IM Backstage Pass 2024

November 12, 2024 | 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm (ET)

Speakers

Stephen Burt

Chief Data Officer of Canada and Assistant Deputy Minister, Data and Digital Policy Sector, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Stephen joined the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) in March of 2022, as the first Chief Data Officer for the Government of Canada (GC). Stephen has led the Privacy, Access to Information, Open Government, Data and Policy on Service and Digital and, more recently, the Cyber Security teams in OCIO. In his two years at TBS, he has helped to bring forward the 2023-2026 Data Strategy for the Federal Public Service, has been instrumental in pushing forward a plan to strengthen the GC's access to information regime, and led the development of the Guide on the use of Generative AI in the Government of Canada.

Before joining OCIO, Stephen was appointed in June 2018 as Assistant Deputy Minister for Data, Innovation and Analytics (DIA) for the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). It was in this role that he led the creation of the federal Chief Data Officer Council.

Stephen has an undergraduate degree in history from the University of Ottawa, as well as a Master’s in Public Administration from Queen’s University.

Charles Taillefer

Executive Director, Access to Information and Open Government Policy Division, Data and Digital Policy Sector, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Charles is responsible for leading government-wide policy work and performance reporting related to access to information, proactive publication and open government. Prior to this role, Mr. Taillefer served as Director of Privacy and Data Protection Policy at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, where he led the legislative reform of the federal private sector privacy law, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act and the development of Canada's first legislative proposal to regulate artificial intelligence, the proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Taillefer has played a leadership role in the development of policy in various areas such as transborder data flows, privacy impact assessment, fair information practices, use of the social insurance number, duty to assist, security screening and artificial intelligence and data governance.

Charles holds a Master of Legal Studies from Carleton University and an Ontario Teaching Certificate and a Bachelor of Arts from Laurentian University.

Emily Gusba

Director General, Government Record Branch, Library and Archives Canada

Emily Gusba has been the Director General of the Government Record Branch since joining LAC in 2022.

Since 2008, she has held positions of increasing responsibility up to management positions at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Marcelle Cinq-Mars

Deputy Director, Declassification, Library and Archives Canada

Marcelle Cinq-Mars has been an archivist at LAC since 2007 where she occupied the Military Archivist Portfolio.

For the past two years, she has been Assistant Director for the recently created Declassification team.

Lisa Hennessey

Technical Advisor, Real Property Branch, Library and Archives Canada

Lisa Hennessey joined Library and Archives Canada in 2009 after graduating from Ryerson University with a master’s degree in Photographic Preservation and Collections Management.

Lisa has worked on several LAC building projects including the Nitrate Film Preservation Facility, the Preservation Storage Facility which features an automated storage and retrieval system, and currently, Lisa is working on the Adisoke building, a joint library project with the Ottawa Public Library.

Brian Clarke

Senior Archivist, Government Record Initiatives Division, Library and Archives Canada

Brian is a government records archivist at Library and Archives Canada. He began his career as the archivist responsible for the transport portfolio.

His current role is to explore and refine LAC’s government records acquisition processes with respect to digital records.

Wei-Ju (Heidi) Wang

Analyst (Free Agent), GC Data Community, Innovation, Policy and Skills Development, Canada School of Public Service

Heidi Wang (They/Any) is a Free Agent on assignment at the GC Data Community Team at the Canada School of Public Service. A creative force, Heidi blends data expertise with a passion for storytelling and digital government.

With experience across four federal departments in Canada, Heidi’s work spans from monitoring and reporting on infrastructure investment at Indigenous Services Canada to the supply and demand modelling to support the COVID-19 response at Health Canada.

In their current role, Heidi focuses on building a community around data in the GC and developing learning at the intersection of data, policy, and feelings.

Moderator

Irwin Bess

Executive Faculty Member, Canada School of Public Service

Irwin Bess joined the School as an executive faculty member in November 2023 and brings 28 years of experience in the federal public service.

Over the span of his career, Irwin held a variety of leadership roles in several departments, ranging from strategic policy and program delivery to communications, innovation and digital transformation at Transport Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, the Privy Council Office, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and the Canada School of Public Service. Most recently, Irwin served as the Chief Information Officer at the Immigration and Refugee Board, leading tribunal-wide operational and strategic digital priorities.

Irwin attributes his progression and success in these areas to following his curiosity and passions with a strong willingness to collaborate with colleagues and learn new ways of thinking and working from employees at all levels. His areas of interest include leadership development, policy and service innovation, responsible applications of technology and the intersection of these areas with the future of work and best practices for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Irwin has rejoined the School with the goal of helping all employees reach their full potential through teaching, facilitation, coaching and sharing of experiences and possibilities.

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