant for research and design, supporting partners in their user-centric journeys. Outside of work, she's probably nerding out about any new craft techniques she's learning!
	Dan Batista Executive Director, Institute on Digital-Centred Service Dan joined Citizen First - ICCS in April 2015. He leads a dynamic team that helps public sector organizations pursue service excellence through research, learning, collaboration and professional development. Previously, Dan worked for the Government of Canada as a Senior Director leading a number of innovative teams that provide services to small businesses and entrepreneurs including the Canada Business Network and BizPaL. Dan has a Master of Public Administration degree from Carleton University and a Master of Electronic Commerce degree from Dalhousie University. Dan received a 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the Institute for Citizen-Centred Service 2013 Ralph Heintzman Leadership Award, for his commitment and leadership to developing and delivering client-centric services across all levels of government.