Infinity/Our team
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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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
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