CSPS Digital Academy Events/Let's Talk Accessibility First in the Digital Age - Speaker Biographies

Date and time: December 7, 2020 | 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm (ET)

Register for event here
Join us on GCCollab for updates and discussion

Speaker Biographies - English Session

	Luna Bengio Principal Advisor to the Deputy Minister, Office of Public Service Accessibility, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Luna Bengio joined the newly created Office of Public Service Accessibility in August 2018. The Office’s mandate is to position the federal public service as a leader for accessibility in Canada to support the implementation of the Accessible Canada Act. Luna is a seasoned executive with 15 years of experience as a federal public service leader in various departments. She currently provides strategic advice on a range of accessibility and inclusion issues, such as workplace adjustments, information and communications technologies, and culture change. She also leads several projects, including the review of Treasury Board policies from an accessibility perspective and the development of the Government of Canada Workplace Passport. Prior to this, as Executive Director of Executive Policies also at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Luna was responsible for all policies and programs related to the management of executives in the Canadian public service, including compensation, terms and conditions of employment, performance management, and leadership development. Luna also provided strategic advice to departments and agencies on sensitive labour relations issues involving executives and on senior management organizational structures. Luna joined the federal public service in 1990. Over the last few years, Luna has held several executive positions in areas such as information management and information technology, financial and human resources management, and strategic planning. Prior to joining the Treasury Board Secretariat, Luna led the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Blood Safety Surveillance and Infection Control programs. She also held the position of Executive Director of the Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control.
	Maayan Ziv Founder, Access Now In 2015 Maayan launched AccessNow out of the need to solve her own problem. What began as a response to her frustration when trying to navigate inaccessible places, AccessNow soon grew to become a mission-oriented social start-up. Within just a couple years AccessNow has vocalized a movement for inclusion, inviting people of all abilities to contribute to the platform. As CEO of AccessNow, Maayan has created a powerful shift in thinking about the importance of accessibility in our world, from accessible technologies to infrastructure, public policy, media and communications. To date AccessNow has shared accessibility information in over 35 countries. An influential public speaker who is often in the media, Maayan collaborates with private sector companies as well as government and not-for-profit organizations. She inspires leaders dedicated to raising the profile of accessibility for all. On August 1, 2019 the Government of Canada announced a $2.7M investment in AccessNow to focus on technical development, growth and scale.
	Abigail Kidd Policy Analyst, Policy, Office for Disability Issues Abigail Kidd is a policy analyst at the Office for Disability Issue, where she uses her expertise in disability analysis to apply a disability lens in all of her work. She is also Canada's current Emerging Leader in Disability for the International Initiative for Disability Leadership. She has expertise in critical disability, accessibility, and inclusion, and has lived experience as a woman with a physical disability. Her work and volunteer history has included sitting on the Board of Directors for the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women, organizing and facilitating a number of events focused on intersectionality, and facilitating workshops focused on disability in the community. While completing her Master’s thesis in Anthropology, Abigail focused on issues affecting Canadians with intellectual disabilities in Canada.
	Chad Leaman Director, Innovation, Neil Squire Society Chad Leaman is the Director of Innovation for the Neil Squire Society and cofounder of Makers Making Change. The Neil Squire Society uses technology, knowledge and passion to empower people with disabilities. Makers Making Change, a program of Neil Squire, connects volunteer makers to people with disabilities to create assistive technologies. He has also worked and volunteered with other organizations that focus on technology, education, and accessibility including BC Technology for Learning Society, Lambda Solutions, NetSquared, Blackboard Collaborate, and VANOC Paralympics Games. Chad holds a BA in English and Computer Science from Simon Fraser University as well as certificates in Instructional Technology in Adult Education, Project Management, and is a Canadian Society of Associations Executive. He is the father of young twins, which is the source of much joy and scraped knees.

Speaker Biographies - French Session

	François Morissette Executive Director, Web and Secure Portals, Digital Service Directorate, Employment and Social Development Canada François is now a 30–year member of ESDC. He is not aging well! He has worked in digital and corporate roles, policy, and program delivery. He co-chaired the Government’s Directors of E-communications group. He co-led the Web Managers Council. He also led ESDC’s Executives Network. His team leads ESDC’s presence on Canada.ca and its intranet. They also lead the My Service Canada Account, and the My Service Canada Business Account. They guide programs on accessibility. François balances work, family and health. He misses big Saturday dinners with friends and kids. This bio reads at grade 7.5 in Word in English.
	Luna Bengio Principal Advisor to the Deputy Minister, Office of Public Service Accessibility, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Luna Bengio joined the newly created Office of Public Service Accessibility in August 2018. The Office’s mandate is to position the federal public service as a leader for accessibility in Canada to support the implementation of the Accessible Canada Act. Luna is a seasoned executive with 15 years of experience as a federal public service leader in various departments. She currently provides strategic advice on a range of accessibility and inclusion issues, such as workplace adjustments, information and communications technologies, and culture change. She also leads several projects, including the review of Treasury Board policies from an accessibility perspective and the development of the Government of Canada Workplace Passport. Prior to this, as Executive Director of Executive Policies also at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Luna was responsible for all policies and programs related to the management of executives in the Canadian public service, including compensation, terms and conditions of employment, performance management, and leadership development. Luna also provided strategic advice to departments and agencies on sensitive labour relations issues involving executives and on senior management organizational structures. Luna joined the federal public service in 1990. Over the last few years, Luna has held several executive positions in areas such as information management and information technology, financial and human resources management, and strategic planning. Prior to joining the Treasury Board Secretariat, Luna led the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Blood Safety Surveillance and Infection Control programs. She also held the position of Executive Director of the Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control.
	Tony Labillois Champion for Persons with Disabilities and Director, Public Sector Statistics Division, Statistics Canada Tony Labillois was born with low vision and is legally blind – but that hasn’t slowed him down. He has rafted with his work crew, driven a dogsled with his daughter as a passenger, tried a bobsled in Lake Placid, and practiced water skiing on one ski. “My disability has forged my character and pushed me to surpass myself and continually find creative and effective ways to live life to the fullest, pursue a successful career, and give back to others what I have received and learned,” he says. Tony has spent his entire career at Statistics Canada, rising through the ranks over the past 30 years to become a Director. In 2002, he added a new line to his job description: champion for people with disabilities. The goal is full participation, supporting each person and benefiting from their contribution and productivity. Tony’s expanded role has allowed him to acquire vast knowledge about disability, needs, perceived or real obstacles, effective accommodations, the many facets of accessibility, mechanisms, and solutions. In 2012, he was awarded the Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, recognizing his leadership in promoting diversity at Statistics Canada. Since September 2020, Tony is the Governing Council Vice-Chair and Chair of the Advisory Council of the new Canadian Accessibility network, a national partnership in advancing accessibility for persons with disabilities through Research, Design and Innovation, Education and Training, Policy, Employment, and Community Engagement. Tony’s motto: If you see a door that is a little bit open, go through it.
	Nicolas Steenhout Independent Accessibility Consultant A developer in the mid-'90s, Nicolas Steenhout was approached by clients facing issues not yet part of the public consciousness. On the emerging web, accessibility hurdles were keeping people with disabilities from engaging with a technological revolution. Confronted by this gap within the digital landscape, Nic began championing web accessibility. He transitioned into the non-profit sector where he collaborated with people with a wide variety of impairments and was introduced to new assistive technologies. Twenty five years on, Nic continues his accessibility work as an independent consultant for both the private and non-profit sectors. Having worked on three continents, he’s engaged with thousands of individuals with disabilities. Blogger, podcaster, public speaker, Nic offers real-world insight into everyday accessibility issues