About the Centre
In June 2012, under the authorization of the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister (NSA), the Executive Director of Security at Privy Council Office (PCO) formed the Departmental Security Officer (DSO) Centre for Development (CfD) and its mandate. The Centre is funded by the DSO community through contributions by departments and agencies.
The Community We Serve
Departmental Security Officers are the security leaders in departments across government. Appointed by deputy heads, they are the individuals who develop and manage the departmental security program and they are the designated fast-acting decision makers in a security situation. While it might be easy for security practitioners to work in silos, within their own departments, the CfD helps to keep the security mandate functioning horizontally. We act as the conduit to mobilize members of the security community, connecting them and keeping them confident in their role, informed of potential threats, vulnerabilities and risks, and ready to respond and recover with sound security control strategies.
The SCoE Team
It takes an entire team of dedicated professionals to administer the expert service, advice and support provided by the Centre. The SCoE team is diverse in expertise and background. In our office, you will find former senior security experts, former Departmental Security Officers, young professionals and team leaders with extensive experience with the machinery of government.
Nicole Legault, Director
Nicole joined the Centre as Director in May 2017. She has an extensive security background on the security and intelligence side, having been Director of the Security Intelligence Assessment and of the Marine Security Operations directorates at Transport Canada, and having occupied various positions at Canadian Security Intelligence Service at the beginning of her career. Before joining the CfD, she was Director of Environmental Policy Framework and Integration at Transport Canada where she led the renewal of the transportation sector clean air and clean water policies. Since her arrival, Nicole has achieved significant milestones in the Centre’s development. The organization secured long-term funding from its partners, allowing for the hiring of staff on a more permanent basis than in previous years. She helped create a governance structure dedicated to the Centre’s mission, objectives and priorities. Under her leadership, the Centre has developed a strategic plan that will position the organization as a Centre of Excellence dedicated to serving the governmental security community.
Jean-François Hamelin, Manager, Guidance and Analysis
Jean-François has been working in the field of governmental security for the last 23 years. He has occupied several positions of increasing responsibility at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) where he contributed to the implementation of key portions of the Agency’s High Integrity National Security Program. He has managed the CBSA’s Personnel Security Screening Program and implemented proactive risk assessment features and advanced preventive controls. He joined the CfD in October 2017. He and his team is responsible for operational guidance, exercises and the development of analysis and tools aimed at strengthening the overall security readiness within government.
Diana Brown, Senior Advisor, Security Operations
As a former Departmental Security Officer, Diana has acquired a thorough understanding of the security function and now provides her expertise to security practitioners. Diana offers timely information and assistance in response to multiple and varied requests from the security community. She chairs various working groups created to address specific security issues or needs. Diana is also actively involved in outreach activities to create awareness about the Centre’s activities and services.
Justin Quinn, A/Advisor, Guidance and Analysis
Justin has recently joined the DSO Center for Development in 2019. He is still new to government, but has gathered in depth knowledge in personnel security screening by having worked for 3 years at CBSA in screening and investigations. He has also helped in developing different tools such as the Position Analysis Tool, a new security screening system and risk assessment tools. His main role with the CfD is to work on projects that will aid the security community by giving them tools and guidance to enhance their security programs.
Sandy Little, Senior Advisor, Security Operations
Sandy is a new member of the Centre for Development team. She comes to the centre with 33 years of experience in the field of government security. For several years she was the Deputy Departmental Security Officer at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and Manager of the Personnel Security Screening and Intelligence Program. Sandy has also spent many years working in physical security operations, security awareness and in security in contracting. Over the years, she has worked with lead agencies in developing government security policy and guidelines. Sandy’s role at the Centre for Development is to utilize her vast knowledge and experience in security to provide security advice and guidance to the security community at large. In addition, she will aid in the development of CfD security products to be shared to the security community.
Sara Thibodeau, Manager, Security and Business Continuity
Sara has a diverse background, more recently she was the DSO at the Canadian Human Rights Commission from 2013 to 2019. Her experience and knowledge related to security particularly in a small agencies, along with her management, communication and strategic planning experience were added to the CfD in January 2019. She and her team develop learning, information sharing and networking opportunities for the governmental security community.
He Jung Kim, Senior Advisor, Special Projects
He Jung is a marketing and communications professional who joined the CfD in 2014 from the private sector. Her expertise and focus are on outreach and knowledge sharing within the security community. As such, she plays a key role in delivering the yearly Government of Canada Security Summit and in managing the Centre’s Speakers Series, as well as in supporting community engagement on the various platforms of the GCintranet.
Rebecca Hollander, Communications Officer
Rebecca is a communications, marketing, and design professional who joined the CfD in November of 2018. She specializes in analyzing and synthesizing information, delivering effective communications products to the GC security community. Rebecca supports He Jung in the planning and execution of the annual GC Security Summit. She proudly leads the Young Security Professionals, an informal, government-wide network that provides learning and networking opportunities to empower the next generation of security functional specialists. Rebecca has helped develop and edit Recruitment Strategies in Security and a Talent Management Program. She has also helped create and currently maintains the CfD's online presence.
Get in Touch
Ask us a question directly by contacting CfDGI-RGCdp@pco-bcp.gc.ca. We also encourage everyone to engage the GC security community online by posting your question to the Security Readiness Forum on GCcollab!
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