GC Data Conference 2024/speakers

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The 2024 GC Data Conference is brought to you by Transport Canada and the Canada School of Public Service with support from the GC Data Community.

February 21-22, 2024 | Virtual

Conference Speakers

Anil Arora

Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada

Anil Arora is an experienced senior public official, having worked at Statistics Canada for over 25 years leading significant programs and transformations. He was appointed Chief Statistician of Canada in September, 2016. He has also served in policy and regulatory roles in the Government of Canada at Natural Resources Canada and Health Canada. Mr. Arora has led substantive international initiatives, working with the United Nations and the OECD, and received numerous prestigious awards for leadership. He serves on a number of Boards and is active in community events and social causes. Mr. Arora received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta, with subsequent studies in computer science. He holds a graduate certificate in public sector management and governance from the University of Ottawa and the Government of Canada’s Advanced Leadership Development Program.

Participating in Opening plenary and Data as a competitive advantage for Canada: the benefits of a data and digitally enabled public service

Kara Beckles

Director General, Data Integration, Privy Council Office

Kara Beckles is Director General of Data Integration at the Privy Council Office, a position she took on during the summer of 2020. Kara previously held several positions across the Government of Canada, most recently at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada as Director General of the Economic Research and Analysis Directorate and Departmental Data Lead. Kara holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in economics and business from the University of Winnipeg and a Master of Arts from Dalhousie University.

Emcee for Data Conference 2022

Chantal Bernier

National Practice Leader, Privacy and Cybersecurity, Dentons

Chantal Bernier leads Dentons’ Canadian Privacy and Cybersecurity practice group. She is also a member of the Firm’s Government Affairs and Public Policy group. As Assistant and Interim Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Chantal led national and international privacy investigations in the public and private sectors, as well privacy audits, privacy impact assessment reviews, technological analysis, and privacy policy development and research. Chantal leverages her years in high-ranking positions at the Government of Canada to provide clients with strategic counsel. She is also a member of Statistics Canada’s Advisory Council on the Modernization of Microdata Data Access and of the Standards Council of Canada’s Steering Committee on Canadian Data Governance Standardization Collaborative.

Participating in Privacy Frameworks and data for public good

Stephen Burt

Assistant Deputy Minister, Data, Innovation, Analytics, Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces

Stephen Burt is the Assistant Deputy Minister (Data, Innovation, Analytics) for the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces. He is also an active member of data community of the Government of Canada, and led the creation of the Chief Data Officer Council. As an organization, ADM(DIA) works to ensure that data are leveraged in all Defence programs to enhance capabilities and decision-making, and to provide an information advantage in military operations. Mr. Burt holds an undergraduate degree in history from the University of Ottawa, and a Master’s in Public Administration from Queen’s University.

Participating in Information-enabled data sharing

Gina Wilson

Deputy Minister, Women and Gender Equality and Youth

Gina Wilson rejoined Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) as Deputy Minister on September 1, 2021. She previously served as Deputy Minister of WAGE from 2017 to 2019, where she led the establishment of WAGE as a new department, ensured that GBA Plus wasfully instituted in government, and served as the first Chair of the federal Indigenous Women’s Circle.Gina was in the role of Deputy Minister, Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, and Senior Associate Deputy Minister, Canadian Heritage, to which she was appointed on January 27, 2020, and where she oversaw the release of Canada’s first-ever State of Youth Report; engaged Canadians in a series of round tables and summits on anti-racism; lead the co-development of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Action Plan; and launched the development of a Canada-wide LGBTQ2 Action Plan. She is also currently the Deputy Minister Champion for Indigenous Federal Employees.In 2019, Gina was appointed as Deputy Minister, Public Safety Canada, and Senior Advisor to the Privy Council.She joined the Federal Government in 1996 and held several senior executive positions at several departments, including the Privy Council Office, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, and Employment and Social Development Canadaand the Correctional Service of Canada.Gina is Algonquin and began her career in her First Nation community of Kitigan-Zibi as Executive Director of Health and Social Services. She was also CEO of the Assembly of First Nations.Gina is the recipient of the 2020 Indspire Award for her leadership and her lifelong work on Indigenous issues and support for Indigenous employees.Gina holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences from the University of Ottawa.She has three beautiful children –Dylan, Kayla and Royce –and treasures her granddaughter, Charlotte.

Participating in New perspectives on Indigenous data (moderator)

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The program and list of speakers are available at Canada.ca/data-conference.

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